<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>I just completed my first year at the University of Minnesota. I am currently a pre-med major, but I decided I want to study Chemical Engineering instead because I enjoy Chemistry, Maths, and Physics a lot. My academic adviser has told me that the college is competitive (3.2 GPA is the average) and that I may not get in. I had what I would consider a very bad first semester (3.0) due to many stresses about work, money, and family, but I picked things up in my second semester when my classes became more "difficult" (3.3). My Freshman course load consisted of the basic engineering courses (Calculus I and II, Physics I, Chemistry I and II) I intend to complete physics II during next semester.
Now here is the reason why I am having a bit of confusion. I have friends in the college of science and engineering, and I studied with them during the school year when we had the same course load. They told me all about how it wasn't that difficult to get in, (once you are in the college a 3.2 GPA guarantees admittance into any major). My adviser told me that there is usually a space availability issue when getting into CSE, but I see people get in all the time, (a friend I used to help in math second semester got into her electrical engineering major). I think that my adviser told me that because she doesn't believe I can handle the work. I currently have 54 credits, so I believe that the only thing that is really taken into consideration is GPA.
I really enjoy studying Maths and Science and I know what the Chemical Engineering major work entails, I am just plagued by my bad first semester. People also drop out of Chemical Engineering a lot because they weren't prepared for what it really is. So my question to all of you people in the community is whether or not there is this mythical space-availability issue at other Science and Engineering colleges?
I really want to study Chemical Engineering, and if any clarification is needed please, say so. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.</p>