For example, I plan on majoring in geology. The undergrads in the major are not rare, but students applying decided for that major are. Could it make me more desirable, like a supply and demand sort of situation? Just curious.
Adcoms have an interest in admitting students who have a credible interest in studying an area that is not hugely popular, all other things being equal, but they also know that students change their minds very often so that in-coming future Classics or German studies major could easily (and is even likely to) change his or her mind. Generally they don’t put much weight on a prospective major.
I think if your application supports your interest in geology by demonstrating activities and achievements related to geology, then that could make you a very desirable candidate. My daughter applied to a specific major related to some awards and an internship she had in high school, and the university offered her two scholarships specifically related to that major. Check and see if the places you are applying to offer scholarships for a geology major. If so, then you know that it is a major that admissions reps are looking for among applicants.
If undergrads in the major aren’t rare, then it’s extremely unlikely to help you, even if you have a demonstrated interest in geology. Adcoms do have “an interest in admitting students who have a credible interest in studying an area that is not hugely popular,” but mainly when the department is underpopulated.
I’ve heard more than one adcom say that they don’t pay attention to intended major because 1) half of the applicants apply undecided and 2) of the applicants who come in with a designated major, half of those end up changing majors while at the school. I don’t think applying as a geology major will get you into any school you are not otherwise qualified for.
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And basically, you want to go to a school where geology has a strong dept, along with all the other geo’s LOL. Not rare, just niche.
You’ll just be admitted to Arts and Sciences like most of the other applicants.
Generally not as college usually don’t admit by major but by college, so applying to the Harvard School of Engineering may be slightly easier than Harvard College for example.
Don’t pick a major just because it’s a rare major. You want to select your prospective major based on what your activities/transcript say about you. If you have an 800 SAT II math, have published mathematics papers, and participate in AMC, then you should put something math-related. However, I do think putting a niche major can help, especially with substantiation.
Whether intended major affects admission selectivity is very dependent on the college applied to. If it does affect admission selectivity, it may be based on how popular the major is relative to the department’s capacity.
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@happy1 I bet those officers also said they want a class diverse in interests and passions (which includes majors). Intended major is such a tiny piece of the pie and probably often works itself out but a school simply couldn’t tolerate admitting all kids intended on the same major so the concept has to come into play whether or not it’s based on the answer to that question.
@iwannabe_Brown My understanding of a diverse class had more to do with things like URM, socio-economic status, demonstrated interests (different from intended major) of students
I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that college admissions officers are very wise to the “game” of a person applying with an esoteric major and changing out once they arrive at the college. BUT the combination of a very unusual major backed up say with independent research, summer coursework etc. that shows the applicant is already passionate about the subject would help because at that point it is much more than writing down an intended major on a form, it is an area/topic that the applicant would have demonstrated interest in, been involved in etc. Accepting students who have been actively involved in a variety of areas does help to bring diversity, of interests to a college campus accepting students who simply write down an unusual intended major on a form does not.
As as I noted, the adcoms said that half of applicants apply undecided and half of those coming with an intended major end up switching, so in the admissions process they can assume that only 25% of students are coming in with a major that will “stick”.
But if the OP simply applies as a geology major I(the question I intended to answer) don’t think it would be significant a bump to his/her application unless perhaps he/she has already done some work in the area.
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^^^^(addition, sorry) And as far as I saw, the OP did not indicate on the post that he/she has already done work/research in the field of geology.
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It WILL help IF you can back up your genuine interest in Geology with additional proof- like a LOR from a Geology professional which gets sent to both the admissions office AND to the Dean of the Geology Dept
Or something to that effect.
And If the OP is truly interested in Geology then he should apply to U’s with great Geology Depts. There are more Geology profs, classes and opportunities for research at Universities than LAC’s
This is exactly what I meant. The potential major of a student is considered but that doesn’t mean it’s determined by the answer to that one question. I just wanted to make sure your post wasn’t misunderstood to mean that your potential course of study (based on your application as a whole) is ignored.
One reason they’re wise to the kid who picks an major for a supposed advantage: kid doesn’t have any record of involvement, can’t explain the interest, often doesn’t seem to understand what that field studies or the mindset, etc.
I’ve never heard an adcom say, oh, well, he’ll probably change the major. In ways, the app/supp are supposed to be well considered, a reflection of your judgment and awareness, at least at elites.
So yes, the major you state can frame the review.
In general, I wish we could eliminate the word passion or passionate. It’s only a starting point and what you actually did about it or with it, can matter much more. Including ECs. Again, for elites, that is.