Basically, UCSB is my dream school and I was denied from computer science but admitted into letters and science. My only other option is Davis, which I got into the l@s computer science program for. Unfortunately, Santa Barbara doesn’t offer computer science in the college of letters and science, and I do not want to pursue any other major. I REALLY don’t want to go to Davis. It’s mainly because I’ve lived in Sacramento my whole life and I really want to leave, but its also because I don’t really like the atmosphere of the school. Additionally, since I live close to the campus my parents will pressure me to commute instead of dorm. SB seems like a hugely better experience for me, and I fear that if I go to Davis I’ll end up hating it.
Enough rambling though. My question is what would I really need to do to have a good shot at getting into the college of engineering, how risky is it, and mainly what back up plans do I have? If I don’t get in how hard would it be to transfer to another UC to pursue compsci, and would it set me back in terms of time to graduate? I can’t take the risk if not getting in will screw my education over.
Other than UC Davis, do you have any other options? If you do not get into CS at UCSB, will you be happy in another major?
UC to UC transfers are definitely possible but if you cannot get into UCSB’s CS program, you may not be able to get into a CS program at another UC either.
The other option is to consider community college and then TAG to UCI, UCD, UCSC, UCR or UCM for CS. TAG is not available for UCSB Engineering, UCSD/UCLA or UCB for any majors, but you could still apply as a regular transfer.
@Gumbymom if you take the option to request a major change prior to submitting SIR and the change is not accepted could your acceptance be rescinded? DD would like to change to biology.
I got into UC Santa Cruz as well, but I like UC Davis better so my choices are between UCSB and UCD. Still waiting on Berkeley. I don’t think I will be happy in another major.
UCD has a CS Major in the College of Letters and Science, which I think is why I was able to get in (along with ucsc).
@calimamabear: They will not rescind an applicant for trying to change their major prior to SIRing, but most likely will not accept the change. It really depends upon which major she was accepted into originally. Biology at the UC’s is very competitive and impacted at many, so to change she will probably have to take several pre-req courses and maintain a specific GPA before filing for a major change.
I would imagine it will be difficult to transfer departments at a school level–arts and sciences to engineering. That said, you should look more closely at what’s offered in the school of arts and sciences. I hire tech staff and degrees in mathematics, applied computing and math sciences (a super-neat program that might be specific to UW Seattle), operations research and statistics all check an identical enough box as a CS degree does. Likewise, there are other interesting candidates–philosophy, economics, or linguistics majors who took some higher-level math courses.
In my experience, being articulate and quantitative are most critical for an initial job in technology. I don’t care what languages you’ve been taught nor do I care that much about algorithms (though I certainly care about those far more than I do language). From talking to friends/colleagues at other places, this is pretty common. Finally, perhaps earning the wrath of numerous parents, I’ve never even once glanced at a candidate’s GPA.
It’s really important for you to go to UCSB. Do it because if you don’t you’ll regret it the rest of your life. After you’re at UCSB you will probably be able to do most of the classes you’ll need for Computer Science. When I went to UCSB I changed majors. All it takes is you walking into the office and telling them you want to change. It’s going to be a lot easier once you’re in to change majors.
@thomas4881 changing into CS is not as easy as you make it. Here is what UCSB states on their website:
Current UCSB students in a non-engineering major, as well as students wishing to change from one engineering major to another, are welcome to apply after the satisfactory completion of a pre-defined set of coursework. However, due to the current demand for engineering majors, students are cautioned that it is a very competitive process and not all applicants will be able to change their majors due to limited space availability.
Students who enter UCSB as transfer students will not be able to change to or add an engineering major, if not initially accepted into one.
Students who began as freshmen who plan to enter an engineering major or to change from one engineering major to another will be expected to complete at least 30 units at UCSB before petitioning for a change of major and usually must satisfy the prerequisites of the prospective major. Students who have completed more than 105 units will not be considered for a change of major/change of college in engineering or computer science unless they can demonstrate that they will be able to complete all the degree requirements without exceeding 215 total units.
Notwithstanding any of the major-specific requirements described below, we caution that the capacity of any given program to accept new students changes, sometimes substantially, from year to year. It is incumbent upon students to continue to make progress in a backup major while pursuing a new major in the College of Engineering, and to periodically consult academic advisors in both the desired major as well as the backup major regarding the viability of pursuing the change of major.
Students may petition to enter the Computer Science major when the following requirements are met:
A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0;
Satisfactory completion of Computer Science 16 and 24 with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (first takes only);
Satisfactory completion of Math 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and Computer Science 40 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (first takes only)
The selection process is highly competitive and these milestones are minimum requirements for consideration, achieving them does not guarantee admission to the Computer Science major. Any petitions denied will be automatically considered a second time in the next quarter. Petitions denied a second time will not be reconsidered. Details found at the CS “Admission to the Major” page.
Plexico224 wants to go to UCSB and for that reason I support it. When Plexico224 looks back on life 20 years from now I think Plexico224 will be happy for taking the risk.
@thomas4881: I am just pointing out that your experience of changing majors is different than the reality of today. I agree that if @Plexico224 is willing to take the risk, then they should definitely do it as long as they are aware that there is no guarantee.
In addition to the barriers that @Gumbymom quoted above, it can be quite difficult to get into the prerequisite CS courses (16, 24, and 40) without already being a CS major. We are aware of a student, already accomplished in CS, who is attempting this as a freshman without much luck. It would help if the OP has high-level course crashing skills.
I think the major barrier would be actually taking each pre-req course. Since CS is oversubscribed there aren’t many, if any, spaces in cs classes for non majors.
If you really want to do CS, go to where you’ve been accepted for that major. The odds are long that you’ll be able to transfer into the College of Engineering. Talk to your parents about being able to live on campus at Davis and get that issue out of the way. Don’t make a decision based on an assumption that they’ll make you commute. If you have been admitted to CS at Santa Cruz, you might want to rethink your reluctance to go there.
UCs and UCSC CS are both fantastic. If you’ve been admitted directly to cs at either one, go there and do the look back. Plan to live on campus regardless