Hi, I’m posting it in this board because I’m not linking my essay
So it was originally about aerospace engineering, but now I’m contemplating between computer science and aero because my parents feel like they don’t have the highest hopes for me in aero. They say at least if I chose comp science I could receive help from them. I applied to Purdue with an essay focused on aerospace but the rest of the college list I added on common app didn’t have aerospace. These were mostly state colleges like umass (all branches), UCONN, NC state and University of Georgia. Now I’ve applied to all these colleges with my essay on aerospace and selected either computer science or Mechanical engineering (with a minor in aerospace). I wish I could state undecided for engineering but now is too late to change my essay topic to a broader topic. Does this severely impact my chances of getting in?
Edit: and pls don’t bring up my past thread about looking for options outside of engineering. That’s something I have to settle with my parents, I have spoken to them about trade school as an engineering technician, since I’m a hands-on person and don’t want to take the financial risk of dropping out. But they are refusing to put me in trade school. I think the issue is that they do not want me to be in a job with “low standards” since they rlly expected me to be a Valedictorian since I was a child. Again, I am a simple person, I value cost more so I don’t really care if I get into CC or do trade, the issue is that my parents won’t let me
I’m confused by your title. You are unable to change your essay. Is your question about changing your essay or if the essay you submitted will impact your decision?
In my opinion, the topic of your essay doesn’t matter. You could write about underwater basket weaving for all they care. The essay should be a personal statement about you, not a major. If you wrote about you and who you are, you should be fine with any essay topic.
the essay was about why I wanted to go into aerospace. I don’t really have much to write about myself I think it’s uncomfortable because I don’t reLly think about myself I just exist. Well I did reflect on my overcoming of fear
Are you saying you submitted a narrow “Why Aerospace Major” essay in place of a traditional Common App essay/personal statement primarily to colleges that don’t offer aerospace engineering? It seems that your chance question must be rhetorical.
If you value cost, why are you applying to OOS state schools? There are probably in state schools which would offer a better value, if that’s your priority.
Yes, also I, applying OOS because my parents want me to, I’m planning on applying to 8-10 schools. Again I’m finding extra tuition but ideally I’m fine going to CC / trade if it means less cost. And my chance question isn’t rhetorical I’ve applied to UMASS Boston/Amherst, UCONN, UGA with that essay since they were all with in a deadline. If I made a big mistake I’ll prolly change my essay for the next set of colleges to see. I’ve also applied to Rutgers, Texas AM, and Purdue but they offer aerospace
If you want to rewrite your essay, assuming you just submitted all your apps, you can email your regional AO for each college and ask them to please use your new essay (once you’ve written it), instead of the one you submitted. You can attach it to the email, or embed it in the email.
If you just want to know if you have less of a chance with the essay you have submitted, there really isn’t much point in that, right? The apps are in. You either ask them to use a different essay, which they may or may not agree to, or you wait for your results.
I’ve applied to a mix of colleges with and without my wanted course.
Purdue, Texas AM, Rutgers offer aerospace
UMass (Boston), UCONN, and UGA, I chose computer science and mechanical.
I still have University of Central Florida, University of Houston, Embry Riddle, and Virginia Tech, University of Arizona, NC state, UMass Amherst to apply to
So for those colleges I need to decide if I want to change my essay, out of these Umass Amherst and NC state do not offer aerospace
Just to be clear, you wrote your main personal statement on why you want to study aerospace engineering, right?
What’s done is done. You may want to write a different essay for colleges to which you are not applying for aerospace. If colleges require a common app personal statement, they are looking for insight into your personality. If you’ve managed to convey your personality by writing about why you want to study aerospace, that’s fine. But it sounds like maybe you wrote your essay just about what you want to study.
That’s not really the purpose of the personal statement. You may think you just exist, but there is more to you than that. Think about what interests you, or excites you, or makes you happy, and write about that. SHOW the admissions officer who you are.
Maybe you would benefit from having another pair of eyes look at your current essay. It might simply need a bit of tweaking to make it more personalized. Or maybe you can write another essay and aren’t sure how to go about it. Either way, you can get help here. Please note that you will NOT be posting your essay in public if you use the essay review service: STUDENTS, Need Help w/ Your College Essays? Get Community Feedback Now
Interesting. If someone has already told you they think the essay is fine, is it possible that you are overthinking this, and that maybe you are a bit stressed out as you finish up all your applications?
Without knowing what your essay says, the potential problem is IF your essay makes clear that you intend to study aerospace, but you are applying to colleges which don’t have that program, that might look as if you don’t know what that college offers. It sounds like your previous feedback was in consideration of applying to aerospace programs.
My essay does talk specific about aerospace engineering, I made a mistake on the essay where I kept bringing up aerospace engineering when I should have said working for space exploration companies in general
The common app essay in general should have been a personal essay and not one about what career you’d like, unless you weave in a lot of other info, but what’s done is done. If you are still applying to schools, I encourage you to look up and read essays that are considered to be top notch essays for the common app. Most are about a topic that is more general and based on the student’s experience already. Good luck!
Writing about a different major than you may want to pursue will likely not be why you don’t get in.
If it’s a solid, cohesive essay, that’s what matters - and at stat based state schools, it likely matters little.
Kids change…they know.
And industries have all sorts of jobs - so you can be an accountant and work in aero as an example.
I remember your initial post and you were far overreaching schools - and you’re not strong in math and physics - and that’s why you’re not going to get into the schools you list.
You needed more- and I hope you applied to the more so that you can get an admission.
But engineering and CS are tough - and your parents won’t get you through, even though they are in CS themselves.
If you have more apps, then apply to more with a new essay.
But no reason to worry about the past - and stats and grade wise, those schools are highly highly unlikely even with a perfect essay.
I don’t mean to be so blunt - but the grades below and the 3.4 and SAT will be why you’re not getting into those schools. Hopefully you did apply to the branch schools etc, and those are more likely - even with your essay. But that doesn’t mean the college education will be easy - it won’t.
Good luck.
Regular Biology (10th): A- (this was an ez class tbh but I struggled with bio un 6th grade so much)
Regular physics (11th): B+
AP physics so far: C+
Honors Algebra 1 (8th grade): A
Honors Geometry (9th): C+
Algebra II: B+
Precalc: B
AP calc AB: D