switch: chemistry to chemical engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>hello all,</p>

<p>i was admitted into ucla as a chemistry major (as a transfer for fall 2007), which is a field that i really want to pursue. Over this last semester, i did some research and found that chemical engineering would probably be the best route for me, and my parents agree (i like math, physics and figuring things out). Im in the l&s right now, and i would like to change my major into chemical engineering BEFORE the upcoming year starts. </p>

<p>I have all the preparation courses for the engineering majors done and i have a solid gpa in my chemistry, math and physics courses (around a 3.6). As calculated, i could potentially graduate in two years in ChE at ucla. </p>

<p>Would a change like this be possible before fall 2007 semester starts? if so, how would i go about doing this? </p>

<p>Is ChE an impacted major? </p>

<p>any help would be appreciated, thanks.</p>

2

<p>Yes, this is possible, before the Fall Quarter starts. You need to contact the HSSEAS OASA (<a href="http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu&lt;/a&gt;) and apply for a change of major via e-mail. If you can go there in person to apply, that's even better. Even though Chemical Engineering isn't an impacted major, a 3.6 transfer GPA might not cut it. :rolleyes:</p>

3

<p>flopsy, on the site it says that you can only make the change during fall quarter 2007. I still hope that i can make the change though.</p>

4

<p>No, CHE is not an impacted major. We're quite small actually compared to the other departments. A lot of times you'll take the same professor over for different classes.</p>

<p>CHE 100/Bio 125 - Monboquette
CHE 101A/B/C - Hicks
CHE 102A/B - Orkoulas
CHE 104A/B - Drake
CHE 103/106 - Senkan
CHE 108A/B - Manthoukias (sp)
CHE 109/119 - Phillis (Visiting professor, gone now)</p>

<p>You'll only take two UD chemistry classes. CHEM 113A - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and CHEM 153A - Biochemistry. Chemical Engineering is a bit structured unlike other engineering departments. If you do not pass any one of those class I listed (exclude 119 and BIO 125), you will be delayed in graduating (classes are only offered 1 time in the year in sequence). </p>

<p>My opinion is this, make sure you either want chemistry or chemical engineering. CHE units do not transfer over to CHEM's major (exception is Biochemistry but with few classes) and CHEM do not transfer over to CHE's major.</p>

<ul>
<li>TB54</li>
</ul>

5

<p>thanks flopsy. Unfortunately, i just got off the phone with one of the engineering counselors (i dont know who it was) and they told me that i would need to wait until fall 2007 to make that change. So it looks like it might take me three years. Like TB54 said, everything is in sequence. </p>

<p>and a special thanks to TB54 for the advice, it seems like your in ChE yourself. </p>

<p>How hard is ChE? Would it be possible to hold a job while taking a full courseload of ChE classes? </p>

<p>And if i choose to stay in chemistry, is the department pretty good? Are there opportunities to get involved in research? What is the joboutlook? </p>

<p>again, thankyou.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]

How hard is ChE? Would it be possible to hold a job while taking a full courseload of ChE classes?

[/quote]

For the first year, yes. My roomate is taking courses similar to the ChE curriculum, and he is in a frat, many ECs, parties, has a job. He's getting over 3.2 too.</p>

7

<p>thanks boelter but im not freshmen, im a transfer student.</p>

8

<p>thanks again, advice would be appreciated</p>

9

<p>Not going to lie and say it's candy. </p>

<p>Job Outlook:
Your salary is the highest for B.S. degree (around 57k). You'll be taking one of the most difficult majors. You can get a MBA (GRM), earn 120k as a Senior Engineer Manager 5 years into the job. Or you can go onto graduate school (GRE) and get a M.S/Ph.D. Or you have the background for Medical School (MCAT), Dental School (DAT), Pharmacy School (PCAT). Outsourcing isn't really an issue since many of the gas, chemical, paper and pulp, biotech companies manufacturering plants are located in the U.S. A lot of these companies are hiring because a new plant is operational or pilot plant is made.</p>

<p>Internships are nice too. Big oil companies pay their interns around 23 bucks an hour with full 40 hours a week. You'll either work in Bakersfield or El Segundo for local companies.</p>

<p>Difficulty:
Weeding out doesn't start till sophmore/junior year. CHEM 30A/B and CHE 100 weeds out a lot. CHE "fundamentals" don't really begin till your junior year where you learn transport, thermodynamics and separations.</p>

<p>For CHE 100 in sophmore year, class started with 200ish. For CHE 101A in junior fall, class started with 60. For CHE 101B in junior winter, class is now 48ish. I think we're down to 43ish students for CHE 101C? </p>

<p>So weed out rate using engineering approximations:
(200-50)/200 = 150/200 = 75% </p>

<p>CHE 100 has a high weed out rate. My guess? Monboquette has very long homeworks. Around 7 problems per week, but these can take you around 2-3 hours easily each. I remember the Wizzo problem took me like 6 hours, you'll do a lot of "checks and balances" and degrees of freedom analysis.</p>

<p>Job/Social Life:</p>

<p>Yes, many chemical engineers have PART-TIME jobs. I only know one with a full-time job. DO NOT take more than 3 UD CHE classes, with job or without job. </p>

<p>Some chemical engineers are in frats/sor. I know one of my friends is in Zeta Phi Rho. Another is in Omega Christian Frat. One girl was pledging to the girl engineering soroity. I know two other chemical engineers who lift weights and don't look like engineers at all.</p>

<p>Chemical engineering is a bit weird compared to the other engineering discplines at UCLA. Guy/Girl Ratio is 55:45. Asian/Non-Asian is about 50/50. </p>

<p>CHEM:
I really like Professor Lin of the CHEM department. Don't listen to the naysayers saying he's hard. His class I found was easier than 99% of my CHE classes. I would take any other UD CHEM class he would be teaching just for the fun of it. </p>

<p>Counselors:
Misuk isn't really helpful most people find. Most people liked the old CHE counselor, John Weitzel, he's gone now. The new replacement, Matt Dingman is great, he's replied to all of most emails.</p>

<ul>
<li>TB54</li>
</ul>

<p>UCLA is a place where it's up to the individual really. I can't say what will happen if you graduate with a CHEM or CHE degree. Is CHE difficult? Yes, it can be gruelsome, but at times it can be great (you will find friendship with other CHE, no doubt). CHE requires you to make friends with other CHEs, most of the problems cannot be solved by yourself.</p>