<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My major of choice is ME at Texas A&M, but it si filled, along with a host of other engineerings. The only available ones are CS, and CE. If I go into CS my first year, will I have to take an extra year of college to get my ME degree? and would the first year classes be the same?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Edit: if I am not clear enough, I am essentially trying to go into ME from CS.</p>
<p>many schools, the freshman year, is an undeclared engineering year. You will not miss much in either major by switching in the sophomore year.</p>
<p>Check the major departments at your university for suggested freshman year programs for each major. It is likely that you will be able to construct a freshman year program that will cover both majors’ requirements.</p>
<p>Why can’t you declare a random major and then just take the same courses a ME major would your first year or two? I’m guessing it’s just going to be mostly math and physics.</p>
<p>I would start with CE, as you will get your beginning engineering courses in. CS may just start you with mostly programming, which is not a bad thing. If that’s your only option, it’s still a good one. You may have to get approval to take the intro engineering courses, but if you express your desire to switch into ME, or perhaps do graduate work in ME, I’m sure your department will grant you permission to take those courses. Make sure you study hard and keep a good GPA. It will show that you’re serious about engineering and are willing to work hard. Where you may fall behind, and this is happening to my son, is in your prerequisites for upper level, 200 and above, engineering courses. For ME, he has to take at least a semester of chemistry, which he was unable to fit in his schedule because of his other required coursework and labs. Since you will have to probably take a science elective as part of either CS or CE, I would recommend you take chemistry as part of your schedule. That way, if you do get into ME, you won’t have to go back and take chem before you move further into your coursework. Remember, chem is hard one to fit in because it requires not only a 3 hour lecture course, but also a 3 hour/week lab. And many colleges have a recitation period in there as well, so that’s where conflicts can also arise. In the meantime, take your calculus, any intro engineering courses you can get approval for, try to fit in chem, and maybe your freshman eng comp or other core curriculum your school requires. You’ll have plenty on your plate just with that.</p>
<p>And remember, study hard, keep up your grades, and I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting into that ME program.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>