<p>I read somewhere that girls who apply to MIT have significantly higher admit rates.</p>
<p>I am guessing that this is because not many girls apply for engineering/physics based majors, and thus many girls who have demonstrated interest in engineering/physics would have higher chances.</p>
<p>Does this work the other way round? How about a guy demonstrating interest in foreign languages/poetry/literature having higher chances at college admissions?</p>
<p>I’m not sure how credible the assertion is, but I’ve been told that indicating a common or generic major preference (e.g. Psychology) can make you a less interesting candidate. I’m not sure if indicating undecided would make you any better, but if there is really that big of an impact on chances, it doesn’t make sense because don’t so many people change or even figure out their major after they’re already in college?</p>
<p>If I remember correctly–and there’s a good chance I don’t–the Uchicago guy who visited our school mentioned that applicants wishing to utilize the school’s excellent egyptology program always got the attention of the admissions office. He also went on to say that such an interest must be substantiated by academic and extracurricular activities of that field.</p>
<p>I guess the short answer is that it can certainly help provided that interest is clear and legitimate. Don’t bother applying to an obscure program for the sake of getting into a university.</p>
<p>@Shaggy007 I think they take it into consideration only if interest was already shown (e.g. in an EC or extra classes). if not, I don’t believe they care much about your declared major since most people change it.</p>
<p>to the OP, girls applying to MIT might stand out a bit more, but I don’t think they make such an impact that the admit rates are much higher</p>
<p>It can work in your favor…but your expressed less-usual interest needs to be supported by the totality of your application package, otherwise an applicant can seem like a game-playing tool and this strategy can backfire.</p>
<p>In other words, if a student wants to present himself as a potential Egyptology major, but his application package doesn’t demonstrate any previous interest in Egyptology/archeology/anthropology or whatever, the admissions committee will see through the ruse quite easily.</p>
<p>ok, maybe I should make my case more specific to help my problem.</p>
<p>I understand the honesty of the application process. I know that lying will probably backfire and didin’t intend to do it anyway.</p>
<p>I am an asian male, which I think puts me in a disadvantaged position because schools dont really want asian males as opposed to hispanic people.</p>
<p>However, I am not the typical nerd asian sterotype who does math, science and plays the piano. I’m interested in a lot of subject areas, but especially like visual arts, philosophy and am sending an art portfolio with my application. I will probably apply undeclared and do a major in economics with a minor in art, philo and literature.</p>
<p>Does having non asian interests give advantage to asian applicants?</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t a school want Asian males? Maybe if you apply to a school that a lot of other Asians apply to and apply to the same major as all those Asians it might be a problem (only need so many xxx majors)but otherwise I hardy think they discriminate.</p>
<p>Now, if you have unusual interests and can validate those interests it might work in your favor. Visual arts? Not so unusual.</p>