<p>It really depends upon the major. The more competitive the major, the more difficult it would be change into once you have been accepted. The rule of thumb is that for Engineering/STEM and impacted majors you should try for a direct admit. Several UC’s will look at your alternate major and will accept you into that major if you do not qualify for your original first choice major. ULCA/UCB do not look at your alternate major. UCSB/UCSD will put you in Undeclared if you do not list an alternate major.<br>
Admissions is pretty savvy when it comes students wanting to picking an easy major for acceptance and then changing once they get in, so you can try it but I wouldn’t recommend it. </p>