Hi, if I want to major in Civil Engineering for California State Universities, but have never taken physics in high school, will they reject me/do I still have a good chance? I have pretty good stats and grades in math and other sciences.
CSU/UC GPA: 3.91
UW GPA: 3.69
ACT: 30
applying CSULB, SDSU, CPP, SJSU
they require sciences but not specifically physics. if you get accepted, you ll have to take a load of physics courses to keep up with everyone else. Im doing civil as well, and I never had to admit i did physics.
Ok thanks so it doesn’t tank my chances too much? @ikim16
all the schools you listed are decent, but Im sure they do not require physics. But you ll take an intro course, which is like an advanced AP class. It may take you by surprise, thats the thing. Theres no use in pursuing civil engineering if even a first year class is difficult. Not to overwhelm you, thats what colleges look for. Oh, this person can handle AP physics, then he/she has the capacity to survive some level of physics.
I personally love physics and its honestly my chill class, along with math, but not everyone’s like me. If you look at sat physics and ap physics study guides, you ll get a grasp of college level.
then again, these schools arent ivys or hugggeee in engineering, so you should be accepted and among the crowd.
Thanks! I think I might take a physics class at a cc before I head off to college first then.
Make sure you check if your four year college will allow that/accept the course.
My son took physics at a CC, because it was a notoriously hard class at his university.
I don’t agree that you shouldn’t pursue civil engineering if a first-year course is hard for you. I was a an A+ student in high school, but I got a 45 on my first college exam, in physics! My husband agreed that it was equally as hard for him. We both got Cs the first semester!! I thought my life was over, but I went on to graduate with high honors and go on to graduate school in civil engineering on a full fellowship. So please don’t let physics stop you from becoming an engineer.
CSUs other than CPSLO admit by eligibility index made of GPA and test scores, as long as you complete the a-g course requirements, which require some science but not the explicitly physics.
So not having high school physics will not stop you from admission at most CSUs. But physics for engineering in college will be harder if you have not had high school physics.
Taking an intro physics course at a CC while in high school can help, even if it not transferable.
If you take physics at the CC you might want to use it for background and re-take it at your 4 year college.
thanks for the information! So Eligibility Index is used mainly for CSU admits?