Intended Major

Applying to College
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<p>I read another thread that discussed admissions procedures at selective schools. The concept of “institutional need t” was described. As I understand it, what happens is that certain schools take all their applicants that are at or above certain academic criteria and put them into “buckets” to see if they meet the institutional need (I do not know how institutional need is defined or developed). So, for instance, if a school is looking for a left-handed bocce player that speaks esperanto, and you happen to have that quality, then chances are you will be admitted.</p>

<p>My more plausible question regards intended major. Does anyone know if applicants are parsed into intended major groups during the admissions process? If so, wouldn’t it make sense to put down a less popular major on your application? Certainly your intended major is non-binding.</p>

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<p>Excluding things like engineering, arts that require a portfolio/audition, etc., there are relatively few cases in which major makes a difference, because it isn’t usually binding and because students often change their minds once in college. </p>

<p>No, it’s not going to help to choose a less popular major. For instance, it’s not going to help you if you declare Classics UNLESS you have a strong academic and EC history in Classics.</p>