Do I have to choose my program now?

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>At this point, I’m not exactly decided on what I want to major in. For Penn, I might want to go into Computer Science at their Engineering/Applied Sciences school, Physics at their Arts and Sciences school, or the Dual Degree Program in Computer and Cognitive Science. Do I have to make a concrete decision now? If I get accepted and go to Penn, would I be allowed to switch between schools and programs?</p>

<p>Also, I am a Questbridge Finalist, and as such I am forwarding my application to Penn. Is it necessary/recommended that I fill out the optional supplement that introduces myself to Penn if I will mostly be summarizing what I wrote about in my Questbridge application?</p>

2

<p>It is usually impossible to join a dual degree program after it begins, due to the competitive admissions process to get into it in the first place. If you are unsure between Physics in CAS and Computer Science in SEAS, then you should just choose one school to apply to. Your freshman year schedule will be pretty similar for either of the two majors (physics, math, etc.), and you can always take courses between the 2 schools to see which major/school you prefer.</p>

<p>Near the end of freshman year, you can apply for an internal transfer to switch to the other school if you wish to. As long as you have done pretty well in the related courses (physics, math, etc.), you will likely be able to transfer. You can also do a double major from one of the schools in both majors, which many students do. You only get 1 degree (from your “home” school), but you still officially complete 2 majors. Keep in mind that you do not have to declare your major right away, and many students change their mind within the first year (or even the first few weeks).</p>

<p>I’m not familiar with the Questbridge application, but you should do the optional supplement to express your interest in Penn. Try to be more specific about why you want to go to Penn, not just any other top-ranked college.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<ul>
<li>freshman in CAS, prospective biophysics major</li>
</ul>