<p>Hi I am applying to U of I for computer science in the engineering department. Being from Illinois, UIUC is definitely my top choice and I would love to get in. On the application there was an option for a secondary major choice and as of right now I'm putting Math & CS in LAS. </p>
<p>Will this decrease my chances at getting into the engineering department? It is so competitive afterall, I'm assuming they would just put someone like me in the secondary major choice. Also, wouldn't there be no point in putting this down as a secondary major choice since Math & CS would be option if offered an alternative decision?</p>
<p>In a sense it does decrease your chances of being accepted to the engineering college but not in the way you think. You will be considered for your first choice major in the same way no matter what you put as a second choice. If you put a second choice major in college of engineering, you will be considered for it if first choice is denied. Since you are choosing instead an LAS major you will not have that second chance of being admitted to engineering.</p>
<p>Also, you should not assume Math and CS in LAS is something for which you will automatically be considered if you are rejected for CS in engineering and fail to provide a second choice major. The usual process in engineering is consider for first choice engineering major, then, if no second choice given, consider for another engineering major (such as being considered for Engineering Undeclared) and then if rejected for engineering being considered for Division of General Studies.</p>
<p>Drusba, while I and many others appreciate your inside insight into the application process at UIUC, I’ve got to say that many people that are applying to UIUC don’t read your comments here. Providing the option of a second choice major, especially when Computer Science in Engineering is the first choice, without explaining in detail in the app as you have done above, is critical information. If I were applying to CS Engineering today, knowing that there were “close” equivalents in LAS, without the knowledge that I could have been considered for an alternate Engineering College offer had I not specified a non-Engineering College 2nd choice, I would have never specified a 2nd choice. Why? Correct me if I’m wrong but an intra-college transfer within Engineering programs is much more likely to occur than an inter-college transfer given available program space. Providing the option of a 2nd choice without a full explanation is misleading at best, and potentially life-changing.</p>
<p>Thank you both for the information about the secondary major choice. I’m glad I brought this up because, as Balthezar said, it could be life-changing. </p>
<p>I believe it would be very beneficial to select another major within the college of engineering, instead of LAS. The only problem in this case happens that one of the essays has a direct focus on the primary major choice, not the secondary. For example, I am deeply considering computer engineering as a secondary major choice because it does truly interest me and I would have greater chances of getting into the college of engineering. However, my essays directly correspond to my love of computer science, not computer engineering which is a close, but separate field.</p>
<p>As of right now I’m still very undecided on my secondary major choice, both Math/CS in LAS and Computer Engineering seem to have their pluses and minuses. Any thoughts?</p>