Hello all!
I’m currently a Senior in high school, and I recently enrolled at Berkeley for this Fall. I’m super excited to start, but because I’ve heard such dismal comments regarding their counseling department, I’m trying to figure out possible class schedules on my own ASAP. I would like to major in chemistry, but I am considering applying to Haas during my Sophomore year as well. I know these plans are all very far in advance (and are certainly subject to change), but I am curious whether or not I could apply to the Econ major (which I know is impacted) and the Haas School of Business at the same time, to ensure a contingency in case I get rejected from Haas. The only information I could find regarding this dilemma was concerning a transfer student who had to decide between Econ or Haas, but I would imagine the situation is different for a student at Berkeley. Thank you in advance for your help!
Danny
You can. You’d just submit an application to declare Economics around the same time you receive your Haas decisions.
Great! Thanks for your response. Another question, in case you know the answer: how selective is the Econ major? Do most decent students who apply to the major get accepted? Or is it as competitive as Haas? Thanks!
Danny
https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/prospective
“Non-transfer students must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in the prerequisite courses taken at Berkeley, and a gpa of 3.0 in any prerequisite courses taken at another institution.”
@dannyboy2233 The key difference between applying to the two majors is that Haas is holistic, considering more than your grades, whereas Econ is purely by the numbers – you’re in if you meet the prereq conditions.
My daughter is doing this exact double right now. I would recommend getting with a counselor early and often to stay on track. My daughter is having to take two Haas classes this summer to make it work, since she selected her own classes for the first two years. Again, use the counseling office.
Also, get accepted into the Econ major first and then you won’t need Haas approval to double, is my understanding.
@StevenToCollege @CCMThreeTimes Thank you for this information! I didn’t realize acceptance to the Econ major was based solely off of a GPA threshold; I thought it was a holistic application process. I’m pleased to hear it isn’t!
@Capecodder2014 Just to clarify, is your daughter doing a double major in Chem/Econ, Chem/Haas, or Econ/Haas? Any of these three are a possibility for me. Also, thanks for your input regarding counseling; part of the reason I’m planning this so early is I know I will have to organize my classes well in advance if I want to meet all the prerequisites/graduation requirements without taking an extra term.
Danny
Econ/Haas. It can be done but you’ll probably need to know which double by the end of your first year to make it work in four years. If accepted to Haas you have to complete all requirements within 4 semesters, no exceptions.
@Capecodder2014 That makes sense. Thanks for your input!