<p>I was recently admitted to UCLA as an undeclared physical science major. At the time I was filling out my applications I was undecided in my major choice and therefore put this on my app. However, now I am starting to get interested in computer science and programming in general everyday. Yet the computer science degree is in another college (the college of engineering, I got into the college of letters and sciences) than I was accepted to and switching colleges is impossible. Now I have also heard one can find some opportunities in the programming field with a degree in applied mathematics. I am thinking about either doing applied math or basically going to community college and reapplying, what should i do?</p>
<p>Uhh… it doesn’t look to me like switching colleges is impossible: [Change</a> of Major — UCLA Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs](<a href=“http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/change-of-majord]Change”>http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/change-of-majord)</p>
<p>As for the programming field, I’m not familiar with it, so I can’t say what majors are useful.</p>
<p>Not 100% familiar with UCLA but as the person above mentioned, you should be able to switch major.</p>
<p>It is not entirely unheard of that mathematics majors get software engineering type jobs because they’re great at problem solving. The field of computer science is more about problem solving rather than “programming”, and people great a math/physics/etc tend to be great problem solvers. Programming is simply a tool they use to help implement the solution/algorithm to their problems. So sharp math students that can solve complex problem usually don’t find it too hard to pick up enough programming skills they need for a software engineering type job, and you see some people in that field with math background instead of a traditional CS degree.</p>
<p>But then they’ll definitely be in the minority. If you really want to get into computer science and work in that field, just switch the major instead of doing applied math.</p>