<p>I would like to get into a certain university’s education program. I also really want to do their high school program in a different area- musical -that would probably increase my chances to their college. I’m a pretty darn good musician (if I do say so myself). But I don’t want to go into music. I have a feeling that their music program might be a tad bit more relaxed about my low GPA, especially considering I’m a legacy.</p>
<p>Can I apply for their music school with the intention of transferring to the education program? That sounds kind of iffy to me, but my dad said they wouldn’t care.</p>
<p>So what if you’re lying? It may not be perfectly ethical, but if I were you I would just go ahead and do it. BUT BE WARNED: it may be hard to transfer from a less competitive program to a more competitive one. So in doing so, you’re taking a risk.</p>
<p>In fact, I would suggest its done all the time. But the admissions officers are on to the game and look for obvious disconnects, such as someone saying they want to be a biochemist and having a couple of C’s on their transcript in the sciences. Or someone who says they want to be an engineer and have very little math. Or someone who says they want to become a teacher and there is nothing in their background to suggest that is true and their recommendations say something else entirely. </p>
<p>People have intentions and they can change. People can also have a wish and when they get there find out its not really what they want to do. Education is not as easy as it seems and involves a lot of statistical analysis and methodology training courses wholly unrelated to the subjects you want to teach. </p>
<p>And sometimes to switch majors you have to reapply or get the permission of the Dean of that college. </p>
<p>You are not lying in a pure sense because you are in fact a musician. And when you get there you may decided to retain your music major. And many music majors also go into music education. So its not a stretch. </p>
<p>I think you are fine. But to be sure apply to some safety schools that have music education. You may be surprised where they are: Mississippi State, Loyola-New Orleans have respected programs.</p>
<p>Are music and education in different schools in the university? If so, it may be more difficult, since it’s not just a change in major but a transfer between different schools that may have different admissions offices and different requirements.</p>
<p>Good luck. At some colleges, one has to be accepted by the college first, and then, after that acceptance, one has to be accepted by the music school. If you don’t get into the college, the music school rejects you. I know this is how it works at Lawrence University which has an excellent music school and also an excellent liberal arts school. Large universities likewise won’t let you switch colleges without reapplying to the new college, especially if the one new college that want to transfer to is difficult to get accepted by. Colleges are wise to such gaming of the application process. They were not born yesterday. However, if the idea is to change from music to music education, those are in the same college and apparently much simpler to switch between. However, if you are really ultimately interested in education, like a 5th grade teacher education, few want to do that due to the lackluster future salaries offered to teachers so the college mught jump for joy to get you.</p>
<p>As long as you’re sure it’s easy to transfer, no big deal. Most students change majors at least once. But there are many schools, especially state schools, where changing majors can be very difficult, though education is not normally one of the uber popular majors, so it’s much safer than trying to transfer to business, engineering, BME or accounting.</p>
<p>It is perfectly reasonable to apply to the music program (I take it this is music-performance) and plan to seek teacher certification at the same time. This might be some kind of joint BFA-BSEd. or BM-BSEd. degree. Talk to the music department and ask how it is done. If you do complete a joint degree like that, it probably will take four rather than five years.</p>
<p>After you get there, if you decide you really want to drop the performance focus, and concentrate on the education aspect, you won’t be the first one. Just like there is bound to be a classmate of yours who drops the education part to devote his/her time to performance and a bunch of others who change into some major that is completely unexpected.</p>
<p>I took the OP’s original post to mean he/she wanted to major in education…like a high sch. or elem sch. classroom teacher but thought his/her chances of being accepted to the univ. might be best through the music dept. He/she has no interest in pursuing a music degree at the college and would want to change majors (to education) after acceptance.</p>
<p>I mean, you’re asking on a message board if it’s ethical-in my opinion, that means you already know the answer. I personally wouldn’t, as I couldn’t let myself-it’s basically lying to the school. You’re your own person though; do what you feel comfortable with.</p>
so the college mught jump for joy to get you.</p>