theripcurl1969

if i had put "undeclared" as my major instead of "engineering" how much would that change for my chances at one of the uc's cuz i know engineering is an impacted major.

r-akt

It's easier, but the problem is that it will be difficult to switch into engineering if you decide to.

theripcurl1969

alright thanks.

Original Name

Yeah, I've heard it's next to impossible to change into an engineering major. Even people who switched out of engineering aren't allowed back in.

Yen

It'll be harder to get required classes; actual disciplines of the major will get priority. Also, some UCs (if not all?) you go in as a pre-major. I.e. Pre ECE, Pre CS, Pre CE, etc. and then apply for full major at the end of your second year (you need a certain GPA to get in). People who go in as pre-majors will have a lower req. GPA, while non majors will require higher ones to get in.

megathunder

Basically just don't pansy out and if you know what you want to do put it down and go for it..

r-akt

pansy out if you're more confident in how well you'll do the first year in college than how you did in high school.

sam_7770

If I apply for Engineering major, and I am not admitted to Engineering. But do I still have chances to get admitted under "undecided"? Kind replies would be appreciated.

Slak

From what Ive heard/can tell usually its only based on your first pick (becuase they assume if you dont get in that you would be less likely to choose school).

r-akt

Some schools will consider you for both (such as UCSD), but I know that UCLA and Berkeley won't.

mrniphty

Responding for Cal:

It's possible to transfer from L&S-undecided to engineering. i'm told it's hard, but that the hardness tends to be exaggerated. (unfortunately, we engineers have an elitist streak.)

i've never heard of anyone applying for engineering and getting into L&S. I haev heard of people applying for EECS and getting into something other than EECS. i don't know about how common the latter occurence is; i doubt it's happens often because you'd have to be on the exact cusp.

from what i remember of college admissions season & convos with friends, it seemed like ucla doesn't care much about the secondary major app either, but that the rest of the ucs will let you into a non-impacted major if you were 'good' enough. i had a lot of friends who applied to ucsd as bioe but who were accepted as pre-bio and pre-chem majors.