The benefits/harms of being UNDECIDED.

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello :D</p>

<p>I am one of the many prospective students who will be submitting an early decision application to a top 20 school sometime this week. </p>

<p>Here is my dilemma:
I don't mean to complain, whine, or make any excuses whatsoever but due to numerous conflicts at home, academics had to take a back seat and so the excellent grades I once received in school ended up sinking to a 3.5 GPA. That's fine. </p>

<p>But I still have a strong desire to attend a prestigious school to finally focus on my studies, have fun, and face new challenges. To be more exact, Rice University (I am absolutely in love with the school).</p>

<p>My goal is to take the pre-med track in college so here is my problem. Science is extremely difficult in my high school and I was not able to devote time to my AP science classes as I desperately wanted to. So my grades are poor which would most likely hurt me - If I applied for a bio major or as a pre-med, would Rice look at my science grades and then decide "she's not cut out for it." ? Or would they look at the application as a whole (not focusing on the science section) and make decision from there.</p>

<p>Which brings me to my next question...so would it be better if I applied as undecided and then switched into the Weiss science school if accepted?</p>

<p>And as a general question: Does applying as an undecided hurt/help your chances in college admissions? </p>

<p>Any advice, input, answers are much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I do not know of Rice’s policy about admissions regarding majors, but I would say that it depends if your major is impacted, (the application should indicate which majors are impacted).
Some schools will move you to undeclared/undecided or your second choice major if you are not cut out for the first choice major. </p>

<p>Some schools will not move you to a different major, and will make a decision based on space availability for the particular major and your statistics. In other words they will reject you if you do not have the stats to get into the major, instead of moving you to an <em>easier</em> major.</p>

<p>And although schools may have a <em>premed track</em>, you can always declare another major, while completing the requirements for med school.</p>