<p>Hello everyone</p>
<p>I'm a prospective international student. I had been, in my early years, doing intense visual arts and won things to hang in the hall of fame too. I suffered a shift when all my attention was grabbed by physics after I started taking it seriously, and I love it! But, as I started late, I have few achievements to boast on my encounters with physics. What major should I opt for? I really want to go into Physics, but my profile isn't parallel. I do have a connection between the two, but if you overlook that one essay stating it, they're separate! I'm not ambiguous about deciding my major. I just have an unparalleled profile. Suggestions please.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Any school that lets you apply without picking a major, probably.</p>
<p>I’m the same way, kind of - I switched from physics to English my senior year, so I have nothing humanities related on my transcript/resume. I’m taking a gap year and applying as an English major. Assuming that you’re not taking a gap year, just write in the “additional information” section a short explanation. Adcoms expect people to change their minds at least once in high school/college, so don’t stress about it. Apply as a physics major since that’s what you really want to do. :)</p>
<p>Thanks @dividerofzero and @LAMuniv
I’ll shoot off with Physics as my choice, because I’m pretty sure of it. And I’ve won a handful state science fairs and other related competitions, and scored perfect in APs and subject tests; I guess that would be enough to showcase my interest and ability in science.</p>
<p>@gursampannu Yes, that’s plenty to showcase your interest. It sounds like finding your passion was a real journey for you- I think “changing your mind” works out in your favor here.</p>
<p>@dividerofzero It isn’t really a ‘change’ for me. I have both my tech arts (intuitive) and science (quantitative) ambitions connected to a basic idea; I’d just been carrying it through 2 different realms. </p>
<p>And thank you very much for clearing the ambiguity and directing the answer to my favor :P</p>
<p>@gursampannu Oh, then you’re a rare bird with unique and interesting interests. I want to see where you end up now :D</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Are you planning to apply to specialized Science/Engineering schools like MIT or CalTech, or to more general liberal arts colleges? At the latter, you usually do not have to declare a major, and can choose almost any department you like. Most colleges like to tell applicants that the most popular major among entering students is “Undecided” or “Undeclared.” Have you looked at the College of Creative Studies at University of California-Santa Barbara? It might be perfect for you. </p>
<p>Primarily, all schools that have a great physics program. So, of course, specialized schools and those which excel in every domain. I may apply to some liberal arts college, but they’re not intuitively preferred by me. Also, I saw UCSB already has an unexpectedly great rank in physics, and the CCS is a charm. But one more thing that I have forgotten to mention is that I need some serious amount of financial aid to support a $8,500 income. :-< And I’m skeptical about UCSB’s financial aid.
And about not declaring the major, I am pretty sure that I’ll take up physics, anyway. I am just a little worried that choosing physics and then not supporting it with many specific achievements might hinder selection. </p>
<p><a href=“Net Price Calculator - UCSB Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships”>http://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/AidEstimator.aspx</a> will estimate UCSB financial aid. For an $8,500 family income as a dependent student, the net price will be $9,800 for a California resident, $32,678 for a non-resident. The resident cost of $9,800 could be (barely) covered with a federal direct loan ($5,500 maximum) and some student work earnings ($4,300 if you take the maximum federal direct loan). The non-resident cost would be unrealistic.</p>
<p>MIT does have a significant number of non-science departments and majors: <a href=“http://web.mit.edu/facts/academic.html”>http://web.mit.edu/facts/academic.html</a> . MIT also has a fairly heavy set of general institute requirements: <a href=“http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2018/subjects/”>http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2018/subjects/</a></p>
<p>For all colleges that you consider, check the net price calculator on its web site to estimate financial aid.</p>
<p>As an international student, your financial aid opportunities will be limited and perhaps your admissions chances, depending on where you are from and where you want to go.</p>
<p>Many of the schools that give great international financial aid are also extremely hard to get into.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus Thanks! Yeah I did calculate the aid earlier, and it wasn’t really in my favor. MIT is really the best fit for me. It would have been better if MIT was less selective alongside being need-blind. Getting in is a big deal!</p>
<p>@HappyHelper It’s narrowing my list down to a handful available to apply. I could perhaps find some universities that give scholarships, not financial aid, to internationals and expand my field of view. Anyone who has got a reference? I heard about UofRochester and UofWisconsin-Madison giving some…</p>