<p>I am so grateful for my acceptance at UCSB, but I wasn't admitted into Electrical Engineering, my desired major. On the other hand, I was accepted to UCR for engineering last month, and while I'm happy about that, I realize that there is a vast difference between UCSB and UCR, in terms of engineering. I've read that it is VERY difficult to change majors to Engineering at UCSB and that has saddened me a little bit. However, could I possibly attend UCSB in the fall under a major at the College of Letters and Science(I was thinking Math or Physics), maintain a good GPA, and THEN switch into Electrical Engineering? Thanks for any advice, CC!</p>
<p>Congrats on your admission. I’d go to a school that’ll guarantee your engineering major because it’s not worth taking the risk and later having to do a major that you had no intentions of doing. You can’t predict the future and how well your grades will be, not saying you aren’t capable because I bet you absolutely are, but wasting the two years where you could have just settled with the major of your choice is just an absolute no brainer to me.</p>
<p>@lakersince95–nuitari is right. UCSB’s Engineering program is so strong that if you did not get in as a freshman you most likely will not. I am not an authority, but this is what I have heard from friends who were not admitted under that major in previous years. You can talk to admissions and see what they say and go from there. Good luck!</p>
<p>
Your realization is wrong. Riverside is a UC school and has an ABET acredited program. UCSB is a fine school, but should you graduate with an engineering degree from Riverside your prospects will be just fine. In fact, a little dare for you – should you enroll at Riverside, put a little note in your calendar for May 2014 to come back here and tell us how easy Riverside turned out to be for you; my bet is instead you’ll be posting about how they gave you all you could handle.
The odds are stacked strongly against it. Sure, it is “possible” and there are going to be a few kids that do it. So it really depends on how much of a gambler you are. Try and fail, then you’re screwed and won’t be an engineer. Or you could take the sure thing. Since this is an advice forum, that’s my advice – if you want to be an engineer, you’re going to Riverside.</p>
<p>So i got in for Mechanical Engineering in both UCSB and UCR, can you guys tell me which school is better for me to go? For my major</p>
<p>@Dimas would you mind posting your stats. My son also applied for ME but was accepted to Letters & Science instead.</p>
<p>Engineering is different than many other majors in that it is either an ABET accredited program or it is not. Both UCR and UCSB are accredited. We toured UCR with S last year. It was on a whim and a last minute decision. We lucked into a general presentation and then a campus tour. I was very very impressed with the information presented. They have a strong program. </p>
<p>IMHO, finding the ‘unrecognized’ gem before the hoards start trampling a 5 lane road to the front door can be a wise move in this particularly crazy period of college admissions. If you risk UCSB in the hope of getting into engineering will you spend the first 2 years of so of your college experience ‘waiting and hoping’ instead of engaging and enjoying? </p>
<p>The only reason S did not apply to UCR is he refuses to go anywhere ‘really hot’. It was a push to get him to consider UCSB.</p>
<p>@everyone Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate each and every single post. UCSB is/was my dream, but since it’s a big risk for my future, in general, to play the “hope and see” game, I’ll be looking elsewhere. </p>
<p>And on a side note, I don’t look down, or want to belittle, upon UCR at ALL. I feel thankful that they’ve given me the opportunity to study engineering there. I’m still waiting on UCI and Cal Poly Pomona, but if it comes down to UCR, I’d be more than happy to attend.</p>
<p>
There is one more option, that is not a sure thing but is not ridiculously high in risk (although it is still significant). </p>
<p>You can attend SBCC for 2 years, take part in the TAG program which guarantees admission to UCSB provided you meet all the TAG requirements, including a 3.40 in major prep courses (that’s the risk element). All engineering majors are eligible for the guarantee. A starting point to read about it is [UCSB</a> TAG](<a href=“http://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/prospective/tagletter.asp]UCSB”>http://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/prospective/tagletter.asp) and I also have a lengthier post in the UCSB forum about the SBCC pathway.</p>
<p>Basically the scheme is this – attend SBCC for 2 years, then finish at UCSB. Your 1st year live in one of the overpriced private dorms (using the money you save at CC tuition rates instead of UC rates to pay the difference between UC dorms and the private). After that live in Isla Vista, just like the rest of the UCSB students do. You’ll be right in the community of students all 4 years, can take part in many clubs and activities all 4 years, and after your 1st semester at SBCC even are allowed to take 1 class per term on the UCSB campus. </p>
<p>Its not exactly the same as going to UCSB all 4 years, but it is an option you may want to consider…</p>
<p>Again, as for advice, if you are a 3.0 student at Riverside – in 4 years you will have an engineering degree. If you are a 3.0 student at SBCC (and I wouldn’t be too quick to claim the physics/calculus/chem courses are appreciably easier at a CC than at a UC) then you are not going to be an engineer.</p>
<p>@mikemac That’s a great tip, thank you, but I don’t think my parents would allow me to go to CC as I’ve already been accepted into a UC. Great advice though, I appreciate it!</p>
<p>I also don’t think you should go to CC, I think the fact that UCR has accepted you for engineering is really really good! as the others have said, going to UCSB and trying to switch majors to engineering is very difficult, so I would also advise you to go to UCR. It’s a great school, congrats on your acceptance! :)</p>
<p>I just spoke to Admissions re switching majors. 10,000 students applied to Engineering this year. Only 65 students got mechanical engineering. I was told there is 0 % chance of switching. There is a very slim chance getting in after frosh year. The engineering program is purposely small. I was advised not to have my son try to switch. He is premed & applied as a Chem major to UCSB. He is a biomedical engineering major at all other schools. I am surprised at how tough this year has been for kids. Kudos to those that got in for engineering. I had no idea it was so competitive at UCSB.</p>
<p>@exlawyer … wow what your stats about the ME students who got accepted is only 65 i feel very honored to have gotten in.</p>
<p>I got accepted yesterday for ME, my stats are
GPA: 3.96
SAT: 1500/2400
good ECs
Im lucky with these stats :)</p>
<p>My son for accepted as Undeclared major not ME. 
he is being heavily recruited by UCM. & NAU engineering depts. He was also accepted into csulb me, and cpp me. As nice as ucsb is, I don’t think it’s worth being side-tracked as undeclared just to attend… We’ll see if my son agrees… Lol</p>
<p>My son for accepted as Undeclared major not ME. he is being heavily recruited by UCM. & NAU engineering depts. He was also accepted into csulb me, and cpp me. As nice as ucsb is, I don’t think it’s worth being side-tracked as undeclared just to attend… We’ll see if my son agrees… Lol</p>
<p>Well i want to get into cpp still waiting … what was your kid’s stats?</p>
<p>My son is sort of in the same boat. He got into Cal Poly SLO as a chemistry major as an early admit and into UCRs BCOE as a chemical engineering major. We have talked to the advisors at SLOs engineering and admissions depts. and they both said it is not that big of a deal to switch after the required 1st quarter. He is not sure if he is willing to risk it. The BCOE looks really nice but SLO is such a nice area. Very tough decision. Still waiting for UCI and CPP decisions. He applied as CE to these schools, as well as UCSB and UCSD which he did not get into.</p>
<p>I was told by a current CS major at UCSB that switching into engineering is very feasible provided you petition the departments and have a solid GPA. People drop from engineering every quarter, and the first-year lower division requirements are nearly identical to Physics majors (Calc 1-3, Physics 1-3, Chem 1 (Chem 2 isn’t required for Physics but is for engineering)), so petition every quarter and a spot will probably open up.</p>
<p>
While I wish well to anyone who attempts this, I think this is overly optimistic. Weighed against advice from this friend of a friend, you have the admissions office in post #12 telling a dad not to try. </p>
<p>And there is an earlier thread from a dad who’s son was following this advice of taking the Physics major route
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