How awkward is this ?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I’m a 1st year undergrad applying to a school as a transfer. I want to add another major to my curriculum and my school doesn’t have it. I have an exact idea of what classes I want to take at this other school. I’m asking one of TAs (a grad student, there is no prof for that class) to recommend me. Is it weird for me to include both my resume and a course schedule featuring what classes I would take in my 6 semesters there ? My point is to let him know what it is exactly that I want to study and how it relates to my other major because this double-major combination seems a bit random otherwise.</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

2

<p>Do you know this TA?</p>

3

<p>I’m not sure I understand the situation. Is the TA at the NEW school, or at the school you are at NOW? Assuming he is at the school you are at now, I don’t see a problem with giving him a list of classes or a program showing what you would like to do at the new school so he can speak to your abilities and interest in those particular areas.</p>

4

<p>Yeah he’s at my current school. I just didn’t want to look like I’m over-thinking this or like I’m so confident I’ll get in I already selected classes while I just looked into the courses to make sure the double major thing would actually work out schedule-wise and so that I could evaluate what readings/preview I’d be doing during the summer if I get in.
Yeah I know this TA for sure, I’m taking his class, always show up and use office hours.</p>

5

<p>If you just tell him, “this is the sort of stuff I am interested in doing” I don’t think he’ll be bothered by the course list. If you know this person he probably already knows you are not super arrogant.</p>

6

<p>I think it’s a plus, really. If you present it in the context of “I want to transfer because I’m looking for a unique, specific combination of subjects and these two majors at XYZ College combined will fit my purpose exactly,” then anyone who reads it will know:

  • you have a concrete plan
  • you’ve thought it over carefully
  • your choice of the transfer college is conscious and deliberate
  • the transfer college meets a specific need for you that your current college does not meet</p>

<p>That last part is an important and, I think, sometimes overlooked component of “fit.”</p>

7

<p>I see, thank you all.</p>