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Demonstrating interest in your major

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You’re going to major in Computer Science, but your school doesn’t offer higher level computer courses. You think you’d like to be a doctor, veterinarian, dentist, etc., but your school doesn’t have classes or clubs related to health professions. You’re definitely going to do something that will lead you to elected office and maybe the presidency someday, but you’re not on the student council. You’re going to work as a park ranger, but don’t have an outdoors club.

One of the strangest things i hear from students is that they intend to major in a field they’ve had literally no exposure to outside TV or movies. College admissions advisors feel similarly. How do you know you really want to do this? Are you sure?

When I suggest that you look for experiences in the field, I don’t mean you have to already been working as a doctor to get into medical school. But you should look at how medical schools admit students. Medical schools do have a minimum set of required courses, and a set entrance exam minimum, but they also, and increasingly significantly, look at the hobbies, volunteer and work experience of a student. Do your previous experiences show that you know what you’re getting into? Are you ready for a career which is going to put you in contact with lots of goo, blood, paperwork, etc.? Are you a people person? Do you know how to balance work and self-care?

And it is somewhat similar for undergraduate applications at schools that consider your major when making admissions decisions. If you’re interested in a computer science degree, what do you know about computer science? Are you ready for it?

Given the vast amount of courses, tutorials, interest communities, etc., on the internet, a lack of a course or club at your high school related to your intended major, or a lack of access due to something like the Coronavirus-related evacuations/school closures, shouldn’t stop you from getting some hand’s on, or at least virtual, experience in your intended field.

So, take a MOOC, volunteer for a public health campaign, write postcards for your favorite political candidates, research advances in gene editing or resonance. If you’re interested in something, pursue it. Find out more. Make sure. You can talk about this in your college applications later, or change your mind about your interests.

Maybe it’s not computer science, but really programming you want. Maybe it’s not medicine, but biomedical engineering. Maybe it’s not politics but public service.

Caveat:

For some degrees, even this is not enough. If you’re interested in a performing or studio arts program, especially for a BFA, you’re going to need portfolio material. Or, you can look for schools that don’t take intended major into account in admissions, or schools that don’t consider portfolios or auditions (though you may be expected to produce one in your first year to be eligible for the major).

Class of 2023 Acceptances

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Word has reached me that some of my students might get their first college acceptances today. A few others have already gotten what we used to call “the thin envelope” (back when colleges actually mailed their replies) but are now often sometimes called “re-direction” letters, i.e. advice to head in a different direction, like a different college. Today, though, we’re pretty confident that we will hear back with at least one big YES! The most popular Early Decision reply day is December 15, though, and, like last year, I will try to stay up late to hear the news live as my students hear back. 

Where will you be when you open your first replies? Will your family be recording you to post the clip on your IG? Would you be brave enough to stream live? Will you save the email for a private moment so that you can find out the news without anyone watching? 

I’m not sure I could deal with either a cherished acceptance or a hard denial in public. Both of those can cause a pretty strong wave of emotion that I’m not sure I’d ever want that to be recorded for posterity! Even if I open it in private though, I’d want to make sure I could run out and share any possible good news ASAP with someone who will be just as happy for me, so I can totally see opening up that certain email just before meeting up for a study date with a BFF or something.

Of course, if your luck is anything like mine, you’ll see what you think is that magic email from your ED school, save it to open at just the right time, and then find out it was only a bit of marketing spam and you have another few days of anticipation waiting to hear back from them. Of course.