<p>So I had indicated to Barnard that I had wanted to study philosophy at the university, and I had briefly touched on wanting to also study physics. One of my recommenders (russian lit teacher) told Barnard I had wanted to study physics and philospophy, my other recommender said I wanted to be a journalist, and my GC said I was interested in political science. This is all what I had thought I had wanted but I keep changing my mind. What I am really meant to do is write. My essays are fantastic, and many people consider me to be a very strong writer. I have written creatively all my life, and I have been currently working on a 50 page novel that I am hoping to complete during college for publication. I had just taken the ACT, and I got a 26 (32 on reading, 27 on writing, and 23 on math and science). Based on my grades and this ACT score, there is an indication that science and math are not my strongest points. However I had told Barnard that I am interested in studying phyiscs and college (I had told my interviewer that I had wanted to be an English major). Can I write them a letter or indicate them somehow, about how I really want to be a writer, and that is what I want to do, and that I am very interested in Barnard’s English department? It is very evident from my application that I am a very strong writer, but I would hate for them to reject me based on the science part, since I had indicated interest in that on my app. (They may think “Well, if she is such a srong writer, then why doesn’t she major in English or and not physics? Why would she want to major in a science if her records do not indicate great success in the sciences?”) Can I tell them? And can I tell them how I would contribute the creative writing department? Or is it too late?</p>
<p>I am thinking it’s too late to be sending in such a statement at this point. But don’t stress too much about it. I personally don’t think Barnard would expect that applicants will know for sure what they want to major in! I know my d’s plans changed COMPLETELY once she began attending Barnard, and I don’t think this is atypical. Varied interests are not a bad thing. Hopefully, your application comes across as focused and does display your writing talents and your passion for that. If not, sad to say, it probably is too late to fix that. Unless you are wait listed, and THEN you can CERTAINLY send in such supplemental materials!!</p>
<p>I’d say that having a person with varied interests is actually what Barnard LIKES. It makes you interesting. And, from what I’ve read, Barnard is looking for people who are interesting. Please don’t look at your varied interests as a bad thing. That may even be the thing that GETS you in. Also, remember: Barnard reads the essays first. If they are, as you say, strong essays, then you should get in! Don’t worry about the scores. This is not a time for you to be stressing out; this is a time for you to be relaxing and enjoying life. Let the results come as they come.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry so much about it. You can send them something indicating where you actually see yourself fitting into Barnard’s intellectual community. But let me tell you this: tons of people think they know what they’re going to study when they go in and then change their course of study. This happens for a million reasons. And this is not to say that you’re not going to study English and creative writing. But I really didn’t understand exactly what interested me until I got to Barnard because college coursework is so different from high school (at least for me). And Barnard knows that all of this and they don’t expect you to know what you’re going to do. They just want to you to be interested and passionate about something, which you clearly are.</p>