Advice for changing major to CS from Undeclared

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Davis
1

Hi all, really seeking some advice here.

I’ve recently decided to attend UC Davis as an undergraduate in the Fall. I got admitted as undeclared and am looking to change my major to Computer Science (no, I was not accepted to the CS program in any other college :frowning: I am pretty set on attending Davis for a lot of reasons) I am aware of the prerequisites for making this change and have probably read every single official article put out by UC Davis, so I know what the expectations are on paper. However, it doesn’t tell me how to prepare and what to expect aside from the prereqs. So I have a few questions regarding that.

  1. First off, if you or a friend have completed this change of major (even if it’s not necessarily from Undeclared as long as it’s not a related major), please share your story and experiences!
  2. Which prerequisite classes (ECS 20, ECS 30, ECS 40, but I don’t need MAT 21AB I think since I got a 5 on the AP Calc BC exam) do I have a better chance of getting into in the Fall quarter? Which ones are less crowded in the winter and spring quarters? If it helps, I will be enrolling in the Fall with enough AP credits to be classified as a Sophomore. Any tips on getting into the prerequisite classes? I’m 100% willing to enroll in classes at less-than-optimal times, etc, anything.
  3. About how long would you say it would take to get into and complete all the prerequisite courses for CS? 2 quarters? 4?
  4. What is the rate of approval for all people who have completed the prerequisites and have submitted the official request?
  5. Besides the completion of prereqs, what other aspects are considered when your change of major request is reviewed? Is it just GPA?
  6. Is it true that CSE is easier to switch into, and that as long as you complete all the CS major courses in the degree, you can graduate with a CS degree instead of a CSE degree? (Because the requirements overlap)
  7. If my change of major request is denied, is it possible to apply again for the same major? Can I apply to a different but highly similar major?
  8. Worst case scenario: I get denied, and I’m not allowed to re-apply. What comparable majors do you think I should try for if I’m looking to become a software developer?
  9. What summer preparation should I do to prepare for the ECS classes? It almost seems that each class teaches a different programming language so I’m a bit confused on which ones to focus on.
  10. If a prerequisite class is full, are the ECS professors generally open to fitting you in if you go and talk to them? What kind of experience do I need to have in order to prove myself worthy?
  11. Are there any steps I should take when I arrive at Davis to ensure the best possible chance for a spot in CS? Is there any office or person I should talk to to get a foothold on switching? I think a previous thread mentioned speaking to an Orientation Leader or something?
  12. Is there absolutely anything else I can do to facilitate my change of major and make my chances of getting into prereq classes/getting approved higher?

Wooh, that was a long post. I’m really concerned about my chances at changing my major, because I deeply feel like this is something that has a permanent impact on my future. Any bit of advice is HIGHLY appreciated, even if you don’t have the exact answer to my questions above! I just really want to hear peoples experiences and gain some valuable insight for the struggle that I’m about to face. Thank you so so so much in advance.

2

were you admitted anywhere for CS. if so, you might want to reconsider your college choice to ensure your choice of major…

3

Compared to CS, it looks like CSE is easier to switch into grade/GPA wise, but requires more courses:
http://www.cs.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/cs/change-of-major/
http://www.cs.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/cse/change-of-major/

What other college choices do you have?

4

Thanks for your feedback! At this point I do not have any good college choices. Was not admitted to the CS program at any colleges. I was admitted as undeclared at UCSB, UCR, and UCI. However, I’ve really got my heart set on UCD due to a variety of reasons. I don’t think I’m going to be looking at my chances at other colleges, just how to do my best at UCD. Thanks for your suggestion though!

5

I can’t answer all your questions because they’re specific but:

  1. The way freshman enroll in fall quarter classes is a little different. They save a limited amount of seats for each class every orientation date during the summer. This is so that those with later orientation dates will still have seats available. Orientation group is by major/college, so basically you have a ton of freshmen of the same major signing up for the same pre req classes because they're all the same major/college. Since you're undeclared, you'll probably be with a mix of students looking for different things, so you'll have a better chance of getting your classes.

Being sophomore standing doesn’t really help. You might have a one or two day pass time ahead of your freshmen classmates, but juniors and seniors and honors students and disability students will all be ahead of you. Be prepared for a lot of backup plans for winter and spring.

  1. That depends on you and the load you can take. Most freshman start off fall quarter eith 12-14 units. 17 is usually what they build up to, 21 units is a lot. But depends on what you can take to get rid of pre reqs.
  2. Sort of. Depends on the class and your waitlist number. If you're number 1 or 2 you could get in. Often it's administration that takes control. Even if the professor wanted you, they might not be allowed to because of space (i.e. my math prof wanted to admit a student who asked but admin didn't let him)

12 & 13. The best answers and guidance you’ll get is from a CS major advisor and your college advisor. They’ll be able to help you plan out steps to reach your goal.

6

@luvskat thank you so much! Your response is absolutely amazing and means so much to me. I’m definitely going to take your advice to heart; thank you again kind soul!