Are my chances of getting into a college higher if I'm a computer science/engineering major?

Applying to College
1

<p>I’m female and I’m interested in computer science. Do I have a greater chance of being accepted to a college because there are so few females in this field?</p>

2

<p>I am not sure your odds are better at most colleges. But at STEM-focused colleges with a much larger pool of male applicants, your odds probably are better as a female.</p>

3

<p>It depends on the school. At schools which admit by major or division, computer science or computer engineering may be more difficult to get admitted to, or the engineering division may be more difficult to get into.</p>

<p>Here is an example. San Jose State University posted the admission thresholds by major for fall 2013 admissions here: <a href=“http://info.sjsu.edu/static/admission/impaction.html”>http://info.sjsu.edu/static/admission/impaction.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>For fall 2013 frosh admissions, computer science had the second highest threshold out of all majors, but computer engineering (which is more hardware oriented) had a more typical threshold. Note: the eligibility indices are calculated as CSU-weighted GPA * 800 + SAT<em>CR + SAT</em>M or CSU-weighted GPA * 200 + ACT * 10 (SAT and ACT scores are superscored).</p>

4

<p>I wouldn’t put it in terms of ‘easier’. Just realize that the bar is often set higher for those majors in the first place. So if you are some kind of marginal candidate for a college thinking that feigning an interest will get you ‘in’, I don’t think it is a good strategy. However if you are a viable candidate or a slightly weak one with interest, it may help you.</p>

<p>Well I see I just basically repeated the previous answer, oh well.</p>

5

<p>I think it’s easier if you show that you are “truly” STEM through ECs and test scores and classes. If you just check that you are applying for engineering with nothing to back it up, then it might look like you’re applying for engineering because you think it’s easier. But if you show that you really are all for engineering with big ECs devoted to it, then yes, it will definitely be easier because it is a male-dominated field.</p>

6

<p>Depends on the college and how competitive, ^ Agree with satman. And not just hs ECs.</p>