UC schools

Gumbymom
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:24:41 +0000

Welcome to College Confidential and congratulations on being an overall competitive applicant. @ucbalumnus has linked the UC GPA calculator which calculates out the 3 UC GPA’s. Once you have your 3 GPA’s calculated, please repost.

Regarding major choice, I agree with @tsbna44 that you should select the major you are most interested in studying and also an alternate major since most campuses will consider your alternate major in the admissions process.

Not all campuses admit by major especially for Economics/Econ-related majors.

For UC Berkeley, Economics is in the College of Letters and Sciences which does not admit by major. You are admitted Undeclared and then need to take the required courses to declare your major. Exceptions are the High demand majors (Economics not currently on that list). Alternate majors are usually considered during the waitlist process.

UCLA’s and UCSB’s College of Letters and Sciences does not consider major choice for Freshman admissions. Economics/Business Economics are impacted so if admitted, you are placed into a pre-major and must meet course and GPA requirements before declaring the full major. UCLA does not consider alternate majors. UCSB will consider alternate majors.

UCSD admits into the University first and then into the major. They will also consider alternate majors during the admission process.

UCD, UCI, UCR and UCM admit by major and will consider alternate majors if listed. UCD occasionally considers alternate majors but the rest will always consider alternate majors if you do not meet the primary major threshold.

UCSC admits into a “proposed major” where you are required to take specific major course requirements before declaring. UCSC does consider alternate majors.