questions about WPI

<p>I have a few questions about WPI, and since I can't afford to visit before I get in and I missed the interview days for interviewers local to me, I'm asking them here. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>How easy is it to double major? Is it even necessary to double major since something in the humanities is a requirement?
I'm interested in doing BME/Professional Writing </p></li>
<li><p>What if I'm interested in taking a foreign language class for a language not offered at WPI? Are there arrangements with other colleges?
Specifically, I'm interested in mainly Japanese because I want to keep my skills in the language alive, which I can't do unless I have contact with the language. </p></li>
<li><p>I applied as a Bioinformatics/Computational Biology major. But now that I look carefully, biomedical engineering seems to be more what I'm looking for. Of course, this is kind of hypothetical because I haven't done engineering work in HS but I have done bioinformatics research. Is it worth it to notify WPI of this change? Or should I just leave my major as is and change it if I get in and attend? </p></li>
<li><p>I forgot to check the option that I am considering Pre-med. How do I change this? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>These are the main pressing questions I have for now. Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Idk about 1 - 3, but to change a designation on my app all I had to do was email admissions. They were receptive and even prompt (responses within ~30 minutes each time).</p>

<ol>
<li><p>From what I have heard from sophomore D, double majoring in related fields is not too difficult. You may have more difficulty fitting everything in with 2 such different areas - but I am honestly not sure. Doing your humanities concentration in writing is a good alternative.</p></li>
<li><p>WPI is part of consortium of several colleges in and around Worcester. You can take classes at any of these other schools. The difficulty lies in scheduling - WPI has 4 terms and the other schools mostly have the traditional 2 semesters. D knows students who have done this successfully. She considered it for advanced classes in her language but thought it was too much of a hassle. </p></li>
<li><p>It probably doesn’t matter. It is easy to change your major once you are enrolled. If you prefer, you can e-mail your admissions counselor. </p></li>
<li><p>Just e-mail your admissions counselor</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You should definitely email your admissions counselor. It seems that displayed interest is an important factor in admissions decisions. One of my friends was in the same position as you because she missed the interviews in our area and could not travel out to MA so she scheduled a skype interview with our admissions counselor. You can also email your questions and your admissions counselor will be able to answer them better than the people here.
As for numbers 3&4, just send an email and check your portal to make sure it has changed (it may take a few days).</p>

<p>[Master</a> Course Database](<a href=“http://www.cowcworks.org/master/The_Courses_list.asp?a=search&value=1&SearchFor=Japanese&SearchOption=Contains&SearchField=]Master”>http://www.cowcworks.org/master/The_Courses_list.asp?a=search&value=1&SearchFor=Japanese&SearchOption=Contains&SearchField=)</p>

<p>It looks like Clark and Becker offer classes in Japanese.</p>

<p>You may find this difficult though, due to the scheduling format, and could possibly achieve the same result with a private teacher or just by conversing with teachers/students who speak Japanese.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Thanks for the many answers! </p>

<p>@frebeccal: Wow, I didn’t know that was an option!</p>

<p>In general I recommend NOT to do a double major (at any school). Concentrate on your major to prepare yourself for your career. You can always take courses in another area if that interests you but taking enough to get the second major is a great time burden.</p>

<p>When I was reviewing the transcripts of college applicants for engineering jobs at the company I worked for, it didn’t matter what the major was; I was looking at the specific courses (and the grades) for those that were applicable to job that was being offered. The more prepared (ie. more courses / higher grades) the better your chances of getting the job.</p>

<p>Here you go…
<a href=“https://www.wpi.edu/academics/hua/doublemajors.html[/url]”>https://www.wpi.edu/academics/hua/doublemajors.html&lt;/a&gt;
There is more info in the course catalog.</p>

<p>A big selling point of WPI is the ease of changing majors. And, yes, as others have stated, you can take courses within the consortium. The online catalog has information on this. You sign up for your courses two terms at a time, which is somewhat like a semester schedule. Therefore, if you want to try to accommodate a course within the consortium, you can work your schedule. It does require advance planning, and planning on transportation, as well. </p>

<p>I second frebbecals post on separately contacting the admissions office. Demonstrated interest really helps.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Thank you for all the advice. Thinking about it, a minor/a few classes should be enough to satisfy my writing interests.</p>

<p>Great info on hiring HPuck, was just reading through this as a Senior in the tech field (accepted WPI but not attending) and thats some good information I have yet to see elsewhere. Thank you.</p>

<p>Agree with assessment of Hpuck. And, adding a minor at WPI is achievable, especially if you have some AP credits going in. That allows you time to pick up extra classes outside your major. Also, agree with posting about taking courses at other colleges. There is a Worcester Consortium that, in theory, allows WPI students to take courses at other area colleges. You need a car to get to anywhere other than Becker. And, since WPI is on 7 week terms and other colleges are on traditional semesters, it could be tricky. I’d ask WPI how many students actually enroll via the Consortium in language courses.</p>

<p>Great, thank you. Since I’ve been accepted now, I guess it’s more relevant. </p>

<p>There’s a consortium bus than runs between the various schools so you can take classes elsewhere. You just need to be careful when scheduling classes to allow for your transportation time, and for the fact that everyone else is on the semester system rather than quarters (“terms”).</p>