Dilemma: Who chooses Public Policy Major, why, and what are the prerqusites

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I am considering applying as a Public Policy Major. I guess, to clarify, I want to be a PP major and do pre-med. I hope it is applicable to apply with the following info. Other than my ECs, grades, and everything else, this is the ONLY thing bothering me:</p>

<p>As for my current plans, I just graduated from high school. I went to a pretty good boarding high school, but I only took the basic sciences for the first three years. At my school, we were only limited to taking 5 classes a year, but I did not take any AP Science courses. I wanted to pursue AP Latin and Dance in my senior year, and since AP science is double-period (taking twice the amount of time as a normal course), I had some course issues. I have, however, taken the basic sciences -bio,chem, physics during freshman, soph, and junior years.
-I am actually submitting reccs from my latin teacher and dance teacher (dance supplement).</p>

<p>Thus I decided that I was going to take my year off right now to go to India, my birthplace, where I had not actually been there in over 10 years.. and do several things:</p>

<p>1.) Volunteer in a hospital everyday (3 hours)
2.) Take 3 science classes at a biomedical science college.. particularly AP bio, physics C, and chemistry. (4 hours)
3.) On part-time do reserach with a professor. This is where I may plan on submitting the paper. My fear is that my one year of science may not produce anything spectacular, but I still would like to submit something. (two days a week)</p>

<p>I feel anxiety and concern that Duke may see that I did not take any AP science classes in high school and that I am racking up all these classes in my year off. This is my biggest concern. Usually, people who take gap years do something unique- intern at NY Times, or do a heavy work of community service- but not academic work. </p>

<p>Overall, this year off will help me serve to connect both academically in learning a solid science background and also personally as these expereriences of community service will be things that I have not experienced before. Community service is definitely my biggest EC with experiences ranging from both local to international. In addition, I have held leadership positions in many other clubs. So I want to come off that beyond academic, my other work in India which occupies my time is of great desire and that its definetely a quality I would like to bring to the college atmosphere.</p>

<p>Thus, I am struggling with how to come off to Duke to really understand why I am taking this year off instead of the attitude from adcoms, "Well, why didn't he just take those courses in high school."</p>

<p>Now, my concern is that, I am taking these classes in preparation for science in college, or premed. When I apply as a major, I do not wish to put a major such as "biology" because I think that it may draw too much attention on the issue of why I took the gap year in the first place. </p>

<p>If I put science major, then the thought will arise as to why im racking up science in a year, an impression I do not wish to give. I rather want adcoms to see me using this time to build up my science knowledge and for the learning enrichment. </p>

<p>What is also really important is that, I want colleges to recognize that I am taking these AP science courses in Bio, Chem, and Physics- because ultimately I will take the AP exams on May 2006, but I also want them to acknowledge these AP courses in the sense that it is for my own learning not just a kid who is using this gap year for more college credits. In addition, I do not even plan on transferring these college credits to any US university, but rather, it is only for my learning pleasure.</p>

<p>One important thing- I do not plan on majoring in a science, but still do the pre-med track.</p>

<p>-If i say classics major- I have an excellent recc from my latin teacher- the classics and premed perhaps is a unique blend.
-If I say PP major, my community service experiences are what will truly define my character and my overall academic background.</p>

<p>Thus, I really want to come off to adcoms that my year has been productive, but yet, I fear that attitude of adcoms about why I am taking these courses in my year off in the first place. So any inputs on how to resolve this issue would really help me. As I have to make a report on what I have done, I need to come off with my best foot forward.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot. I really appreciate any thoughts.</p>

2

<p>Here's my thought: Duke is not in your future.</p>

3

<p>You don't have to put a major down when you apply. And you might as well be honest and tell them you are taking the courses to pursue an interest you didn't have the time to in high school. Nothing wrong with that, that I can see. I don't know that you really have to justify every single choice you made as long as you can emphasize what makes you interesting. I think volunteering and studying in India in a gap year is pretty interesting in and of itself. Travel and whatnot...</p>

4

<p>I think that you're over thinking this and will probably give yourself an ulcer in your year off...</p>

<p>My roommate is pre-med science major and she didn't take AP science in high school... or if she did, she didn't take any of the AP exams. They're not going to be like "Well this kid is really bright and qualified for Duke, but they want to major in a natural science and have no APs [or loaded on AP-level course work on a gap year], let's reject them" because at least to me, the idea of college (especially Duke) is not to come in already at the top of your game in the field you ultimately want to study. Duke wants to be able to teach you that, and quite honestly, having taken regular level high school chem or physics or bio is sufficient for that. </p>

<p>I agree with Dukegirl06 in that you don't need to justify every single choice you make, because quite honestly, you're probably going to have one of the most well-rounded and interesting (if not overwhelming and exhausting) gap years. They're not going to spend tons of time analyzing everything as you do, and they're probably not going to find too much fault with you taking a year off, because visiting India and doing all sorts of interesting things is going to make you a very interesting candidate. But it's true-- you didn't have time to take these higher level science courses in high school, and that's not your fault-- this is a great opportunity for you to explore them before college.</p>

<p>But honestly, if you want to major in biology or science, then PUT IT. I really doubt they care too much about it, considering how may students apply undecided-- they also know that you're not in college yet and there's room for change. I really wouldn't worry about it, because at least in my opinion, choosing your major on your application is one of the most insignificant things on the entire application (unless you're a girl going for engineering, or you have abysmal science grades and are picking a science major, or something like that)</p>