I am applying to neuroscience major, and for 11th and 12th HS years, I did not have physics or chem subjects, I only had bio and maths. I also have a research paper (personal project) in neuroscience and shadowed a doctor (cuz i want to be a doctor). I have good grades at both IB bio HL (7) and maths AA SL (6), but I was wondering if my subjects can hinder my application (subjects are: business management ; history ; bio ; spanish ; math ; english)? since I know that for neuroscience you have to know/understand physics and chem. I had High School physics and chemistry during 9th and 10th grade (had like a B, not the best but not the worst) so I do have background knowledge of the subjects.
My counsellor said that in the US, you are applying to the college, not the major, so it doesn’t affect your admissions process, unlike EU and UK. Is she right? If not, how badly will it affect my overall application and chances of being admitted to ivys t20s.
First I will ask the obvious…why top 20 colleges. Please understand these colleges are reaches for all applicants with extremely low %ages of admission, and even lower for international students.
If you want to study in the U.S. you need to broaden your search.
You also need an affordable option in your home country.
Second. For most top 20 colleges, the expectation is you will take four years each of math, English, Social studies, science and a foreign language.
@MYOS1634 perhaps you can comment as this sounds like an international student.
Yes sorry, I am an international student. The reason as to why, is because I have a small chance to get in and why not try it :D. I also do have safety colleges, and I do have other uni’s in Europe and in my country where I could study. I did not dive into this without a back up plan
There is zero expectation that you have physics or chem in 11th or 12th if you had them in 9th and 10th. And students doing IBDP physically can’t do bio/chem/physics in 11th and 12th; the most you can do is 2, and even that depends on the HS.
As others have said, most US universities don’t admit by major.
Regardless, since you’ve already applied to colleges, all this conversation falls into the category "it is what it is "
Actually, both @thumper1 and @DadOfJerseyGirl have been around for a while and consistently give good advice and information. So rest assured, we all have you covered.
No one here knows how the admission selection will go this Spring with individual students. Respondents are guessing based upon their children’s experiences, and/or previous acceptances/rejections provided by student responses on this website.
You’ve got several months of waiting. Seeking others “opinions” isn’t going to guarantee the answer that you want.
Continue with your studies, get involved in your community. Remember with US colleges and universities, there are NO guarantees. Realistically, there are more rejections than acceptances at those tough schools. There are over 3500 colleges and universities in the United States, yet every international student seeks out those seven colleges. Your chances are very limited
Most of those colleges are not that big, and they accept maybe 1 or 2 international students, out of tens of thousands of students applying from all parts of the world, to US colleges and universities. This does not include the domestic students, who also apply. You could have a perfect record and yet not be accepted. That’s just the way it is.
Your best bet is to continue to do well with your studies; continue to be involved in your community and if you get into a school, great. If you don’t get in it’s because there just isn’t space for the millions of college students that want to go to those elite universities.
I’ll add that “top 20” seems VERY arbitrary. It’s like deciding on 20 universities in Europe - Imperial surely but if you want international relations? And you include Sciences Po but what do you do if your subject is CS or Environmental Science or Medicine or Law? Do you rank best undergraduate teaching or best professional outcomes?
Even rank-obsessed HS students would admit that Top 40 national universities + Top 20 National LACs would have to be included, or replace the top 20 LACs with Top 20 Tech schools for Engineering…
I understand you already applied but it’s a bit of a head scratcher why you chose to limit yourself to 20 (I assume USNWR but could be Forbes?)
