MIT4Lyf

I wanted to know that how does one's choice of major affects the admission decision ?
If I choose Mechanical Engineering but I have done nothing to be show my 'passion' in mechanical engineering and have been playing soccer all my life and then what impact does it have ?

MITChris

We don't consider it.

rspence

MIT doesn't take that into account. I don't think you declare a major until end of freshman year anyway.

MIT4Lyf

Is it the same for transfer students as well ?

rmldad

MITChris - If choice of major is not considered, then why is it asked on the application?

Thanks for chiming in.

happilywallowing

Wait, isn't that info used for our yearbook thing for the entering class? Like, everybody in the incoming freshman class has a major listed--is that taken from our application to MIT? I've totally forgotten; it's been too long haha.

But I don't think it should have any impact, since people's majors can change drastically after entering MIT. Actually coming on to campus and sampling the different career paths is very different from reading about it or seeing stereotypes perpetrated by the media. I know somebody who went from math to chemistry to economics. It simply wouldn't be fair to admit somebody on the basis of their immature and tentative major choice.

Patrickm

The "yearbook" form asks for your major and interests (just filled it out today). So they do not need to use what is on your application.

elizabeththegrey

Choice of major is used for transfer students to initially assign you an advisor in your department if accepted.

mathboy98

Something to keep in mind - engineering majors aren't really something most students know much about when applying to them (it's easier to just read a mathematics book, but pure books knowledge without any projects might not make the same sense for engineering). Thus, I think it wouldn't make much sense to consider that.

However, something that can be lost in this sort of discussion is that you as a student probably have some strengths that are more visible than others, and what sorts of areas those are in could actually be brought out to an extent by what field you put your energy into. And that could be a part of your "profile" that they use to get to know you via your application.

molliebatmit

^Exactly -- it's not that one potential major is favored over another, or that you need to have ECs/awards that reflect your intended major, but the field in which you intend to major is still a piece of information about you, and it might be a helpful piece of information.