<p>Hello. I finished my first year as a Pre Business Economics major. Although I finished the year with 3.7 GPA, I wish to change my major to Engineering (either Civil or Mechanical) because engineering is what I truly love.
So I talked to advisors, and they told me that I need to finish 3 math and 3 other engineering requisite courses in Physics and Chemistry with 3.5 GPA or higher to be qualified to switch majors.
Can anyone give me tips? How hard is getting into engineering as non-engineering major?
I scored 5 on AP Calculus BC and 4 on AP Physics B.
So, what should my second year schedule look like?
I know that I will be taking Math 32A, 32B and 33A. But I am lost on other science courses.
Can you guys help me with my fall and winter quarter schedule for next year?
What is the "reasonable" course load that would enable me to take more than 15 units and get close to 4.0 GPA?
Thank you</p>
<p>You’ll need the physics 1 series, you can google the 4 year plans for both civil and mechanical engineering to see what kind of courses they take.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response.
I mean, I do know what courses to take; but since I am almost a year behind, I just want to have a basic idea what classes to take in a quarter.
I was thinking taking 32A, Physics 1A+Lab and 32B or Chem 20A for the fall quarter and I want to get a 4.0 since that will raise the possibility of getting into engineering.
Thus I asked for what would be the “Best” schedule for me in this case.</p>
<p>I see, my bad. 32A isn’t too bad its alot of being able to visualize in 3d. Getting a 4AL lab during the school year is difficult. 32B… well you actually need to take 32A first,last i remember its a prereq to 32B. I waived out of chem 20A so i wouldn’t know. Getting a 4.0 isn’t too had if you’re planning to just take 3 classes, just got to put the time and effort into it. Do alot of practice questions and such for physics and math.</p>
<p>So what do you think about taking 32A, Physics 1A, Chem 20A and a GE for the upcoming fall quarter? do you think it is too much? Would I be able to get a 4.0 if I study very hard?</p>
<p>To me its not an impossible schedule and most of the classes are equally balanced in work. The GE, would be able to lighten the load a bit. Just really hard to get to that 4.0, i obviously can’t guarentee it. Generally if you score well above average on the exams, you’re pretty set very a high GPA.</p>
<p>Are you sure you can fit all the required classes for the degree in and fit under the unit cap? UCLA will only allow you to enroll for 216 units without special permission to exceed that limit. </p>
<p>After completing your freshman year I’m going to assume you have 40 units. You need 185 units to get a ME degree according to [B.S</a>. in Mechanical Engineering Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/curric-12-13/32curmech12.html]B.S”>http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/curric-12-13/32curmech12.html), and I’m guessing that the classes you took your 1st year won’t apply to anything listed on that page (although hopefully I’m wrong there). So you’re looking at 225 units to get your degree, maybe a bit more than that if you already have more than 40 units.</p>
<p>It isn’t impossible to go over 216, they can make exceptions, and maybe I have something wrong here, but before you go too far down this path you should check to make sure its going to be possible to earn your engineering degree.</p>
<p>If they were all core classes for his previous major that would be a problem. But some GEs and say eng comp, overlaps in that unit requirement.</p>
<p>Some more advice. Since you mention ME and Civil as possibilities, I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess you are not that familiar with the real details of either. Since this is summer and you probably have some free time, I suggest that you look into each field. Understand the licensing requirements, the career path, who major employers are, etc. It would be a good idea to talk to a few engineers in each field to make sure you can really picture yourself doing this for 30 years. Keep in mind that much of what you do in school bears little relation to the actual day-to-day job; a lot of what you learn in engineering school are fundamentals that underlie your work as an engineer, so it would be a good idea to investigate not only what the education will be like but what the job is like.</p>
<p>One thing that may matter to you is where the jobs are. For Civil you can probably get a job just about anywhere if you are willing to work for the gov’t or a utility or smaller builder. For ME’s depending on your interests you may find that the employers are concentrated in a few areas. Sure you can find ME’s just about anywhere but it may be difficult to find an opening.</p>
<p>Well. Right now I am very confident that I want to be an engineer in the field of Sustainability… which is why I am thinking about majoring in Civil Engineering or Mechanical engineering with minor in Environmental Engineering. I am also working in the City of Evanston Sustainability Office as a intern for the summer and my boss here who is the City Sustainability Coordinator has a Civil Engineering degree. So I believe my career path that I want to pursue is pretty clear; however, I just wanted to make sure what I would do at UCLA is “Right” to pursue the engineering degree.
I appreciate your help WorriedJrGirl and mikemac!!
so mikemac, what do you think is the best course load for me for the Fall and Spring quarter?</p>
<p>Well. Right now I am very confident that I want to be an engineer in the field of Sustainability… which is why I am thinking about majoring in Civil Engineering or Mechanical engineering with minor in Environmental Engineering. I am also working in the City of Evanston Sustainability Office as a intern for the summer and my boss here who is the City Sustainability Coordinator has a Civil Engineering degree. So I believe my career path that I want to pursue is pretty clear; however, I just wanted to make sure what I would do at UCLA is “Right” to pursue the engineering degree.
I appreciate your help WorriedJrGirl and mikemac!!
so mikemac, what do you think is the best course load for me for the Fall and Spring quarter?</p>