<p>I am a women applying for colleges now, and I was wondering if I have a higher chance of admission if I put myself down as a prospective engineering candidate. At almost every school in the country, there is a smaller percent of women who are enrolled in the engineering field than men. Could this lower the standards for women pursuing engineering degrees, and also, would this increase your general chances if admission as a woman if you simply express interest in engineering?</p>
<p>The problem is that the standards for engineering in general are higher. So this only really makes sense if you want to be an engineer, and even then it won’t matter except at the colleges that admit you specifically to their school of engineering.</p>
<p>Yes, I understand, but the heart of my question is that, as a well-qualified woman, do (a) have a better chance of being accepted to an engineering program as a man and (b) does a woman’s choice in engineering make her a more attractive candidate.</p>
<p>(a) Probably.</p>
<p>(b) What does this mean? People may in the abstract want more women to be engineers, but a woman applying for engineering will not have an easier time than a woman applying for something else.</p>
<p>Okay, I understand where you’re coming from, and thank you for some of the answers to my question. But where is the basis for your claim that a a woman applying for engineering will not have an easier time than a woman applying for something else?</p>
<p>My dad is still an engineering prof. A few years ago, I sat in on a couple of his classes and was surprised at the number of women. It’s not nearly as unusual as it used to be. I’m a female engineer myself.</p>
<p>Put down what you’re really interested in. Do your best and don’t worry about it!</p>