<p>Okay. So Yale is my dream school. And I know that they have a fabulous psychology department. But I'm conflicted. I really love the idea of incorporating computers, linguistics, philosophy, and neuroscience into psychology. That's what I like about the Cog. Sci. major. However, I still want to look into behavior and personalities, which I feel the Cog. Sci. major pushes to the side and the Psych major focuses more on. I'm conflicted! I want to be a pediatric psychiatrist, so I'd like a major that would help me get the requirements out of the way, but still let me study the mind. </p>
<p>Also, a lot more kids apply as Psych majors, so applying as a Cog. Sci. major may make me less generic in the eyes of the Adcoms. But, I mean, who even knows? It might not be a big deal. But many times when I tell people I'm majoring in Psych, it sounds so generic. </p>
<p>Mainly, I want to know, can I major in Cog. Sci. and still get to study behavior and personality? I don't mind studying cognition (sounds fascinating, actually), but I do enjoy behavioral studies and I'd like to incorporate that into my major? Additionally, would applying as a Cog. Sci. major be more advantageous than applying as a Psych major?</p>
<p>why on earth are you worrying about this now? Applying to one or the other does not force you to major in it. You could end up as a Classics major for all that Yale cares. Pick one (if you feel you must for your app) and be done with it. If fate smiles on you and you are accepted and attend, you can take classes and figure out which department you like at that point.</p>
<p>Agree: you’re overthinking this. Yale admissions doesn’t care one iota about your being a psych or cog psy major. Their job is to see if you can be admitted to Yale College. That should be your focus too.</p>
<p>I agree with donnaleighg and T26E4. You are way overthinking this. </p>
<p>All Yale students are admitted to the college as liberal arts majors and don’t declare a major until the end of their sophomore year. Admissions understands that most students change their intended major at least once during their 4 years of college, so they don’t hold you to what you write down as your interest on the Common App. Selecting either Cog. Sci. or Psych is absolutely fine – neither of your choices will affect your chances one bit. FWIW: My son was admitted as “undecided.” </p>
<p>I admire your positive attitude and your belief that you will be accepted to Yale, but why waste your time and energy being conflicted about something that may never happen. Focus on the here and now, and the future will take care of itself!</p>
<p>Oh. Sorry if I sound presumptuous. I don’t think I’ll be accepted to Yale (7% acceptance rate and all), but I wasn’t sure if applying as a Psych major would give me a lower chance of acceptance (and I’m all about raising my chances if it doesn’t compromise my integrity) than applying as a Cog. Sci major. Also, I’m debating over this with a few other schools that offer both Psych and Cog. Sci. I really like both majors, but since so many kids apply as Psych majors, I was curious to see if it’d make a difference.</p>
<p>Yale Admissions doesn’t specifically address the topic of “intended major” but MIT Admissions does. I think their answer would apply to just about all selective liberal arts colleges: [Part</a> 1: Biographical Information | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/part1]Part”>Getting started | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>If you get to Yale, just pursue the courses/research/studies you want. Don’t worry about which label it best fits. Psych, Cog Sci whatever – it’s your transcript, you decide once you end your Soph year.</p>