Students petitioning to switch tracks are finding it isn’t as easy as it sounds. In fact, it may be close to impossible. Reasons students want to switch tracks seem to vary as they progress.

One freshman is currently off-track because her petition to switch tracks was denied by the admissions office.

“I wanted to switch tracks because there were more degree choices available on the fall/winter track than the summer/fall track,” said Ingrid Hayes, a freshman from Cheyenne, Wyo.

Students closer to graduation want to switch tracks for different reasons, but are still having problems doing so.

“I wanted to switch to the Fall/Winter track. There are more internship options during the summer and my fianceé is on the fall/winter track,” said Scott Jensen, a junior from Las Vegas, Nev.

Most appeals to switch tracks are being denied by admissions.

Kyle Martin, assistant director of admissions, said there is no approved list for which situations will be denied.

“Each situation is taken into consideration. We have limited resources on all tracks. We allocate openings based on resources available. There is not a lot of flexibility, even if the reasons for wanting to switch are legitimate and noble. It is unlikely that their track will be changed. There really are no resources to,” Martin said.

Jensen feels more situations should be taken into greater consideration.

“I think the school needs to be more reasonable with personal circumstances. The common reasons that they list on their Web site as the reasons that are not valid for wanting to switch tracks are the exact reasons that people should be allowed to switch for,” Jensen said. “Obviously, these are common concerns among students and should therefore be common reasons why people should be allowed to switch.”

Martin said students know in advance what to expect from their track before they choose to accept.

“When a student is admitted, they receive a letter about track possibilities and limitations. They are told to plan on attending on their assigned track. Our hope and our intention is to educate students to make an educated decision about what to expect.”

Jensen said students who are closer to graduation should be given an opportunity to switch tracks.

“I really think the school’s policy about not being able to switch tracks could be considered fair when you’re first starting at BYU-I. However, as you progress in school and you get good grades and get into the upper division classes, you should have more options,” Jensen said. “Especially if you have issues like being married, have internship/employment opportunities or you need to get out of debt, etc. I also think it would be a good idea to allow students to have an extra semester that they wouldn’t normally be on track so that they can make sure to get the classes they need in a four-year period.”

What Martin wishes for students to understand is each student is put on a track based on credentials.

With the three-track system, 300-350 students were denied admission to BYU-I this year, whereas, without the three-track system, 3,300 would have been denied admission.

“If we had unlimited resources, we would let everyone do whatever they wanted. Unfortunately, we don’t and so that isn’t possible,” Martin said.