Would applying as a major that isn’t popular at the school help? I’m not saying I’m just going to pick an unpopular major, but the major I like just happens to not be a popular one.
If I applied to a school that focusing a lot on engineering/math and I applied to study French, would I have a better chance because it isn’t as selective? (I know that won’t automatically get me in, but I feel like that would be able to help a lot because they are looking for that major) I know this might be bad then because an engineering school might not have as strong as a department as it’s others.
Follow up question. If it’s true that this would be able to help, would applying as an unpopular major make up for having stats a little bit below the average for the school?
If it does change admission selectivity, then it is likely that changing to the originally intended major after enrolling requires another admission process (high college GPA or competitive admission). Majors or divisions may have higher admission selectivity due to capacity limitations; if such capacity limitations exist, then they will also be applied to enrolled students seeking to change into those majors.
It depends. Some schools admit by major while others do not. Don’t count it increasing your chances because you are not the first student to think of this (I’ve been reading this same question for ten years now).
Students who ask this question often think that they can get admitted more easily with a less popular major, then change into their intended but more popular major after enrolling.
Okay, thank you everyone. And I guess the college doesn’t know this but I wouldn’t switch my major. They would be able to see on my high school transcript that I have been taking French for over 5 years and I am still interested in it.