<p>I'm pre-Haas right now... but I'm trying to figure out how well I would need to do in order to transfer into the College of Chemistry in case things don't work out.
If anyone could tell me how hard they've heard/know it is to get into each of the 3 majors (Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering), that would be amazing. Thanks!</p>
<p>Transferring into the College of Chemistry is actually pretty easy (it’s equally easy for all 3 majors, since transferring between the majors is pretty trivial). </p>
<p>The only issue is that the CoC puts a pretty large emphasis on graduating on time. So the most important thing you have to show them is that you will be able to finish the major of your choice in no more than four years. And since the CoC majors (especially ChemE) have pretty long prerequisite chains, and certain courses are only offered either fall or spring, you basically have to take certain classes before you apply to transfer. This might be kind of difficult since you are Pre-Haas…</p>
<p>For people interested in transferring to the CoC, I would recommend taking Chem 1A/4A and Math 1A in freshman fall, Chem 4B, Physics 7A, and Math 1B in freshman spring, and then Chem 112A, Physics 7B, and Math 53 in sophomore fall. Alternatively you could take some of the math/physics classes over the summer. You can apply to transfer any time, just make sure you keep a B average.</p>
<p>Thank you so much… this is exactly what I was looking for. Plus, I called the CoC freshman advisor… and she FINALLY called me back! She said it was very competitive, meaning that I would need about a B+ average all my math and science classes, but I think that’ll be a risk that I’m willing to take. I think I’ll opt for Chem 1A seeing I have almost no chemistry experience (other than a “chemistry for poets” class at a CC). Also… she recommended I take ChemE 40… some seminar-type that explores ChemE, she explaining that this will be the class that’ll make me discover whether I want to do ChemE. If anyone is in the same boat as me, or has any more advice to give feel free to put it here! :D</p>
<p>I’m going to give you two answers. </p>
<p>1) It’s easy. In terms of getting credits through, they are fairly lenient with substitutions. For example, they’ll take the easier Chem 1 to cover Chem 4, 3 to cover 112, Physics 8 to cover 7, etc. The paperwork is straightforward and the college is small, so it’s easy to correspond with the administration staff.</p>
<p>2) It’s difficult. CoC is cliquey. It’s a small college. And you get to know pretty much all your classmates. Everyone takes their lower divs together. If you’re not on a very similar schedule to your classmates, you’ll miss out on a lot of bonding opportunities. This is more than a lovey dovey kind of thing - having close friends and going to group study sessions is crucial for doing well. </p>
<p>Take it from me - I took all the core chem classes with CoC, but more so as a hobbyist my first two years. I decided to formally change into the college in my third year. By then, I was busy with research and other things in life, so I wasn’t as engaged with the tight CoC atmosphere as most of my classmates. Most of the time, it was no big deal, but if I had a class with a bad professor, it was much harder to get help and to clarify things with classmates.</p>
<p>This is also true for any other ‘intense’ major that requires a lifestyle commitment. Just because the bureaucratic element is manageable doesn’t mean that it’s actually easy to flutter between majors.</p>
<p>I’m in the exact same situation as you, Nenolam. I want to transfer from the Letters and Science to Chemical Engineering in CoC. I’m planning to do Applied Math in L&S so luckily all of my math courses overlap with those for ChemE…however I will need to take the Chem and Physics prereqs…</p>
<p>So, if I do all the prereqs reasonably well (B or higher?) would I be be able to transfer easily?</p>
<p>From what the CoC freshman advisor told me, B or higher in the prereqs should be good enough to be able to transfer. I hope doing that is manageable… I really don’t want to settle with a B.A. in Chemistry over Chemical Engineering. So far I’ve not liked the size of L&S and am looking forward in trying to move into the closer-knit CoC.</p>
<p>That’s awesome! Hopefully we’ll meet each other in CoC at Berkeley one day 
I actually was planning to transfer into ChemE in CoC or MechE in the Engineering department…I’m assuming ChemE is easier to transfer into but not sure how much chemistry is too much for me…lol. MechE also needs fewer prereqs…I’m still pretty undecided at this point.</p>
<p>Does anyone know where I could find a complete list of prereqs to finish in order to transfer into CoC? For example…what else would I have to finish other than the classes listed below? (To transfer into ChemE?)</p>
<p>-Math 1A, 1B, 53, 54
-Chem 4A/4B/112A (can you take 1A/B instead of the 4 series? Do they have no problem with this?)
-Physics 7A/7B</p>
<p>Anything else?</p>