The major
Can your intended major hurt your chances?
A Stanford admissions account of how a stated major can raise questions when activities and essays show little evidence of interest and how to audit your file.
SourceBased on what we at Aristo learned from the Stanford admissions office.
Admissions committees at selective colleges treat an applicant's intended major as a claim to be tested, and a few years ago a journalist allowed to sit in on committee at one selective private university watched that test decide a file. Someone pulled up an applicant's mid-year grades, all A's. The student had listed neuroscience as an intended major, and an admissions officer pointed out that nothing in the activities or essays had anything to do with neuroscience. She suggested the waitlist, as a gentler landing than a denial.
No one in that room doubted the student was capable, because the grades settled that. What the file lacked was evidence that the stated interest was real, and many excellent applicants submit files with the same gap without ever knowing it is there.
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