<p>I applied to Berkeley as a Mechanical Engineer, but I really want to be an Electrical Engineer. I keep hearing that EECS is the most impacted major, so it seems like it would be really hard to try and switch majors. This is kind of big for me, since if I can most likely not change my major... I am probably going to go to UCLA, since they accepted me as an EE. I really should have applied to Berkeley as EECS... I wasn't expecting to be admitted in the first place, so I didn't spend too much time worrying about that. Thing is... maybe if I applied as EECS, I wouldn't have gotten in anyway... who knows... </p>
<p>I am trying to choose between UCLA and UC Berkeley. I know Cal has a better rep for engineering and all, but it seems kind of risky... I don't want to be stuck as a MechE... Also... I am not the brightest student. I know I can be a hard worker, who has a will to learn and all, but I am afraid that I will not do too well at Berkeley and either drop out or get an unsatisfactory GPA. </p>
<p>Anyway... what do you guys think would be the best for me? Is it possible to change majors like I want? How difficult is that process? When would I be able to change? Will I fall behind? Also... I keep hearing that you really need to be a genius to keep up with the rest of the engineers... is this true? I am really not that smart, so maybe I should try UCLA? I mean I am not expecting UCLA to be easy at all... It just won't be filled with the geniuses I hear about at Berkeley.... I guess? </p>
<p>Sorry for all the questions. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone! Choosing between UCLA and Cal has been incredibly difficult.... AHH!!!</p>
<p>UCLA will still be filled with geniuses, but don't count on having an easy time transfering into EECS, because it's one of the lowest accepting programs on campus, the only with lower acceptance is biomedical engineering with about 70 people or so I believe. Go for UCLA, better sports, better weather, pretty much the same programs. Berkeley is way overrated for undergraduate engineering study. Go for UCLA, you won't be disappointed. I'm doing a band appeal there, hopefully I get in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice and good luck with your appeal!</p>
<p>Yeah it seems like it would be really hard to try and switch. I guess the main motive for trying to do that would be to get that Berkeley degree in engineering, which is supposed to look amazing. UCLA has always seemed like the safer choice, since Berkeley has many risks involved, in my case. So I have been leaning towards UCLA, but I just don't wanna regret giving up that chance to go to Berkeley. SO HARD! AHHH!</p>
<p>I guess both schools are more equally competitive than I initially presumed. It seems like if I could transfer to EECS at Berkeley... that MAY be the better choice. Do you guys know who I could contact at Berkeley to discuss this with? Maybe they could tell me more accurately what I would need to do to change my major to EECS.</p>
<p>I got into Cal's EECS, but I'm kinda scared of the degree of its competitiveness. exactly how competitive is Cal's EECS program? I heard the survival rate is a little over 50% entering junior year. Is it true? (PS. It's ok to throw scary statistics at me, cuz i want to go to UCLA, but my parents won't let me. Give me some statistics so i can scare them off. ;-))</p>
<p>in response to barfdog:
how is berkeley eecs overrated? are you an eecs major? how do you know? it's basically a perennial top 3 program in the NATION(not just for grad). in my book, that's not too shabby. last time i checked cal's sports weren't doing too bad either. sour grapes maybe?</p>
<p>when you say sports, you basically means bball and football (there are other sports but it's not like the entire schools gets into it). ucla has a better bball team but cal has a better football team. considering that, i don't think you can really say that ucla has much better sports teams. better weather is subjective. so cal is a little too hot for me, so it's better up here. and berkeley might be overrated as you say, but that doesn't make ucla engineering better. you can close the gap but not jump it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
UCLA will still be filled with geniuses, but don't count on having an easy time transfering into EECS, because it's one of the lowest accepting programs on campus, the only with lower acceptance is biomedical engineering with about 70 people or so I believe. Go for UCLA, better sports, better weather, pretty much the same programs. Berkeley is way overrated for undergraduate engineering study. Go for UCLA, you won't be disappointed. I'm doing a band appeal there, hopefully I get in.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This guy isn't even in college yet, and is obviously pulling numbers from thin air.</p>
<p>EECS currently have ~890 students.
BioE is steadily increasing from 300 students the year I applied to the current ~360.</p>