<p>My kid was admitted as a prepharm major, but is now looking at one of the other bioscience programs. Is it possible to change directions when registering for classes?</p>
<p>If he's sure about the change then write them and request it before the May 1 enrollment date. I think it's better to know before committing to attend.</p>
<p>In case anyone else is in the same boat (thinking about a different major than the one in the application), my kid was told to write to the admissions office, and that the application would go back through the Admissions Committee again. I guess this makes sense if someone wants to switch into a more competitive school (nursing, etc.). </p>
<p>30+ years ago when I went to a large state university, it was so much easier. Everyone met general ed requirements the first two years and then applied to a major as a sophomore. If you were sure about your major you could use some of your electives to start getting credits but there wasn't any pressure to decide as a freshman and everyone was in the same boat. You worried about competition for your major as a sophomore, not as a freshman.</p>
<p>its actually quite easy to change. I am changing from Arts and sciences to the school of business. All you need is the prereq classes, and a certain gpa, and you are in! The office in thackery can do that for you.</p>
<p>Very easy to change majors. I changed in my first semester and know many who changed at least once.</p>
<p>Engineering has had lots of dropouts according to D. We got a parents newsletter at some point telling us the date the kid had to let the advisors know, and then they worked it out with A&S (or whoever).</p>
<p>I am confused about the advice you were told over the phone. Are they meaning you must resubmit your application, as in maybe you'll be de-admitted? That would be really weird if that were a possibility. otoh, if you declare a major like engrg, that is such a specialized dept, with their own advisors, money, etc., even their own Pittstart dates and stuff, I can see why you can't wait 'til you get there to tell them it's no go.</p>
<p>Are they just telling you it's a paper work thing, or could you be bumped out. Just curious.</p>
<p>The person in the Admissions office said that it will be reviewed as if it were a new admission. I asked if my kid could just talk to a counselor when registering for classes, and was told that the Committee would need to review for acceptance again. Perhaps the review lets them look at whether scholarships, etc. might be available in the new department? I'm guessing that they would just say that they'd put my kid in the general studies/liberal arts program instead of bumping completely, with a song and dance about applying later. Frankly, I'm not too sure how the whole declared major thing works for freshman anyway, especially when a major requires another application down the road.</p>
<p>My kid considered just trying to transfer once enrolled, but wants to be sure that the major is going to be available. Some of the Pitt majors like nursing are so competitive that transferring might not be a sure bet...and after going through a tough experience with one kid who had to transfer because of a change of major, we want to avoid doing it again if possible. </p>
<p>My kid is ok with doing going through the Admissions committee again, and seems pretty calm (maybe because there's a stack of acceptances on the dining room table, and even a few with some money!). Hopefully it will go well, since my kid is excited about the new major and really likes Pitt.</p>
<p>Just to put in my two cents, I have never heard of anyone at Pitt who tried to change a major and wasn't allowed. I did know someone who lost some scholarship money from changing, but that's about it.</p>