<p>Alright. I'm a rising senior girl. Captain of the FIRST robotics team at a school, taking AP Physics, AP Calc AB, going to take math 2 sat. Many people have told me that i should go into a math/engineering degree 1.) because I'm a girl so it would be "easier" for me to get in, also because my various internships and ecs show it. PROBLEM: i don't really like math/physics its just a bit boring. robotics is the love of my life because its hands on, etc. how am i going to package myself for admission? Like, can I apply undeclared but talk about math/robotics in essays, etc and give an impression of a girl who is interested in STEM but not apply to any actual engineering schools/degrees? I really love history/social sciences...but where are the jobs for that haha</p>
<p>Unless you are applying to a specific school like engineering, most colleges don’t really consider your intended major. I’ve heard from more than one admission officer than half the people who start of with an intended major end up changing it so they don’t put a lot of weight in that when considering applications.</p>
<p>I would actually think that you can use that to your advantage. Colleges like to see well-rounded students, so if you can show an interest in both STEM and history/social sciences, then that would appeal to admissions officers. Applying as Undeclared is not a big deal; colleges know that students will change their majors a bunch of times anyway. </p>
<p>To echo the other posts, If you can figure out how to incorporate this “problem” into a college essay, it’s no longer a problem, it’s an advantage.</p>
<p>BTW, there are scholarships for FIRST participants. For instance, WPI has a full-tuition scholarship for a FIRST participant who is URM or female.</p>
<p>If you don’t like math/physics don’t let people talk you into that major because you “ought” to. You may love robotics, but to get into the field as a designer you will need an engineering degree. Engineering (mechanical or electrical) is going to be a 4-year slog thru applied calculus with a healthy dose of physics added. Perhaps you should consider being <em>involved</em> with robotics rather than a designer? Robotics companies have more than just engineers, they have people in marketing, sales, accounting, and any of the other activities that go with operating a business. Some may suggest trying to parlay your background into admissions to a selective school and then once in switch to something more to your liking. At least 2 problems with that are (1) adcoms are wise to kids trying to game the admissions process, and they’re a lot better at detecting it than the average kid in your lunchroom advising you to do this is in planning it (2) ECs are a “plus” factor that only come into play if you have the grades, scores, and recs that make you a strong candidate.</p>