@Lift35 1) They won’t know which major you pick once enrolled or accepted. In fact, I would honestly not even mention major in essays or survey elements of the app because regardless of what you put (if anything), they’ll be able to get the hint from your EC’s. I am basically just saying if you plan to be the stereotypical pre-med/bio/NBB major, to increase your chances, you’ll want to have EC’s (could be non-science related) that perhaps make you unique or show much more aptitude in science than a normal person (even for a selective school) considering that track.
Given that, I do not think such a scheme will help (you would have to know enough about and be passionate enough about it to discuss it or show that you did many physics oriented activities in HS)…It’s tricky and not worth it to be honest. They would probably be looking to see if there is evidence that said person was “abnormally” strong in math or physics already as many physics majors are (many/most start with multivariable or higher as freshmen or whenever they take math). Usually physics and math majors at a place like Emory have already taken and made 4/5 on calc. BC and have also taken calc. based versions of physics and/or SATII’s and have done well. Some have shown even more aptitude in science than normal beyond just test taking. In other words, if you apply as a physics major and nothing in your resume or essays suggests that you are fit for that track, you’re honestly wasting your time and perhaps decreasing your chances. If you plan on just being a pre-med/anything that is typical on Emory’s campus, the best you should do is let your EC’s speak for themselves if you want a better chance than normal. Hopefully one’s resume would show that they are more than just pre-whatever stereotype. No need to embellish. I only meant that having the profile of certain majors/pre-prof tracks is disadvantageous statistically when so many of them apply and Emory doesn’t necessarily want as many as it used to. It’s kind of like applying to a school trying to game the rankings by running up its app. numbers and artificially decreasing admit rate by denying more people (despite having more apps) than previous years for no reason. Anyone applying to such schools in those is simply going to have a lower chance if nothing is special about them (okay, and even at these schools, most are just looking for “special” scores). The only difference is that Emory has a reason…attempting to regear the intellectual climate of the school.
There is nothing you could and should do other than demonstrate through essays that you are a fit in this new direction despite being whatever track you go on. If you are merely applying to Emory because “it is top ranked and lots pre-whatevers like me go there”, then you probably should not apply at all because you may not like some of the things that it is about to offer/implement (Seems there is a movement to add some “Chicagoesque” type of flavor to the intellectual climate through a top down approach). Like, I am concerned about how well received stuff like this:http://evidence.emory.edu/
will be among the current types of students we get…are you the kind of student who would appreciate the student events associated with all of this, or are you likely to be annoyed/disengaged. If the latter, apply with caution, if the former, sell yourself to get and come on to Emory. But this QEP thing is, in general, the direction that Emory is trying to go (I personally agree…but I realize the types of students we are dealing with, the “work hard play hard” types). Many students either do not really care much for intellectual engagement beyond the classroom at all and many certainly do not appreciate or respond to top down approaches. There are also things like this that will likely start taking shape if you are interested:http://college.emory.edu/home/administration/policy/faculty_reports.html (see academic engagement…) or this: http://liberalartsforwardemory.com/
This is mainly just kind of a warning as again, I think Emory is trying to move away from the, what I think is a very bland type of academic environment you get from being a “work hard play hard” type of school. If you find those type of environments ideal, I wouldn’t really consider Emory. It never was as “work hard play hard” (Emory is weird in that it gets tons of students who prefer those sorts of environments, but also gets a significant amount of students who would prefer more academic/intellectual intensity and given this, it has always felt like a weird combo of the schools who lean completely one way or the other…the nature of the academics and preferences of students kind of shows this as well as it is surprisingly rigorous for a school that usually puts itself in the “work hard play hard” column…one of the few such schools where some of the most difficult instructors in certain depts are most popular and well-respected) as other schools (particularly our southern counterparts, Duke and Vandy) claimed they were and seems to be trying to move away from it altogether. I think admissions is looking for people who would either willingly engage in or benefit from some of the changes it is trying to make. If you have to force yourself to look like such an applicant, I wouldn’t bother personally. Just thought you should know about the school before worrying so much about getting in.
lol. Seriously, look into something else, other departments have more exciting things going on (course offering wise, and the teaching is just better. Biology is saturated and is over-rated as a pre-health oriented major. NBB, chemistry, anthro, human health are generally better, more interdisciplinary, and more interesting) and you can still be pre-med or whatever you intend to do. Trust me, I was a bio major. You can take the best biology classes without being a major. Some of the classes are taught like you’re in HS or something…why bother? It will afford no MCAT advantage