<p>I have a question regarding the choosing of majors at the University of California system. I know this may sound dumb but...</p>
<p>According to the UC Berkeley website, it says that when applying, if your major is in the College of Letters and Sciences, it will not be considered during the admissions process. </p>
<p>"Because of student demand, selectivity varies among Colleges, and --in the College of Engineering-- among majors; for example, it is more difficult to gain admission to the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences major than to the Mechanical Engineering major.</p>
<p>For applications to the College of Letters and Science, Natural Resources and Environmental Design, no consideration is given to the indicated major in the review process. However, for the professional colleges of Chemistry and Engineering, demonstrated interest in the major is also taken into consideration. Furthermore, in the colleges of Chemistry and Engineering, Berkeley faculty in these disciplines have also asked that readers place added emphasis on sustained achievement in mathematics and science, and have indicated a preference that these applicants take the SAT II level 2C mathematics examination and that they choose for their third SAT II a science examination." - <a href="http://students.berkeley.edu/admissions/freshmen.asp?id=56&navid=N%5B/url%5D">http://students.berkeley.edu/admissions/freshmen.asp?id=56&navid=N</a></p>
<p>Is this absolutely true, or do they just mean "Your chosen major if in the College of Letters & Sciences ISN'T the deciding factor in your admission, but will still be considered."? Right now I'm thinking of majoring in something like either biochemistry, molecular biology, or anthropology (all in the college of L&S) but I'm afraid if I choose a popular major, I will be rejected. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Apply undecided. Most people do anyways, and then it certainly won't hurt your application.</p>
<p>For the record, what the webpages say is that your major of choice is absolutely irrelevant to the application process. The only reason you should state a major upon application for undergrad is: 1) your major has a pre-major requirement (ie, art often does, restricting prerequisite classes to pre-art majors); 2) you're applying under a college that is not L&S; 3) you are applying for certain scholarships.</p>
<p>Otherwise, it behooves you to remain undecided and take classes as if you were going to be that major when it comes time for it. Don't give them the opportunity to say "oh, well, her biology SAT II scores aren't good enough" or some such.</p>
<p>Thanks undecided. That's what my brother (UC Berkeley Alumnus) basically told me...he said that the whole "Applying undecided = suicide, and that applying to popular major = no chance of getting in" thing is just a myth.</p>
<p>My friend told me (who just went through the admissions process) that on the Berkeley app, you can still check in something like "Undeclared - Life sciences," "undeclared - humanities." that wouldn't hurt would it?</p>
<p>What your brother said is totally apocryphal. Firstly, applying undecided is what I did and it is not suicide. Most people apply undecided--why would you decide your major prior to entering? It's easier to apply undecided.</p>
<p>About molecular&cellular biology, it is NOT an impacted major. It's not as popular as everyone thinks. Anyone can major in it; just the competition for As is a bit stiff.</p>
<p>You can check out the impacted majors on the berkeley website. Those majors you have to apply to after taking the prequisites, when the departments look at your GPA and decide whether or not to let you into the major.</p>
<p>Apply undecided. That's your best option.</p>