What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Is it easier to get into Boston College if I choose an 'easy' major?

I'm planning to apply to Boston College and I got thinking—do they consider the 'difficulty' of the major you're looking to study when making admissions decisions? Or do they just look at applicants individually, regardless of major?

a month ago

For most universities, including Boston College, the major you choose on your application can have some influence on your chances of admission, but it's not as significant as you might think.

Admissions offices, especially at selective schools like Boston College, focus less on the perceived difficulty of a desired major and more on the strength of the overall application, including your academic record, standardized test scores (if provided), extracurriculars, and essays. They aim to admit a diverse class of students with a range of interests and strengths.

However, there could be a slight variation in acceptance rates between different colleges within the university or particularly competitive programs. For example, a program like Nursing at Boston College, which has limited space and high demand, can be more competitive to get into compared to others.

However, it's important to note that deliberately choosing an "easy" major to get admitted and then planning to switch to your desired major isn't an advisable strategy. This may not always be possible as some majors have capacity limits and require an internal transfer process which could be quite competitive.

Therefore, it's usually best to apply under the major you truly intend to pursue. Admissions officers are skilled at identifying authentic interest in a field of study, and this can enhance your application. Plus, this allows counselors and prospective advisors to better support and guide you in your academic journey from the outset.

a month ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.