Yes, she’s applied as a biology major elsewhere. Not sure where it was required to declare but she’s admitted to Loyola Maryland (presidential scholarship which is nice), Penn State, and Fordham (merit TBD).
Did REA at Notre Dame as a declared biology major and has been rejected. While it was a reach school, we (and her HS counselor) think her declared major was the reason she wasn’t at least deferred.
Just trying to put the best strategy together for her remaining target (UW-Madison) and reaches (Georgetown and UNC).
You don’t know that unless an AO directly told the counselor that.
Does she have activities and courses that support a bio major? Even though some schools might not admit to major and/or it’s easy to change majors, some will look to see if activities and courses support the chosen major when reading apps.
Good luck to her and congrats on the admits so far!
Thanks! Yes, she started a health occupation club at her school, volunteered at a local hospital, and was very specific in citing bio/life science papers and research by profs in her supplemental essays.
Thank you for clarifying. This is what I thought, but I was not entirely sure. When it comes to schools with very low acceptance rates, strong students often do not know why they were not accepted.
Given the choice of major and ECs, it appears that this student is premed/prehealth. All of the schools on her list will get her there.
For the courses, would that mean (assuming availability) taking all three of biology, chemistry, and physics, plus advanced biology or chemistry as the fourth science? Also, math through precalculus (calculus if available to the student) and the rest of the expected college prep courses (English, history and social studies, foreign language, arts).
I can’t answer that, I expect it varies somewhat by school and how they read apps.
Generally it is best for students to have four years in each of the five core subject areas and to also take bio, chem, and physics if looking at highly rejective schools.
Revisiting this thread for help as my D completes her UW-Madison app (which she plans to submit RD before 1/15). She’s submitted SAT and transcript last year but finishing up the app now and will follow with first semester grades.
We just reviewed her “why Wisconsin” essay, and it’s very specific about her goal to major in neuroscience or biology to become a doctor, and how this aligns so well with UW resources.
It’s a solid essay, but we are concerned again that being this specific in the pre-med area (and given the possibility she may change majors) is going result in UW comparing her to a more competitive pool of applicants, or that she is boxing herself into a specific major that is oversubscribed, making admission even more difficult.
Does anyone know if this is true, specifically at UW-Madison? Or does the school look at the merits of the applicant independent of the declared major?
Biology is not a restricted major at Wisconsin. This is based on what I have read and students I know who attended (unless things have changed). Personally, I would not be concerned about the major.
Wisconsin does attract strong applicants and if your daughter is not accepted, you will not know why.
Colleges also know that many students change their major, find new interests etc. They know that a biology major going in…may not be a biology major going out.
I would include something unique to Wisconsin in the “Why Wisconsin” essay, given that many..many…schools have excellent premed resources and she can really go anywhere for the prerequisites. She should also show why she is a good fit for the school, what she may contribute to the community etc (maybe she did). This is just my opinion, others may disagree.
Adding: Your daughter told them in the essay that she wants to become a doctor, so they know that she will be taking the prerequisites for med school, at least initially, regardless of major.
Thank you! Her first pick for major is neuroscience - not sure if the answer for UW-Madison changes with that. Will also take your suggestions for the essay.