Change in the application information- To tell or not to tell?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I recently applied as an International Transfer to a few schools (Reed, Grinnell, Kenyon, Amherst, Oberlin and Sarah Lawrence). I would be transferring as a first-semester sophomore. However, there have been some changes in my plans and I want to know if I should notify the admissions office or not...</p>

<p>When I applied, I was registered for 4 summer courses in Agroecology at my school (16 credits), which would make a total of 56 transferrable credits by this fall. The transcripts I sent to these schools show those attempted credits and the 4 courses I registered for. However, I have been offered a great opportunity that I believe would be a lot better for my career, and more relevant to my major (Environmental Policy & Law): I was accepted for an internship program in my country's Congress. I would attend the Sessions of the House of Representatives and the Congress, interview functionaries in high positions in the Environmental Commissions, do research on the past, present and future environmental policies and reforms, visit meetings of the main political Parties, get in touch with NGO's law firms and agencies working for environmental conservation, and so on. However, I would get no credit for it. I would have to write a research paper with my conclusions, but it would hold no academic value besides my learning. I don't know if I should contact the office of admissions in these colleges and tell them that there has been a change in plans, so they should no longer take into account the 4 summer courses listed on my transcripts. At the same time, if I waited to tell them until I got accepted (if I do at all :), I'm afraid that they might revoke their decision and tell me to apply again next year. I want to act with integrity though, regardless of the outcome.</p>

<p>What should I do?</p>

2

<p>It’s probably in your best interest to notify them, rather than not tell them and have them find out later. I doubt it would hurt you to choose this over 16 credits. It’s a huge opportunity!</p>

3

<p>Your plans have changed, so you notify them. There is no reason for them to make a decision based on outdated information. </p>

<p>Who knows, they may find what you are doing now more interesting than taking summer classes, which anyone can do.</p>

4

<p>Thanks to both for your input. Do you think I should include the formal description of the internship program in my explanation so that they believe me, or would it be too much? It’s a 2-page document. I just want to make clear that I didn’t decide to not take the summer studies because I’m slacking…</p>

5

<p>Yes tell them, and yes, include the description of the internship problem to the cover letter.</p>

6

<p>Sure, they can read as much of it as they choose to.</p>