I recently found out that NEU doesn’t consider second choice majors during the application process. Long story short, I’m torn between majoring in Computer Science and Journalism. Although I definitely personally prefer computer science, I’m more experienced in the field of writing professionally, and I have actually been able to edit/write professionally since I was a sophomore in high school. My humanities-based test scores are much stronger than my math-based test scores, as well.
I think it would be more likely that I’m admitted as a Journalism major than as a CS major, since from my understanding Northeastern’s CCIS is more competitive. I’ve thought about applying to CCIS under a Computer Science/Journalism major since I think that it would improve my chances of admission. My question is, how difficult would it be for me to switch from this major into pure Computer Science or maybe even pure Journalism? Easier or harder than if I just chose one or the other to begin with? Thanks.
Northeastern claims that the admissions criteria are the same for all programs. I’m skeptical but who knows. Switching ,majors prior to starting classes seems fairly easy based on posts here on CC in the past. @PengsPhils may know more.
I can confirm: CCIS has grown because of the admission rate being supposedly steady across the colleges. Two years ago, when I got into the college (CCIS), we had three academic advisors (split amongst the students) - we now have six.
If Northeastern has significantly different admit rates by college behind closed doors, they are doing a great job of hiding it. That said, no one can say for sure, but the admissions office clearly states that the admission rates don’t vary.
Switching majors is also very easy, no matter the college. There won’t be a difference between your choice. If you get in and decide you need to change your major, you can even do it before you come to campus!
All of that is so that you can apply to the major you want. If you have EC’s relevant to both CS and Journalism, or talk about both in your essay, and then only apply to one, admissions isn’t going to contextualize those EC’s with your major. Applying as both a CS/Journalism major will contextualize the holistic review of your EC’s.
Short Version: Apply to CS/Journalism (assuming you are interested in the dual degree - otherwise, choose one, either is fine) - switching is easy, and there shouldn’t be any different admissions chances, and even further, your entire application will be framed in the context of your intended major. If you aren’t interested in the dual degree, switching before Fall even is very doable.
I’m a current student in CCIS and I can confirm the earlier post; I applied to the school as a dual CS/Journalism major and switched with relative ease. If you think it’s your best shot, apply as combined and switch later - as far as I know switching majors within CCIS is not too difficult.
At an campus tour of CCIS this year, a CCIS faculty member told me there are currently 1010 total students enrolled in CCIS, of which 50% are part of a combined major.
Yeah, we have over 50 staff members for Fundies 1 right now, not including the accelerated version of the course, which probably pushes it near 75. They actually hired a former TA you probably know as a full-time manager for course logistics.
@PengsPhils - wow, that’s crazy. I think we were only at 40 or so when I was staffing it 2 years ago. Also, sounds like they did actually go through with the change from having an Honors section to an accelerated one? (Who’s the full-time manager? PM if you don’t want to post it. haha)