Should I Apply to a Special/Specific Program or a General Program at a University?
With competition increasing by each passing year, many college applicants are looking into special programs that allow students to pursue a specific course of study straight out of high school. The merits of such programs have always been a point of discussion, but for the right student, a special program of study can enhance his or her college experience immensely.
Special programs are offered by large and small schools alike although there are some that are better known than others. Many of the programs have agreements with graduate schools, giving students a conditional acceptance to the graduate school and sometimes accelerating the time it takes to complete an advanced degree.
Is it for you?
Traditionally, special programs within a college or university tend to be more competitive than the application to the school alone. A student with a proven interest in the specific area of study will usually have a much greater chance of matching well with the program and securing admission.
Although acceptance into the program is what is likely on your mind, you should also consider that a student with only mild interest is setting himself up for a struggle, especially if the program penalizes students who quit.
Most students aren’t in special programs and many don’t have any idea what they want to study in college as a high school student applying. There is nothing wrong with wanting to explore different areas during college, and if you feel you still need to explore, then a special program might not be for you.
Read the fine print!
These programs are usually very enticing to attract top applicants. Before leaping into a specific program, do some research to find out if there are penalties for students who decide to leave the program. Some programs will allow students complete freedom, meaning they can remain in the program if they enjoy it, but are free to move to other areas of study within the university at any time without penalty while others might not award any degree unless you complete the program in full.
Beyond the contractual aspect of leaving the program, be sure to look into specific requirements for completing the program. Some medical programs, for example, still require students to take the MCAT and get a certain score, while others only require students to maintain a certain GPA to continue with the program. Moreover, each program will have its own set of required courses to prepare students for advanced study in that specific area. Identify these requirements when researching such programs.
Applying
As with all applications, you should begin as early as possible. This is especially important for special programs since they will usually require additional components on top of the standard application to the college or university. This usually means additional essays on the specific area of study, but can include on-campus interviews as well.
The best advice for applying to a special program is to show your genuine interest in the area of study. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to do Nobel-prize winning cancer research to impress a medical program, although such activities do help if done out of genuine interest. Learn the specific benefits of the program and show the admissions committee that you would utilize the opportunity to the fullest.
I’m in!
After receiving responses from the schools you applied to, don’t immediately enroll in the program that was the hardest to get into or the one you’ve heard the most about. Deciding where to go from a list of top schools and programs might be just as tough as the application itself. Think back to what you want to do and what you want to study. If you can’t see yourself doing anything but medicine, business, engineering, or whatever your program might entail, then give the special program additional consideration.
Now review your options at the other potential schools. Could you study this same subject at the other schools? What are the rewards of studying the subject in the special program as opposed to in a general program at another school? Does the special program restrict your other interests heavily?
Applying to and deciding to attend a special program can be a tough task for even the most well-prepared high school student but the reward can be especially satisfying as well. To ensure success in the application process, research your interests and options in depth and learn as much as you can about how each program caters to your interests.
With hard work and good preparation even the most prestigious special programs are within reach.
Article by Anil Tanner and courtesy of PrepMe, a premium online ACT and SAT prep company.
