How to research declaration of engineering major?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

I would like to research which engineering schools either offer direct admission to major as an incoming freshman or have space for everyone to choose their desired major once the time comes to declare, vs. which schools have a competitive process to declare your major for currently matriculated students. Specifically, I am interested in Computer Engineering.

Where do I start, to determine which category an engineering school fall in? What should I enter in search engines? How do I find this information on each school’s website?

(I’m the parent, and I’m not research savvy. My child has enough on their plate, so I’m trying to help in the background by gathering this information before decisions are in. TIA for not roasting me over this dumb question.)

2

Which schools is your student considering?

Usually you can find the information on each schools website.

3

Google the “first year engineering” and the name of the schools on your student’s list.

For example, here’s Purdue’s page: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ENE/Academics/FirstYear. If you read through the page, there is another link to their transition to major process: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ENE/Academics/FirstYear/T2M

You can also search for four year plan of study for your student’s intended major and get good information from that too.

If you run into trouble finding information, post what schools your S has on his list and I’m sure people will help.

4

Already accepted: U Mich & Case

Extreme reaches, still waiting for decisions: GT, CMU, Wash U, NU, Vandy, Cornell, UPenn

5

I believe Michigan doesn’t have a competitive process. Just need a 2.0. https://advising.engin.umich.edu/declaring-or-changing-major/

Cornell has similar 2.0 - 2.5 threshold depending on major. You apply to major first semester sophomore year. http://cornellengineeringhandbook.freeflowdp.com/cornellengineeringhandbook/5215877281438417/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=30#pg32

6

Try searching for “[college name] engineering declare major” or some such.

7

There is no secondary admission at Case, it’s a single door admission. Students pursue any major they want.

“with our single-door admission policy, once you’re admitted, you can explore the university’s entire catalog of academic offerings across the schools of engineering, nursing and management as well as the College of Arts and Sciences” https://case.edu/admission/academics/areas-study

8

We liked Case during our 2010 visit for DS (and I was accepted myself way back in 1980). We liked it a lot, and at that time I think I entered some “Case” threads in Colleges section.

9

Not a dumb question at all. That was also a factor for our children. Penn does not limit by SEAS major.

We also added looking at a second engineering major, making sure that our students’ second likely major was available for either a change in interest or for a minor.

How confined is curriculum? How many upper level classes are electives versus assigned core classes?

Plus for a CS heavy engineering student, would they need to transfer to the college of arts and science to be a computer science major? Or is it available within engineering school.

10

Ga Tech admits direct to each engineering major. They also have a very easy major change policy.