<p>I applied as a transfer student to the University of South Carolina for Fall 2014. If accepted, I plan to major in Social Work and minor in Spanish and African American studies. I wonder though, does your intended major affect the admissions decision? Is it possible that a student who transfers into a major that is not very popular (like Social Work at U of SC) is more likely to be accepted than a student who transfers into an extremely popular major (like Nursing)? I know that other factors such as GPA, transfer credits, etc. play a part in being accepted, but does the intended major play a part as well?</p>
<p>In most cases, yes, it does.</p>
<p>Yes it does.</p>
<p>At my school, different majors have different GPA minimums. The most popular majors like engineering require around a 3.0 while a classics major will get admitted with anything north of a 2.5.</p>
<p>Yes. Transfer admission to top-tier schools like Penn and Cornell is (only slightly) easier depending on which college you apply to (a liberal arts major would have a better chance than say, a business major). That being said, at larger institutions, for certain majors there are additional applications for their specific programs, such as business, engineering, design, etc and these can be much more difficult to get into having both specific admissions requirements and being high-demand programs.</p>
<p>The required GPA at U of SC’s College of Social Work is a 2.5, but I have a 3.2. I’ve also taken most of the required general ed courses for the Social Work major at my current community college. I hope that I get accepted! Also, the College of Social Work is a new program that was added in Fall of 2009, and currently has over 70 students in the BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) program. Compare this to the number of students attending U of SC, (10,000), and it is pretty much a small program.</p>
<p>That makes sense for a new program. Broadening the availability to potential students is a way to increase enrollment in their Social Work major. I’m sure if it continues to increase in popularity the admissions standards will increase as well. I know University of Oregon’s College of Business is in the process of raising their minimum GPA for acceptance into their program. As popularity increases, so will the admissions standards.</p>
<p>Does it help to get into competitive schools for new admittees – i.e. a h.s. senior who puts down a liberal arts intended major vs. a pre-med or business-related major?</p>
<p>What about applying undeclared? Does that hurt chances, help, or do nothing? I am pretty sure what major I want to declare, but not 100%, so I’m curious.</p>
<p>Please use old threads for information only, use the New Thread button to ask your question.</p>
<p>p.s. proudfather, there is no such thing as a pre-med major. An applicant can major in anything and apply to med school as long as they have taken the prerequisite coursework; D1 was an English major and entered med school this year.</p>