<p>Getting back to my earlier post, I further would like to ask if it woud hurt my chances if I opt for Economics or any other major if I had no ECs inclined towards that major but in sciences? (in any college, not specifically HYPS)</p>
<p>You’ll have to see how the college admits people. If it admits based on course, then yeah it’ll hurt your chances. But usually non-state schools wont be influenced by your intended major. A notable exception is CMU, which admits based on different schools. Btw why do you wanna change from eng to econs?</p>
<p>Well I did a little research on it and got mixed reactions. Some say that the adcoms love the diversity and eclectic knowledge while the others say that it hurts your chances.</p>
<p>And I would want to change my major as the job prospects in economics are more lucrative 
Also, I’m a bit tired of this science, wanted to learn a new thing. If the sciences taught there is more application based, I’d love to opt for it irrespective of the job opportunities.</p>
<p>Well adcoms will certainly appreciate it if you have an eclectic mix of knowledge but if they indeed admit based on the school, I dont think they’d admit you over someone who has been interested and done well in econs a long time. </p>
<p>Also while your reason is your own, with all due respect, thats quite the terrible reason to be pursuing economics. It seems like you’ve barely studied any economics and you wouldnt know what uni econs entails. Also this science that you’re referring to is just basic high school science. If i might add, thats not even the proverbial tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more that you dont know and a lot more that you will never know so yeah uni science might as well be something new in itself.</p>
<p>Well, I always wished to go to Harvard but if engineering is not a good option there, what all can I opt for a major there then? Also, as you stated, if the “recruiters are not fools” and that it is equally hard to get into ivies regardless of the major we opt for, dont the recruiters take into consideration that the student must be outstanding and hence he/she got into this prestigious institution? Only a good student can enter Harvard no matter engineering or eco hons. You know what i mean to say right?</p>
<p>Economics or Engineering degrees from top schools (top 10, maybe 15) can be equally lucrative, if all you’re chasing is the money.</p>
<p>Or you can pursue a somewhat interdisciplinary engineering degree (ex: EEM-Engineering, Economics, and Management :D). </p>
<p>That said, I prefer Economics.</p>
<p>I read about Mark Zuckerburg…he being a genius must have took comp science in harvard for some reason Harvard is not that bad in sciences i guess?</p>
<p>Yeah of course there is no doubting the calibre of students entering Harvard or Yale. But just cause you’re smart, doesnt mean you’re skilled in what you wanna do. An engineer needs to have a challenging curriculum, good faculty and a good research environment. These arent Harvard’s strong points. Of course for other courses its fantastic, but your future employer only cares about your skills. He doesnt really care if as an engineer your school has a great econs program and whatnot. To him only your eng skill and your school’s eng reputation matters.</p>
<p>Also it seems like you’re falling into the classic but pernicious prestige trap. Rather than doing what you like, you just want to go to Harvard. That is a very imprudent approach and will not serve you well. Think about this, why do you want to go to Harvard? What do you know about it? Have you ever actually visited? Even if you have, do you have any idea what its like to study there? This is why you should never have a dream school because that would only be a pretense of knowledge. No one actually knows what studying in their dream school actually entails.</p>
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<p>His company hires absolutely no one from Harvard. The majority of Facebook’s hires are from Stanford, MIT, CMU-SCS etc.</p>
<p>A lot of people take Harvard because of the name, the limitless opportunities in the most lucrative sectors, the legendary elite grad school placement rate, the alum network, and Boston.</p>
<p>Iamthebist, you’re assuming too much. Who knows what motivated Mark Zuckerberg to go to Harvard for CS? Steve Jobs never graduated college nor did Bill Gates. Does that mean thats a prudent thing to do?</p>
<p>haha you guys are right…i’m being naive xD</p>
<p>These limitless opportunities along with the grad school placement rate are also available to people in other elite colleges. Besides, engineers stay away from Harvard.</p>
<p>So perhaps I should remove Harvard from my application list? :(</p>
<p>If you want to pursue engineering as your primary degree then that wouldnt be unwise. Also what a lot of people do is do eng from a good school and do a econs double major or minor. These people are quite popular with employers like Morgan Stanley and stuff and they pay well. So thats one way to make money since you’re so enamored by it ;)</p>
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<p>Trust me, they’re not available to other elite colleges the way they’re available to Harvard College grads. </p>
<p>Just one example: the firm I’m interning with right now basically offers an interview to every Harvard College grad that applies, regardless of GPA. I’m honestly surprised as to why some of the less capable are hired, but they are.</p>
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<p>NO! Don’t remove it from your list, but do consider applying ED/REA to a college that matches your interests better (Cornell, Stanford etc.) to maximize your chances there.</p>
<p>Haha indeed Im not very well informed in that sphere. But rest assured, to the engineering hopefuls, having an elite school eng degree is worth more than a Harvard eng degree.</p>
<p>So which all colleges do you advise? where all did you guys apply?</p>
<p>Oh PD, whats the rationale for keeping Harvard on your list? If he is gonna do engineering wont be a more worthwhile endeavour to focus on an MIT, Stanford or Caltech?</p>
<p>I’m not Indian. Can I still post on here??</p>
<p>I applied to the standard good engineering places. I got rejected by Stanford and Princeton. Didnt apply to MIT though, preferred Caltech’s weather :D</p>