I’ll be starting this fall, I have already completed calculus 1-3, currently taking physics mechanics, all lower division ge courses are completed. Got a C in calc 1, A in calc 2, and possibly a B in physics. I have an overall gpa of 3.02 probably higher. Curious on what my chances are, already talked to the college of math and science adviser. She said it’s risky but, haven’t seen my transcripts or courses taken. I was admitted, at all universities that I applied to, but cpslo is my #1. From San Diego and also accepted at sdsu. Any insight or advice will help, thank you. Just trying to weigh out my options and not put all my eggs in one basket. I also work 30 hours a week and it does conflict with schooling since I work with the local high school district, also transferring with a math ast, and accepted by the EOP program at slo. The main goal is to minor in math and ultimately get my bachelors in mechanical engineering, is that possible?
Are you saying you applied to CPSLO for the Mathematics major as a transfer student with a community college GPA of 3.02, and were accepted, and you now want to change majors within CPSLO to Mechanical Engineering?
As I understand it, to prevent students from “backdooring” into impacted majors, when you request a change of major, they look at your admissions application again and determine whether you would’ve been accepted into Mechanical Engineering in the first place. With a GPA of only 3.02, it is highly unlikely. The cutoff appears to have been around 3.8-3.9 this year, as a result of 20-30 times as many transfer applicants as open slots for the major.
Yeah like I said, I work quite a bit to pay for school and living expenses, and had to overcome a lot of adversities. I understand the change is not instantaneous, I completed all transfer prerequisites for math, and I am grateful for the opportunity, but if I’m not able to pursue what I want, I will have to look elsewhere. I’m curious if it’s possible, if so I will continue academics at slo. The classes that dropped my gpa weren’t all related to my major and like I said my gpa maybe higher, since I attended multiple community colleges. I am more than capable of handling the course load. Along with that, reading through the change of major requirements the gpa states 2.75 overall gpa within calc 1, calc 2, and physic mechanic or general chemistry.
You should call the ME department. My guess is that you’ll be too far behind. You have to have lots engineering classes, not just math, physics and GEs out of the way in order to get into and thus get out of ME. Call though. You don’t want to miss the chance if you can make it work, nor do you want to waste time only to find it’s a lost cause. My guess is that it’ll be a no go, but you won’t know until you ask. Good luck.
http://admissions.calpoly.edu/applicants/transfer/criteria1516/me.html
Thanks for the response and will do, I just don’t want to waste the time and resources.
@eyemgh: Do you think it would be possible to change into ME if one did have all the applicable coursework done, even with a low GPA from before transfer? I’d like to believe that one’s past difficulties wouldn’t permanently limit their future options, and that the change of major criteria listed on the website is truly all that they consider (course completion and GPA at CP). But even people at CP (Poly Reps) told me that they do use the original application to filter major change requests. I was there recently for a tour.
EDIT: I was thinking of the requirements for changing within the College of Engineering, which doesn’t specifically say your original application will be considered. For changing from outside CENG to inside, the site specifically says you must have been eligible originally:
“Students must have been eligible for a given target major upon entry to Cal Poly (via the admissions process)”
http://eadvise.calpoly.edu/majors/changing-majors-from-outside-of-ceng/
So it really does look like having a prior GPA of 3.02 is a deal-breaker for ME, but I hope I’m mistaken.
@lankysequoia, there are safeguards against back dooring into majors an applicant would have been rejected from. I know that comes into play at least a bit. With that said, people are reporting major changes to not be impossible. Certainly it’s easier to changed within CENG. Even within CENG though ME and Aero are harder to get than the rest. As a transfer though, I’d think it would be doubly difficult, because there would be too much missing coursework.
It is what it is, I feel the best course of action for myself would be, to put cal poly off probably til grad school, even though I love the campus and the town. Since I currently live in San Diego and was accepted at SDSU, I’ll continue doing my lower division course work for mechanical engineering while fulfilling the requirements for a minor in math in SD. The risk seems to high, but again thanks. I’ll talk to admissions, and the college of engineering advisor, basically get an outline if it’s possible, but I’m setting my expectations really low at this point.
ME at SDSU is better.
SDSU has a strong ME department.
SDSU is a good option. I certainly wouldn’t agree with @coolweather that SDSU is better than Poly, but that’s really up to you to decide. What is clear is that SDSU is good enough.
Yeah it’s an option and will be sufficient for the mean time. Possibly reapply for the next fall term as an ME, work has really limited me in the amount of courses I can take with time constraints, plus I don’t want to shoot for mediocrity I’m playing it safe, I was kinda reckless straight outta high school stacking courses and working. Which is why I was hoping I can transfer over, focus on school solely, get the required courses and change majors into into the program while possibly fulfilling the requirements for a minor in math. If anything I may stay at SDSU for my bachelors degree, I appreciate the responses guys and will continue to push foward.
“I certainly wouldn’t agree with @coolweather that SDSU is better than Poly, but that’s really up to you to decide.”
I meant better than SLO/Math.