<p>I'm currently a freshman undecided major but I'm planning on switching into CoC as a ChemE major. Problem is, I'm also taking UGBA 10, pledging a frat, and in a club so I'm doing really poorly in school - barely hitting the avg for UGBA 10, completely flunked my past two Chem 4A exams and failed my math exam. What would you recommend doing?</p>
<p>I absolutely want to stay in the club and frat, and I know I can do better in Chem 4A if I just manage my time better and concentrate. I was thinking about making UGBA 10 pass-no pass, but that would bring down my GPA since I'm doing so poorly in Chem 4A and Math 1A. I know that I can pull up my grades in both classes, but in Chem 4A I feel like the damage has already been done - I doubt that even with stellar grades I'll be able to pull off even a B right now. I'm really confused now whether I should just pursue business and do a dual major with MCB to have an easier workload or should I stick with ChemE and try to better my grades but risk not getting into CoC due to that?</p>
<p>Also, will it help at all if I dual degree between ChemE + Business over 5 years? I want to work for energy/petro companies like Chevron or biofuel startups upon graduation. Would having a good GPA as a ChemE or a lower gpa but ChemE + Business serve me better?</p>
<p>Also, was anyone in my shoes in regards to Chem 4A? Would you recommend that I hold off on transferring into CoC and just retake Chem 4A next year? Or should I keep on trying and take the chance? Can I apply into CoC more than once if I get rejected?</p>
<p>I'm very confused, frustrated, and scared right now so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>The damage has not been done in Chem 4A since each midterm is only worth 10%. Just do well on the final and the lab and you can still get away with a decent grade.</p>
<p>Are you taking Chem C96 right now? I want to know how much you’re interested in ChemE instead of other engineering, etc.</p>
<p>UpMagic, thank you so much for the prompt and helpful response. I am taking Chem C96, and although I definitely don’t find everything interesting there, I do find a lot of stuff interesting, especially the lectures we’ve had on sustainable energy and biofuels. There was also a speaker on MEMS and processing chips which did interest me a bit (although the stuffy atmosphere of the room combined with the fact that I was really tired had me going in and out of bouts of sleep).</p>
<p>In terms of interest in other engineering majors - I’ve considered some, but i’ve ruled out EECS and CivE because they just don’t interest me, bioE because it isn’t looked at well I’ve heard and because its too narrow compared to ChemE in terms of industries I could get into, I like the idea of IEOR being more business-y but I want a more science-related (life science to be exact) major, and MechE is same as IEOR about not having enough science (specifically bio and that knida stuff).</p>
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<p>Chemical engineering appears to be the best major for this goal.</p>
<p>If you want to study biology, you can major in MCB or IB or Chemical Biology, but the job and career prospects after graduating with such a major are much worse: <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a></p>
<p>The fraternity should be a lower priority than school work. Actually, pledging in your first semester is probably not a great idea, since you are doing it while adjusting to university life and academic workload and expectations, which means a higher risk of overloading yourself. Plus, doing it later means that you have more time to get to know them (based on others in the fraternities) before you decide which one. You still have seven more semesters to pledge a fraternity if you want.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus, I initially wanted to do bio but I know that career prospects suck other than being a doctor which I don’t want to do unless I dual degree with business…I like more macro/large scale stuff like physiology and neurobio and that stuff but I like ChemE thus far as well…chem i find as okay but i can deal with it. </p>
<p>as far as the frat goes, I’m halfway through pledge semester and I’m really proud to have chosen to pledge there. They’re the most diverse frat in my eyes and I really do enjoy being a pledge there…the brothers are all awesome and helpful. I’m more so motivated than ever after failing this chem midterm and I’ll manage my time super super well now. I know what I need to do.</p>
<p>My main worry before was not knowing whether to do business or ChemE because I wanted to do both but I know that I can’t manage…after reading some threads on here though I feel much more confident in doing ChemE. I just need guidance in terms of what GPA I should aim for (3.7, my original goal, is out of question and I’m hoping for more so a 3.2 or 3.4), what I should do to get internships ASAP (even as a freshman I want one over the summer) and what steps I should take to get into big oil or energy or alt energy companies like Chevron or Exxon. Any advice/tips?</p>
<p>Haas requires you to graduate within 2 years, so you can’t be a haas 5th year. Also, if you are having trouble maintaining your GPA, you might not even get into the major. </p>
<p>So right now, I would concentrate on getting ChemE up to date and then worry about everything else later.</p>
<p>Biomaterials and MEMS are actually huge (no pun intended) sub-branches of ME.
Taking some required courses by ME might be annoying (not as annoying as ChemE though), but if you like life sciences, ME can still serve you well.</p>
<p>In fact, there is no such thing as a ‘narrow’ field of engineering because engineering is interdisciplinary and it is all about what topic you want to get into regardless of which major you’re associated with. Just make sure that the classes you have to take and want to take will interest you.</p>
<p>To prove which ME classes I’m talking about, go to course catalog and check out ME C117, 118, 119, C219, etc. and see if the course descriptions interest you.</p>
<p>Both College of Chemistry and School of Business have semester limitations (8 semesters for College of Chemistry freshmen, 4 semesters after entering the School of Business), so completing simultaneous degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration would need to be done in 8 total semesters, which would likely require a lot of overload due to the large number of requirements for each major.</p>
<p>Since you are committed to pledging the fraternity, you might as well make use of it – if the fraternity has any juniors or seniors in Chemical Engineering, you may want to ask them about internships, applying for post-graduation jobs, etc… (Same with whatever other club it is you are involved in; if you are living in a residence hall, same with that also.)</p>
<p>If you’re serious about working as a ChemE then you really don’t need the business degree. I’d recommend just focusing on your ChemE courses. That might help your GPA as well.</p>
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If you don’t do well in the chemistry courses but do well in physics one option is to switch to mechanical engineering. I work for a major oil company and there is definitely a lack of specialized mechanical engineers/technicians. ChemE’s here seem to have experience two inches deep and two miles long then get their MBAs. </p>
<p>Mechanical engineering could also open doors to other industries as well.</p>
<p>Focus on getting the engineering degree and don’t stretch yourself too much. Business education can come later.</p>