Quite a big jump, I understand. Please allow me to explain:
I am currently second year in my undergraduate neuroscience program. After almost 2 years in school I have finally realized my true interest. I have worked on switching major to ME. By the end of my second year I would be able to meet the change of major criteria according to the college of engineering at my school.(I have 3.96 math and science GPA, if thats helpful information.) However the advisor from my current college told me that since I am a second year, I am not eligible to do a change of major outside of my current college according to its policies.
I am still trying to work something out with the change of major process, however now I am wondering if, just if that I will not be able to change my major and will end up with a BS in neuroscience(thats the only science major in my college), is it still doable for me to go to a graduate ME program? Has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks for the help.
I don’t think so. The engineering classes are sequential, and you can’t take graduate classes if you don’t finish classes in 1000, 2000, 3000 series. That is why it is critical to start with engineering. But love to hear what other people say.
@Bma009 - Many graduate ME programs do admit students who did not graduate with an ME degree. They will require what are called “leveling” classes in addition to the regular graduate classes. But you will need to be reasonably close, so that you do not have to take too many classes. You should certainly have already completed all your calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and physics courses in college, so that leveling courses could be limited for example to thermodynamics, statics, and mechanics. Also, look into enrolling as a non-degree student in your local public university during the summer or a gap year to pick up the required courses.
Look at it from the point of view of the graduate school when comparing two applicants. Applicant one has a solid but not spectacular GPA in ME. Applicant two has, like you, a great GPA, but has not taken many of the classes that Applicant two has taken. Both have great GRE scores and recommendations. Who is most likely to succeed as a degree candidate?
Here’s what Texas A&M has to say about leveling: https://engineering.tamu.edu/mechanical/admissions-and-aid/graduate-admissions/leveling-courses.html (I use TAMU as an example because my son graduated from there with an aerospace engineering degree, and I had looked into their leveling requirements before for another potential grad student.)
BTW, this topic has bee discussed before on this board.
@Bma009 - Welcome to the Forum. I agree with the opinions expressed above but there is another issue that you need to consider. That is, if you really have determined that engineering is your best path, then why stay in a major you are not happy with? You are a Sophomore so you can look into possibly transferring to an engineering program elsewhere. It may not be financially optimal but if you have to take extra courses to prepare for a graduate degree in engineering, that will have some financial ramifications as well. In any case, you need to take as much Calculus and basig physical sciences as possible with your electives if you choose to stay in your current major.
Thanks for the reply.
I think I mentioned that I did and I am still trying to work something out with my college. However, so far their response to my situation is that, “according to our college’s policy, you are not eligible to do a change of major as a sophomore student.” This is really frustrating since I do meet all the change of major requirements of the engineering college at my school (calculus, physics) with really good grades. I am asking this question just in case that the worst situation will take place.
Thank you so much for the information. I am currently trying to squeeze in more prerequisite classes into my regular school quarters and I am also planning to take advantage of the summers and enroll in a community college to finish some prerequisite classes. And I will definitely look more into graduate programs with leveling courses.
I honestly don’t understand how one college at a university can prevent a student from transferring. This sounds like something that needs to be taken over their heads.
^ The top UC schools have that policy. They admit students by majors. It’s hard to transfer to engineering.
Not to discourage the OP but 3.9 GPA in sophomore year is different than 3.9 at graduation time especially in engineering.
I graduated with a BS in molecular and cell biology and a GPA similar to yours, worked a few years in a government research lab, took two math classes as a non-degree student (differential equations and multivariable calculus), applied to a number of thesis-based MS programs in mechanical engineering, and was admitted to several top schools. Though I’d self-studied most of the fundamentals of an undergrad engineering curriculum before applying and, as a biology major, had already taken two semesters each of calculus and physics (as well as statistics), I hadn’t actually taken any engineering courses. In hindsight, I’m surprised I was admitted anywhere at all. I have some guesses as to why I was admitted, but my case is an exception nonetheless. After matriculating, I struggled to keep up at first but ultimately succeeded, so I guess the members of the admissions committee made the right call.
I’ve met a lot of other people who also transitioned to engineering (including mechanical) from the life sciences, so it’s certainly doable, but the most reliable way to do so is what the others have mentioned: take the prerequisites. Multivariable calc, linear algebra, statics/dynamics, thermodynamics, fluids, controls, etc. You don’t necessarily need to take all of them, but enough to show that you can handle what you’re getting into.
Career changers often take these prereqs as non-degree students, but I think it would be easier to do it while you’re still an undergrad (which you said you’re already doing/planning to do, so that’s good), even if that means taking longer to graduate. If, for whatever reason, you can’t take engineering classes, then take as many math courses and quantitative science courses as possible—physics and math majors have relatively little trouble getting into engineering graduate school. I imagine a biology major with a strong math background would have a similar experience.
The OP mentioned in other threads being at UCR, specifically in the humanities and social studies division.
UCR’s humanities and social studies division has the highly unusual policy that students cannot switch out to a different division after the first year: https://chassstudentaffairs.ucr.edu/transition_advising/index.html . So even if a second year student is fully eligible to change to a natural science or engineering major by those divisions’ requirements, s/he cannot change out of the humanities and social studies division. I.e. the OP’s issue may not be that his/her new major or division is “full”, but that his/her current division will not let him/her leave.
If you are thinking that “this makes no sense”, then you are correct.
Right, that is an absurd policy. Certainly the student could withdraw from school and then re-apply or something, but why absolutely shaft your own students like that? It’s ridiculous.
OP, are you allowed to take the courses mentioned in #8 at your college as a neuroscience major?