Hi college confidential forum people! I made this account just to ask this question because I’m honestly not sure what I should do. I asked friends, but I would like more input and I usually see people replying with valid points on here.
So I go to CSUF as a Civil/Environmental Engineer major and I think I chose wrong because I intended to try to emphasize in the environmental aspect of the major. However, CSUF does not allow that unless you graduate 4 years and apply for their master’s program for environmental engineering. They hit on all points of civil/environmental engineering just in case students don’t know what they want after graduating from the major. In my case, I already know what I want in the future, which is to hopefully try to find a job in wastewater treatment.
During one of the classes that I’m required to take for my major at CSUF (some architectural designing lab). I realized that this is not what I want. I don’t want to design buildings and such. I talked to an advisor today and asked him about the major and he told me all the stuff that I said up there ^^, about how they hit every point in civil/environmental.
I looked into different colleges and I saw that UCI offers a B.S. for environmental engineering and I contemplated whether or not to finish my fall semester at CSUF and then transfer to my local community college to finish my G.E.'s.
Would it be wise to do so? Should I transfer to a community college and then try to transfer to a UC. I feel horrible for making such a bad decision and I feel like I wasted time choosing this university. I didn’t look into my major more and I completely regret it. Can I have your guy’s input on my situation?
So you’re saying this is your first semester at CSUF? Then yes, finish out the term then switch to a CCC. You shouldn’t feel bad. You caught it early and are adjusting. A lot of people do this. And there are a lot more who wait until it’s almost too late.
The curriculum for all engineering is practically the same until your third or fourth year (because of the accreditation and professional licensure processes) so you don’t lose anything if you ending up switching out of CSUF.
That said, I think you might be in for some disappointment. The difference’s between UCI’s EnvE and CSUF’s CEE is very minimal so I highly doubt moving to UCI will change much if what your currently learning is not what you want to do.
Comparing the two majors points to the only differences really being that Environmental offerings are considered major “electives” and the Civil offerings are considered major “requirements” at CSUF while this reversed at UCI where the the Civil offerings are major “electives” and the Environmental courses are major “requirements”. Regardless of “requirement” versus “elective”, you have the same number of courses and similar opportunities to learn the same material at either school.
Comparing both programs to Cal Poly’s program only enforces that the course requirement differences are minimal regardless of the school. (Again due to ABET accreditation)
Wastewater is such a niche subfield that finding employment might be difficult afterwards? What part of wastewater are you interested in? Have you considered general water resources where (from what I’m told) employment is much more likely?
I thought about it more and I feel lost as of now. I’m not sure if I want to do environmental or civil engineering, so I hope to go to community college and maybe explore more there. Then decide on what to do and where I want to go after I finish G.E.'s, finish enough units, and such.
Just to clarify, my point was it doesn’t matter if your EnvE or CE, you still have to take the same courses so it’s not wise to switch out if you’ll end up either as as a CE or EnvE. Additionally, engineering at every UC/CSU is so competitive that there is no guarantee you’ll even get in as a transfer so switching out while continuing to pursue EnvE/CE is a huge risk.
As @lindyk8 mentioned there’s no shame in switching out due to like finances, or college readiness, or career uncertainty, but your rationale in this thread (EnvE specialization at UCI) is not a sound one.
On the other hand…if your likely to give up on CE/EnvE altogether then switching to a CCC is definitely reasonable.
As long as money isn’t a big constraint, I’d encourage you to stay put. CSUF is a very good school across an array of majors - meaning, if you change your mind and want to study a different type of engineering, CS, business, theater, or whatever, they’d still be a good choice. Also, as @sdgoldenbear points out,you’d be taking the same classes for most engineering disciplines for the first few years no matter where you are.
See how you do this semester at CSUF. If you get straight A’s, then perhaps going to a CC to transfer to a UC would be more realistic/feasible.
If you can maintain a 3.4 or higher, UCI participates in TAG for engineering majors: http://www.admissions.uci.edu/applicants/tag.html
It’s probably more realistic if you were to stay another year at CC, or apply after two years (and take your third off, or something.) Something to consider, anyway.
I finished my first year of college at CSU Fresno (Not Fullerton if you were at Fullerton not Fresno) the year 2014-2015 lol. I am at my second year of college at a CC 2015-2016.
I will be taking 1 more year expecting to transfer and enroll at UCD the year 2017-2018.
My grades at the CSU was average (2.5 GPA) but I am prospective to get a 4.0 GPA this semester, hopefully it helps.
I left CSU Chico and went to a community college. I only stayed at Chico for one semester. I’ve been at a CC since January, so three semesters (including current and summer). Spring 2016 will be my last, I just have to get an A in a math course. If you work your ass off, you’ll be able to transfer for 2017
If you want to transfer for 2017, leave during Spring 2016 and immediately enroll at a community college.
Since you have that semester of grades, they’re transferable. Don’t fuck up your gpa there, that’s important at the end. At my cc my gpa is 3.8, but when I include my Chico gpa (2.5 : / ) it goes down to about 3.5. From only one semester. GET GOOD GRADES.