First of all, the title is a pun lol. So I have this problem, and although it really applies to my whole college decisions in general, I’m posting in the USC page because USC is my top choice school. I’m still quite undecided on my major, and I’ve been told time and time again that it’s OK, but I’m starting to strongly consider Computer Engineering/ Computer Science (specifically the Computer Science/ Business Administration major at Viterbi). I’ve heard that if I’m really considering engineering, I should choose that as my major because it’s very difficult to switch into from a different one. The problem is engineering majors at any college (especially USC) tend to be more competitive than say, Biology or Business, and my chances of getting in are lower.
So my question is: how much harder is it to get into Viterbi than the other schools at USC, and is it worth the risk of lower admission chances to get a major I might end up sticking with?
Stats:
GPA: 3.97 UW, 4.21 W
SAT: 2250 (680 CR, 770 M, 800 W)
SAT2: Biology- 780, Math Level 2- 730
EC’s: Football all 4 years (Fr., JV, V, V) along with V rugby and some other sports ; Peer Counseling (tutoring/ freshman introduction program/ general school involvement, sort of similar to ASB), National Honors Society
I’m also a legacy (both my parents went, one graduated and one dropped out).
It’s not difficult at all to change major at a private school, I don’t know where you got that idea. You will simply never be stuck with a degree you don’t like, even if you change your mind in your senior year and want to pivot towards an entirely different path and take extra two years. The opposite is true for public schools, of course.
Viterbi is definitely harder to be directly admitted into than most other schools, it’s probably the second-most selective department after the film school. Most people I know had near perfect M scores on their SATs. CSBA, specifically, received a lot of applications last year, and there are almost 50% more CS freshmen than there were 2 years ago. USC has kept up really well in accommodating this demand though, so this may not translate into a drastically lower acceptance rate. I wouldn’t be discouraged from applying to CSBA directly as it will simply save you any further thought and uncertainty after you receive your acceptance letter. I can assure you it was easy for me to switch into Viterbi however - when they give you your list of pre-engineering requirements, I think you’ll find them very reasonable. I do feel that if CS is your true passion, it will reflect as such in your essay prompts and you’ll be benefited by that natural affinity towards the subject matter as opposed to trying to artificially sell some major you’re not so sure about but think is an easier route into USC. Marshall is also above average in selectivity across the USC schools, so you’d have to pick a Dornsife or Price major.
All this said I think you have a really good chance of getting in, especially with varsity sports and legacy combined. I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Good luck.