What do you think about this admission "strategy"? Does it seem immoral or logical?

College Admissions
#1

<p>I'm thinking about applying to Cornell next year ED. My stats are quite good and I go to a very competitive private high school, but they're not GREAT. They don't set me apart for the area that I want to go into, which is engineering. However, my architecture stats are much better, considering I have a killer portfolio and a history of attending Cornell's intro to architecture program. Additionally, my artwork in generally is extremely strong. I have many extra curricula in the area and a 5 on my AP Art Portfolio. Because of my strong architecture portfolio, extra activities, immense creativity and the interview I would get for applying to the school of architecture, I feel like I would have a much better chance of getting into Cornell (or Carnegie Mellon and other top engineering schools) for architecture, even though I am quite aware that the architecture school is competitive. Therefore, I've been contemplating applying for architecture and then switching to engineering (either civil or chemical) later on in the year if I get in. I know this doesn't seem like a direct approach to getting admitted, but the college admissions process is cut throat and if it will raise my chances of getting in, I certainly do not mind doing this. I know that I might get a slight advantage for being a girl and applying for engineering, but I don't know if that is helpful enough to outweigh the benefits of applying for the architecture program. Is this a reasonable or unreasonable strategy? </p>

<p>I don't want to talk to my guidance counselor about this because I am afraid that she will not approve of this strategy and will not give me a sincere recommendation if I tell her. If you're wondering, the reason I am not looking at a career in architecture is because of its job market and the difficult that architects face when looking for a job when they leave school. Additionally, I feel that I am more passionate about engineering and math in general.</p>

<p>*I would also be willing to do this by applying for a major in Fine Arts and then switching to Engineering. Architecture seemed to be the most advantageous, however.</p>

#2

<p>you'll probably switch majors at least once in college, so I think its a logical plan. You might get accepted into cornell architecture, and they might wow you, and then you might stay in architecture. Or you might switch to engineering, realize you like something else better, and switch into something else. Plans change......</p>

#3

<p>I went to Cornell eons ago and one of the main reasons was that I had an interest in both architecture and enginnering. At least when I was at Cornell there were a couple issues with the plan. First, switching schools is not automatic and I'd check that the architecture school allows anyone to switch anytime before the end of their first year. The second catch is other than your freshman writing sminar there will be almost no overlap in classes ... and I'd guess if you did switch schools after your freshman year and switched to engineering you'd still be looking at 4 more years to finish an engineering degree (or some serious overloading) ... is paying for 5 years doable?</p>

#4

<p>I believe Cornell has an entire department dedicated to architecture, and the courses you take your freshman year will be specialized. Like the poster above me said, I would check whether a substantial amount of credits would transfer from architecture to engineering, because if not you might be looking at wasted time and $$</p>

#5

<p>You are not just applying to a major at Cornell but to a particular school within the university. This means that in order to switch majors from architecture to engineering you will effectively be transferring between schools. That means another application process, one that, like freshman admissions, will require you to be qualified for engineering in order to be admitted. You can't game the system.</p>

#6

<p>^oh yea forgot cornell does the school system. i'd research how hard it is to transfer schools and stuff, but in the end your applying ed and your a girl in engineering, i say just go for it all on freshman application process and apply to engineering school. I think they have school specific essays, so thats where you should let your passion for engineering shine thru.</p>

#7

<p>Ohhhh, I had no idea it was so difficult to switch between schools (although I did know about the school system). That's quite interesting. Thank you everyone for your feedback, it was quite helpful! Any additional feedback is also appreciated, of course.</p>

#8

<p>^Yup, it's going to be the same way a number of the schools you're considering applying to, I'm guessing. For example, at Carnegie Mellon, that switch would involve going from the College of Fine Arts to Carnegie Institute of Technology (the engineering college) - again, a total transfer between the different colleges within CMU.</p>