<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>I am an incoming freshman and I've been giving my prospective major (Applied Math) in L&S a lot of thought recently. I feel like I would enjoy a much more practical/application degree such as engineering. I know that transferring into the CoE is difficult but I really want to give a try. Specifically, I am really interested (after viewing a few lectures) in MechE and ChemE...</p>
<p>My question is, which major would be easier to transfer into? MechE requires fewer transfer prereqs (I think) than ChemE but I'm worried over the difficulty of getting into CoE versus CoC. I know I pretty much have one shot at getting into either college so I would like to maximize my chances as much as possible...(what GPA should I shoot for...etc.)</p>
<p>I would really appreciate feedback on which pathway would be the safer to pursue (so I hopefully don't waste 3+ semesters of prereqs). I know the road will be tough...but I'm willing to give it my best.</p>
<p>Did you check employment stats for Chem engineering?</p>
<p>In terms of employment, I’ve found conflicting opinions over ChemE’s current and future prospects (Some say it’s stable and will grow…others think it’s too narrow/declining). However, because ChemE is so specialized (compared to MechE) it appears to be the consensus that job openings/locations will be limited compared to MechE’s prospects.</p>
<p>However, I don’t know how much I should worry about finding a job if I get a ChemE degree from Berkeley (Assuming I do reasonably well)…or am I missing something?</p>
<p>I primarily looked at this BLS for stats
<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-engineers.htm[/url]”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-engineers.htm</a></p>
<p>Here is the Berkeley-specific career survey: <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a></p>
<p>Could you take Physics 7A (assuming that you will be starting in a math course more advanced than Math 1A) and Chemistry 4A in your first semester? These two courses might be early indicators of how well you may like mechanical and chemical engineering respectively.</p>
<p>Were actually in the exact same situation… chemE and mechE seem to be the most interesting to me. Ive actually heard that chemE actually has better job prospects but for me I think its just gonna be whichever one is gonna be easier to get into.</p>
<p>@ Ucbalumnus</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I’m in FPF for my fall semester…so the only prereq I can really knock out in the fall is Math 1B. I could take Math 53, Physics 7A, Chem 4A in spring…and I’m 100% willing to take any other classes over the summer. However, what other classes would I need to finish in order to transfer?</p>
<p>@ nenolam → Yeah at this point I really think I’m gonna give ChemE a try. I like the fact that it is very specialized, and the material seems really interesting as well.</p>
<p>Chemistry 4A is not offered in the spring.</p>
<p>You can sit in on Chemistry 4A and Physics 7A lectures to get an idea of what the stuff is like. Or go to a semester system community college that offers courses articulated to Chemistry 1A/1AL and Physics 7A in the fall (see [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) ).</p>
<p>Hi, I myself transferred from L&S to CoE a little while ago. Looking back, getting into the major is not the hard part. The hard part is after you get in, so please do plenty of research on each major to see which major fits you better.</p>
<p>It is not a competition to get into either ME or ChemE. The only criteria that matter are
- Whether if you can graduate within 4 years - taking the relevant courses
- Grades you got for the classes that count towards the degree - at least 3.0. 3.5 and above is even better.
- A convincing essay or two what made you switch</p>
<p>So if 20 people apply for transfer and they all qualify, then they will accept all 20. Don’t think of it as ‘which major is easier to transfer into’ but simply ‘which major is better for me’.</p>
<p>@ Ucbalumnus</p>
<p>I’ll see what I can find with that link, thank you!</p>
<p>However, I have also read from a few posts on this forum that CoC is fairly lenient with their required prereqs (someone told me you could take Chem 1A/B instead of the 4 series and still transfer easily) have you heard of others doing this, or do you know if this is doable or not? </p>
<p>For example, in the link below, the department states that “intercollegiate,” transfers into ChemE can take classes equivalent to Chem 1A/B, Math 1A/B, and Physics 7A. Could I take 1 series at Berkeley and still satisfy the req?</p>
<p>[General</a> Catalog - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHM+ENG]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHM+ENG)</p>
<p>@UpMagic</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice! I will certainly keep exploring each engineering major to see which one best fits my interests.</p>
<p>I formed a Freshman/Sophomore pathway schedule in order to transfer into Chemical Engineering in CoC the 1st semester of Junior Year. </p>
<p>Does this look manageable/on track? Also, is it possible to transfer in after Sophomore Fall?</p>
<p>Freshman Fall (FPF)
Math 1B
Geography 30
Music 27
Middle Eastern Studies 20 </p>
<p>Freshman Spring
Math 53
Physics 7A
Geography C159AC (Upper Div Breadth/AC for CoC)
L&S Breadth </p>
<p>Summer
Chem 400 to satisfy 1A/L
Intro to LA to satisfy Math 54 at American River College
Diff Equations to satisfy Math 54 at American River College</p>
<p>Sophomore Fall
Physics 7B
ChemE 140 or Engineering 7
Chem 4B
ChemE 40 </p>
<p>Sophomore Spring
ChemE 141
Chemistry 112A (4 units)
ChemE 150A
Math 55</p>
<p>There is no Chem 4B in the fall just like there is no Chem 4A in the spring. A lot of their core courses are offered on seasonal basis so if you don’t take Chem 4A right away in your freshman fall, then you will be 1 year behind.</p>
<p>What I would do is have a meeting with a CoC adviser who are at the 4th floor of Latimer hall, explain that you are in FPF so that you can’t take Chem 4A and such, and listen to their recommendations. What is likely going to happen is that you start taking the Chem 4A and so on starting in your sophomore year and stay for an extra semester to finish up the ChemE degree.</p>
<p>@ UpMagic</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input. However, if I can’t finish 4A/4B by the end of sophomore spring, how will I even be able to apply to CoC? I thought Chem 4A/4B was required for admittance? </p>
<p>Could I take Chem 1A/1B at a local community college (maybe during fall/summer/spring) and transfer the credits over? I believe CoC allows equivalent versions of 1A/1B to be taken at a local JC.</p>
<p>I will also schedule an appointment with the CoC advisor asap once I’m at Berkeley in the fall.</p>
<p>If you’re set on majoring in ChemE, there is no need to take Chem 1A/1B at another college since only 4A and 4B matter. </p>
<p>If you’re going to major in ME, then only Chem 1A is needed. Of course, the best-case scenario is you have a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam and just don’t take Chem 1A because it is irrelevant for ME.</p>