<p>I was wondering if your showed interest in an area that needed more support if that could help you acceptance chance.s. First major would be Computer Science but then say choosing Korean or a slavic language as a minor or second major - might that help admissions? Scores and grades are all competitive (SAT 800/750/720).</p>
<p>Strictly speaking, intended major does not affect selectivity in the Berkeley College of Letters and Science (however, the different divisions, like the College of Engineering, College of Chemistry, etc. have different selectivity levels, and different majors in the College of Engineering do have different selectivity levels). All College of Letters and Science frosh enter as undeclared anyway. Changing into the College of Engineering after enrolling is very difficult.</p>
<p>Berkeley admissions also does not consider second choice majors, unlike some UCs.</p>
<p>Here is a summary of results that forum posters have posted:
<a href=“Berkeley Frosh Class of 2018 decision summary - #6 by ucbalumnus - University of California - Berkeley - College Confidential Forums”>Berkeley Frosh Class of 2018 decision summary - #6 by ucbalumnus - University of California - Berkeley - College Confidential Forums;
<p>From what I remember of the UC application, there was no spot to put an intended minor. I suppose you could declare your interest somewhere in the additional information section, but it’s not something they typically look at. Berkeley also doesn’t have an option to pick an alternate major. </p>
<p>In terms of majors, UC Berkeley -and the rest of the UC system- admits by college: meaning that rather than being admitted by the CS department you are admitted as an undeclared major by the College of Letters and Sciences. The only exception to this rule is the College of Engineering which admits by major as well as by college.
This means that in terms of “ease of admissions” an intended CS major is no different than an intended history major. You should definitely try to make your essays show your interest in your major, but don’t try to play games with your application. </p>
<p>Either way your scores are definitely competitive for UC Berkeley and I wouldn’t be surprised if you got in next year --I’m assuming you’re a junior. </p>
<p>Thank you. Yes Senior year is this fall. We went to Cal Day today and it was fantastic. Spent most of the time in at Soda Hall with the CS students and faculty.</p>
<p>@saif235
That might be how they “officially” do it but in truth your major does matter. I know someone who was rejected to UCI while his friends, with lower stats, got in because he applied to the more difficult biology major. </p>
<p>@bomerr
Did UC Irvine say that they denied your friend because he was a biology major? When an organization “officialy” does something that’s how they tend to act. Deviating from their published policies could result in a class action lawsuit which would not be good for the UC system. Usually the school will say on their website under which circumstances your major matters.
The general consensus among UCs is that Engineering majors and other special programs such as UCLA’s pre-nursing major are considered while L&S majors play no part in the admission decision. I would advise that you do research on Irvine to see if Biology is one such major there. </p>
<p>Each UC has different policies in this area, so it would be a mistake to assume that (for example) Irvine policy in this area is the same as for Berkeley.</p>
<p>@saif235</p>
<p>UCI’s bio department is one of the largest at the university with about 20% of all students whereas Humanities is 5%. Thus admissions has an incentive to allow more students to enroll in the unimpacted majors. </p>
<p>Neither of the large biology majors at Berkeley (MCB and IB) is an impacted or capped major.</p>