<p>I am applying to Cornell and I am not sure whether I want to go into an engineering program or a science program. Is it possible to apply undecided and take a class or two in each college in order to determine what is best for me and then declare what college I want to go into?</p>
<p>There’s a spot for “Undecided” on the application, but if I recall correctly, NOBODY got in with that.</p>
<p>It’s not too hard to transfer from CAS to Engineering and vice-versa though. Just pick which one you like more and apply to that. I feel like it’d be easier to go from CAS to engineering than engineering to CAS though, just because a lot of engineers fail classes first semester.</p>
<p>^ I disagree with this … for two reasons.</p>
<p>At least many years ago it was not true that a lot of engineers failed classes first semester … it was true that overall engineers had lower first year GPAs than CAS students but it was also true that virtually every student I knew who worked reasonably hard did fine grade wise. The folks I knew (including me) with lousy grades as frosh earned them with poor study habits or social immaturity issues that impacted their classes (skipped them, were hung over, etc).</p>
<p>Second, when I was there is was typically easier to finish in 4 years starting in the engineering school and switching to CAS then the other way around. Engineering required 5 courses a semester; 4 very specific courses … while CAS students could take 4 courses across lots of options. So after one year most CAS students would be way behind the engineering requirements if they tried to switch … while an engineering student switching to CAS would be much more likely to be on schedule.</p>
<p>I was interested in both Physics and engineering so I faced this exact choice and decided to apply to engineering and start there.</p>
<p>(Full disclosure … I’m a parent an relaying that was true when I was a student … I doubt it has changes a ton).</p>
<p>The average GPA in engineering is a 2.7. I’m not sure if that’s just freshmen or everyone, but in any case… It’s low. Engineering is very hard at Cornell.</p>
<p>Your second point is absolutely true, but I don’t think it outweighs the first.</p>
<p>I"m guessing that 2.7 average is for engineering first years … it was about 2.5 when I was there … 2.7 is far from flunking … and I’ll stand my comment that lots of the folks below 2.7 are there because not because the classes are impossible but because their study habits need some improvement.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice guys. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>PS - Saugus is correct that engineering is hard … for me getting Bs (and some Cs) was fine. However if your science interest is because you’re thinking you might want to be a pre-med the engineering route is a tough one to get great grades for med school (or law school)</p>