Hi everyone!
My biggest hs EC is education-related, and I’m 99% sure I’ll end up as a teacher. Several people have commented to me that I’ll have an easier time getting into top schools as a male focusing on education, rather than a typical polisci/econ/engineering major, even though I’ll likely be majoring in polisci anyway b/c top schools usually don’t have edu majors? I was wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on this, because I’ve been worried that it would be a BAD thing to colleges, because it shows them I might not do as much experimenting in college regarding my end vocation.
Also, is it fine to write all of my Why Essays about education and neat little edu programs/minors at the top schools, or should I balance this with my actual major (polisci/history)?
Thanks!
I am somewhat confused by your question because the “top schools” for polisci are not necessarily the “top schools” for education (which are often flagships or even directionals of the state in which you want to teach). If you have a genuine interest in both, I would show that in your application. Top schools admit a mix of both pointy and well rounded students. Unless you have a huge spike (very few kids do), it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
If you are asking whether to fib about your major to get in a better college, you have to do the research on each school. Some universities require you to apply to a college/department based on your major (and generally you have to apply as well as make a minimum GPA after a year or so in order to switch) and some are open major (it sounds like this may be what you’re looking for).
A serious Poli Sci major at a “top school” who had an interest in teaching could complete a bachelor’s in Poli Sci and then pick up an MAT in about a year more at an affordable public university in the state where that person wanted to start their teaching career.
If you truly are interested in teaching, it is fine for you to write that you like the education program at College X because you want to minor/get a teaching certificate/etc. along with your Poli Sci major.
Many colleges without a formal ed major nonetheless have avenues to get the teaching cert while there.
We’d need your ECs to know if either ed or poli sci seems something you can back up.