<p>I'm looking to apply to UC Davis for a degree in Civil Engineering. However, my chances at that are small, but I heard that if I apply to a major not many people apply for, I'll have a better chance to get in and then just change my major in the school after they accept me.</p>
<p>I'm not 100 percent locked in for U.C. Davis, so if you guys know of better schools in California for a degree in Civil Engineering feel free to say so!</p>
<p>Also, what scholarships should I check off on the application? The ones I’m “applying” to? Or the Civil Engineering ones? </p>
<p>As I understand it you will have to apply to change majors at the UCs and an impacted major is especially hard to get into. Use this site to look for some CE options in CA: <a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx”>http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx</a></p>
<p>Engineering classes start in freshman year and are prerequisites for upper class courses. Transferring (even if you could get in, which is far from likely) would mean adding an additional year in college. Would financial aid provide for a 5th year?</p>
<p>You would not be considered for scholarships for civil engineering majors because you would not be a civil engineering major in your freshman year.</p>
<p>If you do not qualify for admissions NOW as a civil engineering student, how would you qualify to transfer to that major?</p>
<p>It depends upon the school how easily you can switch from one major to another. I do believe that most schools do have some provisions for students who want to do this. You need to read up on what any specific school requires for such a switch. It can vary widely within the same school for different major combos. For example, switching OUT of a lot of majors into Arts and Sciences may not require anything, but INTO something so specific as engineering is a whole other story.</p>
<p>I’ve seen students do this even when the requirements are onerous. They get in there, and they take the courses that they can, as close to possible to what they would be taking if they were already in that major. For freshmen intro level courses, it isn’t as difficult as it would be for limited courses, but it does depend on the school. SOme schools have very few courses open for non majors after the majors sign up so though, in theory one can do this, the actual doing is a whole other thing. My son found this was the case for Dance, of all things, in a lot of schools. Any and everyone welcome to take the courses a lot of time, but the reality was that the courses closed even before all the majors got a spot, but they would get exceptions to get in whereas everyone else was OUT. You didn’t find out about this till you were there. So according to all you read, it was doable, when it really wasn’t due to the way things worked.</p>
<p>But if you can take similar or the same courses as engineering student there, you can then apply to transfer and then it depends on how many slots open up to transfers from the school. YOu likely would need very good grades to make that switch. Engineering usually loses a a lot of kids so it is not impossible that this could be done. MOre kids want out than in after freshman year, as a rule.</p>
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<p>For UC Davis specifically, you can read about it here: <a href=“Advising FAQs”>Advising FAQs;
<p>Civil engineering does not appear to that hard to change into, if you take all of the needed courses. That probably also means that the difference in selectivity for frosh admissions is not that great, if there is a difference.</p>
<p>For other schools, try searching for “[school name] change major civil engineering”.</p>
<p><a href=“Advising FAQs”>Advising FAQs;
<ol>
<li>How do I change my major into the College of Engineering?</li>
</ol>
<p>Students planning to change your major, or add an additional major, are required to complete a Change of Major webform. The Change of Major webform will be submitted to the appropriate advisors and dean’s offices involved.</p>
<p>In order to change your major to, or to double major with, a major in the College, you must satisfy requirements that have been established by the College of Engineering faculty for all students:</p>
<p>For all engineering majors EXCEPT Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Science and Engineering:</p>
<p>Be a registered student and have completed at least one quarter (minimum of 12 units) at UC Davis
Have completed not more than 135 cumulative units (excluding AP units); students who have completed more than 135 units will be considered on an petition basis only
Be in good academic standing and meet minimum progress requirements
Have received a letter grade for all courses that satisfy Engineering degree requirements
Have no grade lower than a C- in any completed engineering course required for your intended major(s) taken at UC Davis
completed at least the following five courses: MAT 21A,B,C; PHY 9A; and CHE 2A and
have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all completed MAT, PHY, BIS, and CHE courses required for your intended major, and have received a C- or better in each of these courses
Have a 2.0 UC GPA in all completed engineering courses</p>