<p>Okay, so I’ve been considering quite a few majors, one of which is Psychology. I know the Psychology major is highly impacted at UC Davis, and I’m wondering how that would affect my education. I noticed Psychology 001 has an extremely large amount of students in the class, and does not have any discussion section… which made me realize just how impacted it is. I have some questions regarding the Psychology major (or any other impacted major.)</p>
<p>1) Would it be better to choose a major with less students so that the upper division courses become more personal?
2) Would it be harder to become involved in research if I’m in a highly impacted major?
3) Would it be hard to get the classes I need and graduate in four years?
4) Would the Psychology major with math emphasis (or Psych/Math double major) make me more competitive for jobs/grad school/research?
5) If I find Psychology really suits me, would it be unwise to switch to Anthropology or another non-impacted major I’m interested in for the sake of being in a non-impacted major?</p>
<p>Even if you can only answer one of these, I would really appreciate it. Thank you!</p>
<p>1) I wouldn’t base your major on how many people are in it. You will get the classes you need, if you’re unlucky you won’t get them as soon, but you’ll get them. Even if lecture isn’t personal with hundreds of students and some classes don’t have discussion, professors and TA’s DO have office hours. If you want personal attention, get it there. This also applies to 5)</p>
<p>2) Yes, it would obviously be harder with research for more popular majors, however I wouldn’t say this is true for psychology which does numerous studies throughout the year. You’ll get to participate in them as a requirement of lower div psych classes.</p>
<p>The rest I can’t really answer well enough.</p>
<p>1) choose a major based on what you want to study
2) it’s likely, but a lot of psych majors don’t do any research at all. actually i don’t know enough about this to give a good answer.
3) don’t know
4) that depends completely on what you want to do…
5) if you want to study psychology then you should not switch out of psychology. if you want to study anthropology then it might be a good idea to switch into it</p>
<p>I would answer all five of your questions with, “Yes.” Less competition for your classes, for research positions, for time during class, for time during office hours, are all good things. But they are less important than choosing a major that you enjoy, that you are excited about, that motivates you. Being “hard” to get onto a research project or graduate in four years just means it requires more effort. Not that it is impossible, or even nearly impossible.</p>