So I am currently still a senior in high school and I recently got admitted into UCSD, class of 2020. I have long wanted to attend UCSD because I’ve discovered so many things I love about it. The only issue is my major. My first choice was Bioengineering, and my second choice was Material Science engineering. I ended up getting Undeclared. At the time I filled out my UC applications, I didn’t understand that UCSD’s engineering program was that impacted. Now I’m stuck. I’ve heard that to transfer, I would have to complete my freshmen year first and then they admit students based on GPA. I also heard the average GPA of students who were able to transfer in is 3.9 and then some other people said there were only ten open spots one year. So at this point, I don’t know what to do. I feel like I might not be able to transfer into the Bioengineering Major, but that’s my one true passion and I don’t think I’d be happy going into some other major. Should I say yes to UCSD and take the risk? I don’t know if this would be helpful, but I have a high school GPA of 3.83 right now, I love Biology and have no problem with that subject, I received a 5 on my AP Calc BC test last year and am currently taking Multivariable Calculus, and I am taking AP Chemistry right now but disliking it quite a bit.
The Bioengineering major is severely impacted, and would be difficult to get into. It’d put a lot of stress on you and it’s important to know that when deciding on a school to attend. That’s the short brutally honest answer, if you have any other questions I can do my best to answer them.
The same thing happened to me as well. I applied as a Biomedical engineering major, but ended up getting into UCSD, for Molecular synthesis, which was my alternate major. The BME program at UCSD is pretty difficult to get into in general, with around a 17-19% acceptance rate, so I’d consider another college, to be honest.
I’m pretty much in the same boat as you, because I know that I definitely want to go into bioengineering and I’m really passionate about it, but I also love UCSD as a school. I would still weigh going to a college as a bioengineering major over going to UCSD as undeclared, because you could always go to UCSD for graduate school, and there are some amazing colleges out there that can offer just as much as UCSD.
Thanks for the responses! After thinking this through for so long, I have decided to go to UCSD because I was able to find a backup plan. Even if I don’t get into BE, I would be fine because I found that I actually have quite a bit of interest in Microbiology. Also, switching into an unimpacted major like Microbio at UCSD is really easy so that wouldn’t be a problem. But I’m definitely still going to try for BE first. 
It’s hard knowing what the “right” and best choice is. I wish the best of luck to anyone else in the same predicament as I was in!!
@p04h08 I am in the same predicament as you, haha! Isn’t microbiology also an impacted major?? I thought all Biology majors were capped? thanks!