Faculty of Arts vs. Faculty of Science

Colleges and Universities A-Z McGill University
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<p>Ok, so, ideally, I would like to study Cognitive Science, which is an interfaculty program. I would have to be accepted to the "Faculty of Arts and Sciences," which as far as I know isn't a real thing, it's just how McGill describes the dual BA/BSc program on their application.</p>

<p>Alternatively, I would want to enroll in the Faculty of Science, with Faculty of Arts being my last choice.</p>

<p>Here are my questions: </p>

<p>Is it more difficult to gain admission to the Faculty of Science than to the Faculty of Arts (or vice versa)?</p>

<p>Is it more difficult to gain admission to the dual degree program ("Faculty of Arts and Science") than it is to gain admission to either Faculty of Science or Faculty of Arts?</p>

<p>Does which faculty one is admitted to depend simply on personal strengths (measured by grades/standardized tests)?</p>

<p>My concern is this: I have significantly better grades in English classes and on the verbal sections of my SAT/ACT than I do in in Math, but I still want to study science. In addition to this, my grade in precalculus is a low B, which doesn't quite meet their minimum requirements for Faculty of Science.</p>

<p>For a frame of reference, I have 790 on SAT verbal, 650 on SAT math, 32 on ACT (with 35 verbal and 29 math), 790 on SAT II Bio and 750 SAT II Literature, with a 3.7 GPA.</p>

<p>I think I'll definitely get into Faculty of Arts with my scores, but I'm really hoping to get into that dual degree program or at the very least get into Faculty of Science.</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>Personally, I would think twice about the Arts and Science Program, because it is quite messed up, especially in your first year. Firstly, the programs that you are in are truncated (less courses), which I think is bad. Secondly, the number of interdiciplinary programs are quite limited, so just in case you hate whatever you are doing, you do not much many options to just switch to something elese. Thirdly, as it stands, you can still do cognitive science in the Faculty of Arts, which I think you have a better chance at getting in, plus there are so many Arts programs to choose from that you are versatile in your major choice. </p>

<p>Questions:
Is it more difficult to gain admission to the Faculty of Science than to the Faculty of Arts (or vice versa)?
I would say so, yes. </p>

<p>Is it more difficult to gain admission to the dual degree program ("Faculty of Arts and Science") than it is to gain admission to either Faculty of Science or Faculty of Arts?</p>

<p>Does which faculty one is admitted to depend simply on personal strengths (measured by grades/standardized tests)?
Yes, much so. Very much so.</p>

<p>I recommend that you send in your ACTs, they look quite good compared to your SATs.
I guess it depends, but yes.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for your reply - it was very helpful. Are you sure you can still do cognitive science in the Faculty of Arts? As you are probably aware, McGill's website is somewhat difficult to navigate, but I didn't see cognitive science listed as a major for Faculty of Arts. </p>

<p>My major areas of interest are neuroscience, psychology, biology, and philosophy.</p>

<p>I have thought for a while now that I want to study neuroscience, but McGill's program in CogSci seemed to fit me better than a major in neuroscience.</p>

<p>Psychology I know is offered through both Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science. Neuroscience is offered through Faculty of Science. I don't think I would want to major in philosophy or biology unless I was double majoring.</p>

<p>I'm not too concerned about the lack of flexibility in the Cognitive Science program, because it is composed of things I want to study anyway, but if you could recommend any other approaches that you think would be better with regards to a specific major or program, that would be great. </p>

<p>Currently, I have to decide where I am going to apply. My first instinct would be to send out two applications, one to Faculty of Science, listing Faculty of Arts as a backup, and one to Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The downside to this would be paying two application fees, which isn't too much of an issue. What are your thoughts on this? </p>

<p>Another question: how difficult would it be to transfer from Faculty of Arts to Faculty of Science if I were at McGill? </p>

<p>On a side note, I was going to send both my SATs and my ACTs. A 1440 on the SAT is actually considered to be slightly better than a 32 ACT, but my ACT math is better than my SAT math, so I thought I'd just send everything and let them decide. </p>

<p>Thanks a lot.</p>

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<p>I don't think you will be able to do cognitive science in the faculty of arts. If you know you want to study SCIENCE, then the faculty of arts is not for you. i.e. many people are in the faculty of arts because they do not know what they want to study. If you are entering as U0, you will need to take required freshman courses in your faculty and science courses are considered electives in the faculty of arts.
As for transferring, I know somebody who transferred from faculty of arts into faculty of arts and science, but that was before she entered first year.
Arts and Science is supposedly the hardest faculty to get into out of the three. But if you really want to play on the safe side, you can apply to all three and see which ones accept you. I wouldn't worry about it too much.</p>