<p>So I don't really know whether I want to study engineering or some type of business (economics or finance) in college. However I don't want to apply to WUSTL undecided as I feel it shows lack of direction and commitment. So I'm going to apply one or the other. Background in each:</p>
<p>Business:</p>
<p>-started financing club at school
-attended a summer program about business at a top 20 school
-i've had a job for 6 years</p>
<p>engineering:</p>
<p>-had an interest in it for a long time
-part of a nationally and internationally recognized engineering team at my school (after senior year it will be 3 years of involvement) and might go to Istanbul for a competition if i am chosen for the "varsity" squad next year
-strong background in math...sort of...im a rising senior and will be taking ap calc bc next year. sophomore year I took honors precalc and got a B and a B+. last year i took ap calc ab and got an A- and B+ and a dismal 3 on the AP test. ;__;</p>
<p>So what would you guys recommend? I will be applying early decision if that makes a difference.</p>
<p>Business. It’s a more general curriculum and involves areas that are not math-specific. Unfortunately, that 3 on an AP test tells me that maybe the subject was just a touch too hard for you and that you’re a year ahead in math. Not that math isn’t a strength, it’s just that you might have been better off getting As and A+s if you took Honors Prec as a junior and the AP as a senior.</p>
<p>Engineering, by contrast, is intensely focused in math, from the get-go. You should def. take some engineering classes during college, to be certain of your end goals, but for now, I say to stick with Biz.</p>
<p>You want help to decide your major? Not a chance. Your major could easily determine your first job out of college and from there, your entire career.</p>
<p>Besides, putting down that you are undecided on your application is not such a bad thing. Many people have no idea what they want to do when they apply to college. If anything, just put down a few majors that interest you…it’s not like they’re binding. But you don’t even have to do that if you don’t want to. Your academic credentials will determine whether or not you get in to WashU, and the fact that you’re applying ED helps you as well.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to insult, but you are truly a pathetic soul if you decide to let someone else have ANY input in your decision. Just go with your gut/heart. And if you still can’t decide, put Undecided. The world won’t end right then and there.</p>
<p>Not sure what the statistics of this is, but a huge proportion of kids in every college throughout the country changes their major 2-3+ times before they decide.</p>
<p>I disagree with ^. I think it does help you to have a quick answer to that annoying question you will hear at least 20 times a week this year alone, “So what do you want to major in?” Your answer says, “I have a direction.” You can add that you may change it, but it helps to have a handy answer. It also helps to form what’s known as “your whole package”. Interviewers won’t know every detail about you, but if you highlight the parts that show what you’ve done in business (if you want to say you’re interested in majoring in Economics), then they’ll remember that.</p>
<p>By contrast, if you say you’re undecided, the interviewer won’t know where you’re possibilities lie…Science? Art? Foreign Languages? Math? Of course you may change, but see this process from another person’s point of view and you’ll pick a major based on what makes sense from what you’ve been doing and loving at HS so far.</p>
<p>I think I need to rephrase my point…I’m just looking to put down whatever I look strongest in for the school. I may or may not actually pursue that major in college. it’s about what I look like on paper, not what I actually want to do (although I almost certainly will major in engin or econ). </p>
<p>And also I will be applying for scholarships to show interest (don’t actally plan on getting any of them). How many is too many? And is 2 enough?</p>
<p>You can apply to all the scholarships offered to you, though that is a lot of hassle. If you want to show interest, definitely apply for the big ones. (ones offering full or half tuition)</p>
<p>I agree that you should choose business, so put Olin as your first choice and engineering second. The scholarships available to you will be determined by which school in WashU is on the top of your list. Also, have you considered applying ED? If you do so, you will show more than enough interest and you won’t have to go through the whole RD app process.</p>