I’m a high school senior applying to Cal for Fall 2018, however I’m a bit confused regarding which specific college to apply to. I’m a prospective chemistry major, and I have a lot of questions regarding both the College of Letters and Sciences and the College of Chemistry:
I thought that all L&S undergrads were admitted as undeclared. If this is the case, then why does the UC application have a list of majors that one can declare under L&S? Will applying undeclared hurt my chances of getting in in any way?
CoC offers a B.S. while L&S offers a B.A. As someone intending to do research (i.e. NOT teach), what does this mean to me?
How easy is it to switch majors within CoC? And L&S?
How easy is it to transfer from L&S to CoC and vice versa? Particularly, if I apply undeclared to L&S, how easy is it to transfer to CoC?
I’m assuming that it is easier to get into the College of Letters and Sciences over the College of Chemistry, and I kinda like the idea of having a year to explore different options for a year (through L&S). My parents are also very determined that I apply to university as undeclared everywhere (they think that it’ll increase my chances though I’m fairly certain that it won’t??). But going undeclared is an option that CoC doesn’t have….
Nevertheless, I’m pretty certain about my major and would really like to be in the College of Chemistry to get a B.S. rather than be stuck at L&S to get a B.A.
College of Chemistry is a dream school for chemistry nerds in the know. If you are undecided between different flavors of chemistry, I would recommend you apply there for whichever major sounds best to you at this time. That way, you’ll be plugged in to your likely department and major advising. If you don’t change your mind, you won’t have to compete for a spot for your major later. If you do change your mind, changing from major X to major Y generally isn’t harder than changing from undecided to major Y. (But I’m speaking in general there, not as an expert on Cal.)
Going in undeclared may increase your odds of getting into some universities, but applying as your current preferred major increases the chances of being able to study what you want when you get there. Ask yourself which is more important, the name of the school or the classes you get to take?
I might not have to compete for my major at CoC later, but I’m competing for admission into Berkeley right now. Would it be safer to apply to Letters and Sciences now and worry about getting into my preferred major once I (IF I) get into Cal?
Definitely the classes that I get to take. But if the school with the “name” has those classes (and the major), then I won’t be complaining
CoC is generally considered to be a harder admit than L&S. However, CoC allows for the option to major in chemical engineering, while L&S offers many non-chemistry majors.
Changing to the other division after admission is described here:
