<p>Hi, A parent here. Senior HS son looking at UCSB Physics or Engineering as of now. Visited this year and liked it. </p>
<p>UCSB physics dept is well respected - anyone here can share their experiences? Son is interested in Engineering as well (Mech/CE)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, I’m a mom too with a son just starting as a freshman physics major, so I don’t have lots to share, but I can give a couple pieces of info to think about. </p>
<p>If your son starts thinking more the physics route, take a look at the College of Creative Studies (CCS.). We didn’t know about it really until after the application period. There’s a physics major both in CCS and in Letters and Science. Letters and science offers the more traditional studies and requirements. CCS isn’t so much into general Ed classes, and the students get more flexibility within their major, including doing strong research and graduate level courses much earlier on - probably for the more hard core physics person but worth knowing about. </p>
<p>Engineering is more difficult to get into than the physics major in letters and science. First quarter engineering students seem to take about the same classes as L&S physics majors except they take a couple additional classes on top of what’s required for the physics major - chem lab and writing 2e I believe ( I’m sure someone can correct me if I’m wrong!). It seems, if your son can get into engineering, it would be easier to switch from that to L&S than the other way around since some of the major classes are the same. On the other hand, trying to go from L&S into engineering would be more complicated because most students would not have taken those other two classes required by engineering. Does that make sense at all?</p>
<p>Hoping others can jump in to help you out also, and good luck with the whole application experience!</p>
<p>CCS lets you drop classes up until the last day of class which is the last Friday of the quarter.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what happens when a CCS tries to drop a class offered through the COE though.</p>
<p>Thank you both ^^. So, CCS applies to Engineering too or just Physics? I remember reading about it once during S1 process 2 years ago. He did not apply eventually as we had not visited. </p>
<p>So far S2 likes physics and CS.</p>
<p>No, CCS doesn’t have engineering, so that’s where it might not work for your son.</p>
<p>Yup, he can apply for Physics. Actually he has not done enough research on the CCS as yet. Seems like a good program - will wait for your feedback.</p>
<p>CCS is Chem, Bio, Math, Physics, Music, CS, Lit, Art.</p>
<p>Is the application process different from the regular? I read about the 2 teacher recs.</p>