Hi everyone,
I am currently interested in engineering and I am think of applying to UIUC’s chemistry department and transfer to engineering.
How hard would it be for me to complete this transfer during my time as an undergraduate? Also, generally, how difficult is it for a student to transfer from one major that isn’t that popular to another popular major on campus?
Thanks 
Depends on the school how difficult it is to change majors. Some schools just require you to turn in some paperwork and it’s done. At others it’s virtually impossible to change.
You should apply for the department/major that you’re interested in and not risk it. Colleges are well aware of students trying to beat the system.
For example schools like UIUC, UW-Madison, GIT. How hard is it to transfer from chemistry to engineering?
http://engineering.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/advising/changing-majors.html
I.e. changing major into a popular major after enrolling is not assured, and may be highly competitive.
Why not just apply to the major you actually want?
It came to me that the chemistry major will be less competitive for me to get admitted to I guess compared to engineering.
Also, I was told that as long as you get all As in major subject in first year, it will be possible for me to transfer. Whereas applying to UIUC may get me rejected (possible)
In general, engineering is not easy to transfer into: your first year grades will matter a lot, and you have to make your case.
I’m guessing you are a marginal applicant, since you seem to be thinking that you won’t get into engineering by the front door. Chem could be a good back door- BUT you might as well be honest with yourself now about the reasons that you aren’t a strong candidate for the front door and consider whether they are still relevant.
For UIUC, transferring in to engineering is tough. Don’t know about the other two, but getting in to GTech in general is tough these days.
Who told you that? Another high school senior? Or an admissions rep at the college?
Getting a 4.0 in college is harder than in high school.
Choose a college where you can get into your major.
One of the counsellors outside of school
The key word is "possible’. Transfers can still be difficult.
Colleges are wise to the scheme of students applying and getting accepted to study in a less competitive major and then trying to transfer to the harder to get into program once they are in the school. For that reason many colleges make internal transfers into a more competitive program than a student has been admitted to very very difficult. Check the policy of each school you are considering, but my general rule is that if you think that you want to be an engineer, then apply to the school of engineering. Otherwise you could be stuck at a school where you are not able to study what you want.
Here is an example of what you need to change into the CS major at UIUC:
https://cs.illinois.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer-students
At uiuc, it’s harder to get into engineering as an internal transfer than as a freshman. If you can’t get direct admit, odds are very very low you’ll get into engineering from chemistry.
You’re better off trying to find colleges within budget where you’d get direct admit to engineering.
If you’re not competitive for uiuc you won’t get into Georgia Tech.
U Wisconsin is more flexible.
Look at Missouri M&T, Iowa State, UMontana.
Wisconsin has direct admission to engineering majors, but enrolled students must meet progression requirements, including high GPAs (up to 3.5 in major and 3.0 overall, depending on major), to stay in the majors.
Practically, this is similar to the weed-out system used at other schools like Purdue, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Washington, Virginia Tech, etc. where enrolled pre-engineering students must meet high GPA requirements or compete for admission to get into their desired majors.
^ No wonder their engineering graduates are so highly regarded.
You should apply to Engineering as your first choice and list Chem as your second. You’re automatically considered for your 2nd choice major, if you miss the cut for the first. In addition, at UIUC, if you miss the cuts for both your first and second choice majors, you’re automatically considered for DGS, from which you will have the opportunity to transfer into a major if you … make the cut at that time. Please note that engineering, in general, is very difficult to transfer into.
@Balthezar Thx for your reply! Is it true that if i dont get admitted for engineering but is a strong applicant for chemistry, I would be admitted? I am well aware that there are many people who apply UIUC’s chemistry as first choice. Wouldn’t UIUC consider the first choice chemistry students instead of the second choices?
Yes, they would. And they make it almost impossible for students admitted for something else ringer into engineering, so that the students admitted for chemistry are really interested in it and don’t take a real chemistry major’s chance.
Admissions at UIUC trys to build the strongest class possible in each program. It doesn’t matter if Chem is your first or second choice.