<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>My question is a rather simple one:
I have a friend who transferred into Berkeley from a community college as a Chemical Biology major, but wants to switch to Chemical Engineering (Both are hosted under the College of Chemistry). This person has already been taking the courses for a typical Chemical Engineering transfer and has the prerequisites completely filled. </p>
<p>He recently talked to the dean whom responded by stating that the only way he can successfully transfer majors is by getting straight A's this semester. As many may know, getting an A in an engineering class isn't entirely easy, much less getting A's in 4 engineering classes. Additionally, he doesn't have the financial means as many college students to live nearby campus, and therefore makes a two-hour commute each way to get to the campus on a daily basis.</p>
<p>Ultimately, my question is to know if it's possible for him to change majors as a transfer through some other means other than getting straight A's. I had always thought that a simple petition would suffice. However, this may not be the case if the dean makes a different request. Any insight would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Well, whoever signs the petition gets to decide what criteria need to be met. I would ask the dean for that stipulation in writing, just in case he forgets that is what he said he would do.</p>
<p>Actually I don’t think there was a meeting of the minds here. My interpretation, which I freely admit could be wrong, is that this was an off-the-cuff response by the dean meant to illustrate the difficulty of changing into ChemE. Your friend has understood this to be a promise, “get all A’s and you can switch”, but I think the dean meant it more as a flippant remark and not a serious offer. “The only way you can get in is to get all A’s” could be a serious offer, or just a rhetorical device.</p>
<p>But the advice in post #2 works either way; if the dean puts it in writing he has an offer, and if the dean laughs it off then he knows now before he kills himself trying to do so.</p>
<p>The real problem your friend faces in changing majors is he is running out of time. To get into Cal he was already a junior, so if they don’t let him into the major soon he won’t have time to finish all the classes he needs and fit under the unit cap; after which point they’ll deny his request because of that reason.</p>