Should you declare major when applying Ivy League?

wzzzz · 02-05-2007, 05:38 PM

I have an impression that declaring major will negatively impact your chance in acceptance in Ivy League colleges, unless you like to major in some rare fields like Greek mythology. Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks.

pyewacket · 02-05-2007, 05:43 PM

I do alum interviews for Brown. They like to see a declared area of interest (if not major exactly) because they want to gauge you intellectual depth--Why do you want that major? What fascinates you about it? Or what two different areas are you pulled between? also if you say physics or engineering, they will look differently at math scores than if you say Art History. They all know that freshmen may change their minds several times and a really dynamic prof can give you a whole new perspective and that's just fine and as it should be.

wzzzz · 02-05-2007, 05:46 PM

Pyewacket, does chosing a less popular major increase your chance of admission?

pyewacket · 02-05-2007, 06:01 PM

Only if it is a dept. they are trying to boost ( not one they're hoping to get rid of or downsize) And only if your interest is genuine and well-grounded. The way into Harvard etc. is not paved by triangulating your choice of major--they know it's not binding anyway. They'll take anyone who looks headed for a Nobel Prize--whether it's in Physics, Economics, Literature or Peace!!

banana12 · 02-07-2007, 05:36 PM

varies between schools

J mom · 02-07-2007, 06:55 PM

Pyewacket

Do you know if HYP is trying to boost classics/latin at their school? My son is really having fun with Latin and is thinking about studing that in college. thanks

abiste · 02-07-2007, 08:00 PM

The classics are relatively under represented when it comes to college majors. If your son is honestly interested in majoring in the classics AND HAS CREDENTIALS TO BACK IT UP, then he should put that down as his prospective major. Colleges see all the time kids putting down obscure majors to give themselves a slight edge but without demonstrating any interest in that major. For example, some one claiming to want to major in the classics but never having taken a Latin course and with SAT IIs in Biology and Physics would be flagged by admissions officers as being disingenuous and trying to game the system. On the flip side, some one whose prospective major is Classics and has taken Latin courses, ECs in the classics and the Latin SAT II would be given a boost.

J mom · 02-07-2007, 09:56 PM

thank you abiste. My son is trully interested in this subject. He will be taking AP and national Latin exam...etc. Do you think than putting that as major will give a bit of a boost during application. Plus we are asian and people on this board are saying typical asian (math/science) will not stand out to adcom. thanks

BurnThis · 02-07-2007, 10:19 PM

"On the flip side, some one whose prospective major is Classics and has taken Latin courses, ECs in the classics and the Latin SAT II would be given a boost."

That describes my son precisely, and he was accepted early to Yale.

Princedog · 02-07-2007, 10:24 PM

I think that you should make sure to show a true interest because otherwise with a major that sort of "stands out" they might think you're just randomly putting or trying to game the system. However since he actually has a background here, maybe he should contact a professor and try to arrange a meeting? Does he think he could hold a conversation about his interest with someone? Showing a connection to the underrepresented department would help I'd think.

kyledavid80 · 02-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Anyone know about linguistics majors?

J mom · 02-07-2007, 11:32 PM

thanks Pricedog for your information.
Burnthis
Can you tell me what specific EC your son did that you think really helped him boost his chance at Yale? Did he apply to Harvard? thanks

lubinli · 02-07-2007, 11:42 PM

I was actually wondering about this:
Does it give your application an edge if you declare a major/area of interest that's less common to your race/ethnicity etc? Like my H interviewer was really interested in knowing why I'm going into political science (because I'm a female Asian immigrant). But I'm definitely really passionate about it and all my ECs and achievements reflect that!

pyewacket · 02-08-2007, 09:12 AM

I have no hard knowledge about this but I would bet on the ethnicity linked to unusual major as a good card to hold. I know a Sikh from India who got into Brown for AfricanAmerican/Black studies.

J mom · 02-08-2007, 09:32 AM

so do you think an asian putting down "classic" as a major(of course having many EC related to this and studing latin in high school could be somewhat a plus when adcom makes the decision? THANKS