Question on Physics and Admissions

<p>Hi, I'm currently a high school senior, and I'm considering ND to be my top choice for college. I want to major in Environmental Sciences through the College of Science, but it turns out that 1 unit of physics is required to be considered for admission for students intending to apply to the College of Science (Source: Evaluation</a> Criteria // Admissions // University of Notre Dame), and I haven't taken physics yet.. </p>

<p>There's absolutely no way that I can take a unit of physics from now until the time I apply to ND, so is there a way to get around this?</p>

<p>My choices currently are to:
-Change my intended college to the College of Arts and Letters, and then transfer to the College of Science if/when I get accepted.
-Keep "Environmental Studies" as my intended majors in my supplement and explain why I haven't taken Physics during high school.
-Suggestions?</p>

<p>Extra Information: I've taken Honors Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and am currently taking AP Environmental Science, because I intended it to be my major since my junior year in high school. </p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>I would recommend changing your major on the application. All admitted students are admitted to the First Year of Studies program, and the major on your application is just a possible major for you at this time. At the end of your first year, you declare a major and pick the college you want to enter. I am pretty sure you could just take a physics class the first year and you would be fine to enter the College of Science. Don’t quote me on all of this but I am pretty sure thats how it works. Hope this helps!
Go Irish!</p>

<p>I would recommend the opposite actually. My son is a First Year student and was in the same situation while applying. He asked the admissions office and they explained that the math and science courses that are geared toward First Year science or EG intents assume that the student has a working knowledge of physics. </p>

<p>ND is pretty flexible with this all. My son was able to take summer physics at his high school without a problem. </p>

<p>Also, we were assured that lacking physics wouldn’t affect the admissions decision.</p>

<p>I’d call the admissions office just to be sure though.</p>

<p>Hi there! There’s actually a section on the application (can’t remember where) in which they let you explain any deficiencies in course requirements. So you would just explain why you weren’t able to take physics at your school. You could call/email admissions for peace of mind but lacking physics does not affect the admissions decision and they only ask that you take the course before your first year at ND. Some kind of summer class like bluecacti’s S did, at either a local college or high school would work.</p>

<p>I agree with bluecacti - honesty is the best policy.</p>

<p>My daughter is taking Physics Honors this year as a Junior and she’d rather not take Physics AP her senior year. Is that okay? However, she has taken 5 years of science (Bio H, AP Bio, Chem H, Chem AP and Physics H). Does Physics Honors meet the College of Science requirement or does it have to be Physics AP? Thank you!</p>

<p>What you can do is indicate in the additional information section that you plan on taking physics over the summer before you enroll at Notre Dame. This IS a requirement and cannot be waived if you want to major in the College of Science. I had the same problem, but they said just tell them that you plan on taking the course before freshman year.</p>

<p>@Txqueso: From my understanding, it doesn’t have to be an advanced course. I, unfortunately, could not take an advance course, but it does not sound like it will affect my application due to my already full schedule.</p>