So I applied to UCLA as a chem major, but I changed my mind and I wanna change my major to chemical engineering (UCLA lets applicants change their major until 1/31).
I have a 4.0 GPA and I think I can rush all those engineering pre-reqs by spring (physics 2, physics 3, o chem 2, and one programming course left)
But the thing is that on the application essay I wrote about chemistry major and not chemical engineering. Would this affect my acceptance? I heard engineering school doesn’t really look at the essay as long as GPA and pre-reqs are good but I’m not quite sure. Does anyone know about this? And can anyone advise me whether I should change my major or not? DO you think I have a good chance? I only have like a few days left to change so I am desperate.
These are the course works I’ve taken(for reference)
Spring 2017-
College Algebra
Elementary physics
Introduction to general chemistry
Introduction to Sociology
Art History
Fall 2017-
General Chemistry1
College Writing
Calculus1
Japanese 1
Spring2018-
General Chemistry2
Calculus2
Japanese 2
Summer 2018-
Multivariable Calculus
Critical Analysis and Writing
Music History
Fall 2018-
Organic Chemistry
General Physics 1(mechanics)
Linear Algebra and Differential EQ
Intro to Psychology
Winter 2019 (In Progress)-
Intro to Philosophy
Cultural Anthropology
Spring 2019 (Planned)-
General Physics 2
General Physics 3
Organic Chemistry 2
Nobody can tell you what to do. The essay is not that big of a deal in the long run. Jamming a bunch of required courses into the last term is a bigger issue. Can you switch into Engr after you transfer? I’m not sure you can. But if you can that’s a better option — stick with Chem, take most of the Engineering courses and switch after the fact. But that might not be doable.
@Ohm888 Thanks, I get what you’re saying, but I was just asking if there was anyone who was in the same situation as me so I can at least get an idea of what decision to make. UCLA doesn’t allow transfers to change major into engineering.
I also changed my major. I called admissions and asked about changing from English to Comm, and about the essays, and overall the lady said that it's preferable if you switch into something similar so it seemed like your essays and extracurriculars match up. So, * not * switching from something like American Literature to Computer Science lol is preferred, but it didn't seem like it mattered TOO much because she said that UCLA gets soooo many transfer requests to change majors and if you do switch but have all the pre-reqs then that gives you a better chance than your original major. To add on to the essays, for transfers I've heard that essays matter the least in comparison to GPA and pre-reqs (and ECs to an extent).
You can only switch majors in your school (Letters/Science OR Engineering), so switching from Chemistry to Chemical Engineering isn't allowed. Deadline is January 31: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/applicant/changes.htm
@90smix Thanks. But I don’t think it states on the website that I can only change my major within the school. It just says switching is allowed for L&S and engineering.
@vousmeuerz It means within the school. You can call admissions if you wanna hear it from them, but they said since I was in L&S, I can only switch within the school.
Okay. It’s kinda confusing bc some ppl say it doesn’t matter as long as we finish by the spring but some says that they definitely prioritize people who finished earlier. I asked admissions several times about this(just to be sure) and even their answer varied by a lot lol. Maybe I should wait another year and then reapply…But then it would be so stressful to stay one more year just for that one or two courses ugh.