EECS or CEE?

<p>So I'm applying to Cal Fall 2014 as an OoS freshman, test scores and GPA are good with several ECs so wouldn't be surprised if I got accepted. What I am worried/undecided about is which major I apply to. I'm 100% sure that I'm going to apply to the College of Engineering, but I'm currently in between EECS (electrical engineering and computer science) and CEE (civil and environmental engineering). No, I am not some lazy kid who wants to take the easier major, but at the same time I don't want to overwhelm myself and have some hardcore study-only 4 years (which is what I've heard about EECS). However, with CEE I'm not sure what type of job I would get after it's all said and done, I don't want to be a professional civil engineer (too much pressure, anything built a tiny bit wrong and the lives gone are on you), I know that may sound stupid. Any thoughts? I guess I would also be open to mechanical engineering.</p>

<p>If you do not want to be a civil engineer after graduation, there is not much point in majoring in civil engineering.</p>

<p>Choose your major based on what you will be interested in. It is likely that whichever one you are more interested in doing will be the easier one for you.</p>

<p>There is a College of Engineering Undeclared option where you can declare your major later. However, it is probably more selective at the frosh admission level than most or all of the declared engineering majors.</p>

<p>Be aware that UC financial aid will not cover the $23,000 per year non-resident additional tuition.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply ucbalumnus. Would you mind checking your PM? Thanks :)</p>

<p>Both excellent majors since I flirt around with both departments as a MechE.
But yes, it is extremely important you choose a major that you are passionate about.</p>

<p>For EECS, even though each classes are indeed intense, it has the least number of required courses so you will see several people who graduate a semester early unlike most engineering majors.</p>

<p>When do I have to decide which major I want? When I apply or after/if I get accepted?</p>

<p>It is actually when you apply. As ucbalumnus said above, you can choose ‘Undeclared’, but in my opinion, I think that is for folks who have absolutely no idea what branch of engineering they would like to pursue. Since you already narrowed down to CEE vs. EECS, I think it’s wiser to choose one of them especially considering that ‘Undeclared’ is rather selective.</p>

<p>If you seriously don’t like the engineering you’re doing after you come to Berkeley, you have the option to change the major quite easily within College of Engineering so you don’t have to feel too pressured right now.</p>

<p>You decide at application time, unless you apply as undeclared in the College of Engineering, in which case you have until your fourth semester to declare a College of Engineering major if you are admitted and decide to attend.</p>

<p>[Engineering-Undeclared</a> ? UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/departments/other-programs/engineering-undeclared.html]Engineering-Undeclared”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/departments/other-programs/engineering-undeclared.html)</p>