<p>I am a senior in high school, and I will be submitting the UC application soon. My background points to science, as I have taken all the core science APs and I attended a summer program for bioengineering this year. However, I see myself doing business for my career. I selected bioengineering as my first-choice major because I thought it would be best to get an engineering degree then enter business school. However, I was advised today that this would not only make my college life extremely stressful but also end up taking longer than a business degree. I am now not sure what I should do. Do I stick with bioengineering as my first choice since my background (and one of my essays) is geared towards it? And then just switch to econ or business major as soon as possible? And also, is it hard to switch out of a school of engineering to the college of letters and sciences? I will list a business major as my alternate major for all the UC's. Sorry this post has so many questions, and I truly appreciate any advice.</p>
<p>Which UCs?</p>
<p>For Berkeley specifically, majoring in business requires applying to the business school in your second year. The admission process is competitive. You can be in either L&S or Engineering before then. Switching from Engineering to L&S is generally considered much easier than switching from L&S to Engineering (the latter direction has a highly competitive admissions process).</p>
<p>Thank you for that info. I am applying to Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, and Davis</p>
<p>I understand, that’s why I listed business as my alternate major rather than a different engineering discipline</p>
<p>There is still time to change your major on your application if that’s what you decide to do. And it may be worth it; both Cal and UCLA say on their website that they do not consider your alternate major if they deny you for the primary one. You’ll have to check what the others you applied to will do. </p>
<p>The reason this matters is that admission to a program like bioengineering is likely more difficult that getting into the same UC as a student applying to a major in the College of Letters and Science. It would be a shame to get denied for a major you don’t want anyway.</p>
<p>Don’t make any hasty decisions; give it some thought first. And I think you may not be fully informed yet; for example you write “I thought it would be best to get an engineering degree then enter business school” and yet all of the top business schools expect students to have a few years experience in the workforce before they will enroll them.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input. I was hoping to turn in the app tonight. The reason I am putting bioengineering as my first choice is that my background indicates scientific interests. I unfortunately had to explain why I would like engineering in one of my essays. Do you think it would be a better idea to tweak the essay so that it is less oriented towards engineering, then select business/economics as my major? I was betting on the alternate major option. I thought that if I got in for engineering, I would just switch majors as soon as I had a chance.</p>