<p>Can anyone inform me. My son was admitted from the waitlist to UCSD as "undeclared". His first choice was Biology, so now what are his chances of getting into that major? what steps does he have to take to get into Bio?</p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>[Impacted</a> Majors](<a href=“http://www.ucsd.edu/current-students/academics/advising/majors-minors/impacted-majors.html]Impacted”>Capped Majors)</p>
<p>I’m afraid going from Undeclared to any of the impacted majors listed on the link above is quite difficult and unlikely to happen. It would require a high GPA in all courses related to the major at UCSD.</p>
<p>I called in and the woman speaking to me said it’s practically impossible to switch into impacted majors. I’m in the same boat as him :/</p>
<p>It’s very possible. The admissions people/anyone-you-will-talk-that’s-not-a-student-who-has-gone-through-the-process-or-the-random-person(s)-who(m)-actually-run-the-exceptional-admission-process… will likely give you nonsense or the vague, safe answer of “it’s really hard and not likely although I have no backing or the knowledge of how the process actually works”. </p>
<p>If you’re smart or at least diligent enough to pull above a 3.3 I would go for it.</p>
<p>Here’s a the link to the “Exceptional Admissions” page: [url=<a href=“http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html]exadmit[/url”>http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html]exadmit[/url</a>]</p>
<p>and here’s a bit of information people miss: </p>
<p>"Note: Students who meet the criteria for Exceptional Admission will be given priority to the requested biology major. SPACE PERMITTING, students WHO DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA may also be considered for admission to the requested biology major. "</p>
<p>My advice (I went through the process of switching into the Bio department along with many other students)
-Apply at every open window the Bio department announces (even if you haven’t completed the requirements!!!</p>
<p>-Maintain a decent GPA (an exuberantly high GPA is NOT required, people were admitted from GPA’s ranging from 3.4 and up, I haven’t met anyone lower, but I wouldn’t rule that out).</p>
<p>Scan through some old posts about the Impacted Bio major or the Exceptional admissions if you need more information. </p>
<p>Don’t be disheartened by what people will say. It’s definitely possible.</p>
<p>Thanks for your info. I did look into “Exceptional Admissions” for 2011 and it shows average GPA is 3.397 and 156 students applied out of which 37 were qualified and they all got in. This is some encouragement that he has a chance as long he keeps good grades (above 3.75) and get thru lower division requirement courses. </p>
<p>What are the chances that “undeclared” student can get lower division courses for the major they intent (Biology)?</p>
<p>Here is the link: [url=<a href=“http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html]exadmit[/url”>http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html]exadmit[/url</a>] for Exceptional Admissions. This allows student to try for the major they want as long as they maintain the GPA (above 3.50) and meet lower division requirements.</p>
<p>Getting into lower division courses depends on how many units you have (as priority enrollment goes to students with more units, however, for incoming freshmen the enrollment times are given out on a lottery basis (random) for the fall quarter).</p>
<p>CC courses and AP tests (depending on what AP and what score) will count towards units.</p>