My son was admitted to UVA (Fall 2016)(College of Arts and Science) as he was thinking to eventually go to med school.He is rethinking his options and might decide to rather do Engineering - how does that switch over work? Thanks!
We were able to accommodate switch requests during application review, but the Office of Admission wouldn’t be involved at this point. At the end of the first year, he can talk to his dean about making the switch. I imagine there are orientation team members who are used to working with students who have similar plans, so they might be able to provide some advice as well.
I don’t know the process, but the engineering school may want to make sure his math scores and high school math coursework are sufficient to handle the engineering curriculum.
If a person is 50-50 undecided between engineering and arts and sciences, they are better off starting in engineering, because it is easy to later switch from engineering to the college.
I too was admitted to UVA Fall 2016 in the College of Arts and Sciences! A few days after I submitted my app though I found out about Systems Engineering and I was hooked but it was too late to change into engineering. Long story short…I wanted to do the same thing as your son and the Dean of the Engineering College was super chill about the switch. After two phone calls I got the proper email for him and I just sent him an email saying I wanted to switch and within a day or two he told me the switch was made, no questions asked. I did this late April. So it’s totally possible and I wish you/your son the best of luck with this switch! Hope this helps
And obviously I don’t mean to speak for UVa or anything, just letting you know about my experience
Thank You very much for your advice bluepaint1 - he will try and do just as you said!
The dean over in Engineering doesn’t make the switches prior to enrollment, the Dean of Admission does.