I am interested in applying to the school of engineering at the University of Maryland. I was wondering, when I select a prospective major on my application, is that choice binding, or will I be free to change my major later if I am admitted?
Thanks!
@BlueSnail - You can change your major at any time. However, you need to carefully asses the requirements for switching to another major, especially if that major is a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP).
For example, here is an FAQ from the Engineering Department (Clark School)
Why would I be listed as a “Letters and Sciences” student if I applied to be an Engineering major?
“The Clark School of Engineering receives approximately 3,000 applications each year from talented students who have been admitted to the University of Maryland. Engineering is a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP), and due to class size restrictions and other resource limitations, is not able to admit every student who applies to be an Engineering major as a freshman. As such, the Clark School will typically only admit between 1,700 and 1,800 students each year as direct freshmen admits.”
Engineering is a competitive LEP for direct entry.
Business (Smith School) is a VERY competitive LEP for direct entry.
After admission decisions are released, it is VERY likely that every LEP major will be filled for next year’s freshman class.
It is generally possible to do an internal transfer into a LEP after completing the requirements listed for a particular LEP
Also, switching to a Non-LEP major, such as Computer Science, should not be a problem, but it is best to do that prior to Orientation, by contacting the admissions office.
@SoofDad Right now, I want to study computer science, but I am slightly interested in engineering. Do you think I should apply for engineering or computer science?
If I apply for engineering and get in, then switch to computer science, will I be allowed to switch back to engineering if I change my mind again?
@BlueSnail - Technically, you can switch back. The problem, as I see it, is that you will have to take the Engineering gateway courses when you want to switch back, and this my put you a semester or more behind. Engineering typically has specific sequence of courses that must be followed.
The following are the Engineering courses required for an internal transfer. They are the same courses that direct admit engineering freshman must take.
http://www.lep.umd.edu/engr-lep.pdf
Transfer Admission Requirements: Students beyond their first semester and those off campus
wishing to transfer are required to meet the following gateway criteria:
• Completion of MATH 141 (Calculus II) with a minimum grade of B-
• Completion of PHYS 161 (Physics I) with a minimum grade of B-
• Completion of either CHEM 135 or CHEM 271 or CHEM134 with a minimum
grade of C-. (Students who take CHEM134 must also have completed CHEM131
with a minimum grade of C-.)
• Bioengineering students must also complete BIOE 120 with a minimum grade of B-.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the University of Maryland and all
other institutions is required for internal and external transfer students.
The following link has a link on the left of a typical CS 4 year plan.
http://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/current
You can asses the impact of switching back to engineering if you start off in CS.
The question is what you mean by “slightly interested” in engineering…? Do you mean you are deciding between computer engineering and computer science (because you are not sure of the difference) or engineering in general? If it helps to know CompSci is straight up programming if that’s what your interest is.