Hi, I am a civil engineering major, junior transfer with my first Berkeley GPA of 3.66. I realized that this major has the lowest salary in comparison with some other types of engineering. Since Berkely does not allow transfer students to switch major, I am planning to drop out and to apply for Computer Science or EECS. Please advise. Thanks
- Wrong sub-forum to post this in, this is for issues with the forum not personal issues.
- Is money really all that matters to you? Civil engineers are still paid well so if you enjoy the subject matter why not stick with it?
http://typesofengineeringdegrees.org/highest-paid-engineering-jobs/#context/api/listings/prefilter
The field seems to have a more positive outlook for the future than other types of engineering
How many units did you take your first semester at Cal? How many courses did you transfer in with from a community college? Depending on your answers, you simply might not be able to do what you’re asking. Even if you could, you wouldn’t be able to transfer back in until Fall 2018 … which seems like a waste of time and even then, you’re trying to get into one of Cal’s most competitive majors and possibly won’t get in. What then?
Are you actually interested in EECS? If not, I’d advise against it.
Honestly it sounds like a terrible and poorly thought out idea.
@philbegas Why in the world is this the wrong forum? Although @maxbear the posters on the parents forum are more likely to be helpful and have grown up insight into this…
@blueskies2day Because it used to be in Community and Forum Issues, and was then moved by a mod.
lol. Kid wants to dropped out because he’s not happy with the salary.
You certainly must be dropping out for something more than a little salary boost. Do you like anything about engineering or are you planning on just grinding out what you consider to be some meaningless career for the next 40 years or so to get what you think is a decent salary?
Thanks for clarifying that @bodangles, I was thinking it was a rough crowd over here.
While you’re busy worrying about salary, do keep in mind the opportunity costs of such a decision. A year and a half of lost salary, at a minimum, from being in school longer … and the possibility of not even getting into EECS/CS, and then what? Wait another year to reapply and/or apply elsewhere while losing yet another year or more of salary?
If you’re passionate about EECS/CS, that’s one thing. If it’s because of salary, that’s another.
Again, an absolutely terrible idea in just about every way sans you simply having a passion for EECS/CS and knowing it’s what you want to spend your life doing.
If you have taken any upper-division courses you will not be able to drop out and re-apply because you will be a high unit applicant if you have over 90 units and automatically rejected. This does not apply to someone that has taken only lower division coursework.
While it is virtually impossible to transfer within Engineering schools (EECS is out), can’t you transfer to L&S for Comp Sci (assuming that you have the prereqs completed)?
I know several transfers who switched a major, so it is possible. Whoever told it’s not possible probably doesn’t want to deal with you. Go to a different advisor or the head of the department. With a 3.66 GPA you have pretty low chance (or even zero) to get in EECS…
You can apply as a simultaneous major in L&S CS, and then drop your current major.