<p>I have a peculiar situation... my intended major changed after I submitted my application to the university of washington. My goal is to study computational neuroscience and I originally thought "then I better declare my major to be in neuroscience," so I put neurobiology as my intended major in my application. That changed after hearing some computational neuroscience talks by professors at UW and reading their CVs. I decided computer engineering is the best path for what I really want to study.</p>
<p>I was accepted yesterday (got the BIG envelope) and UW was originally a safety school for me. But researching more I realize how much this university really matches with my interests. I understand computer engineering is a competitive major so I'm not expecting much. I read almost every page on the computer engineering webpage and saw the deadline for applying for this major was February 3rd. Way past the deadline... I know, but I have some connections with a professor - I've been doing some research in his lab. Maybe he can pull some strings but I don't want to be concoting devious schemes to get in. </p>
<p>I know I can change my major after the first year but is there any way or have you guys heard anyone changing their major before actually entering the school? I would love to start doing computer engineering the moment I step onto campus.</p>
<p>If you want any more information I can give it to you.
Thank You!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. For very competitive majors like CE, there are prerequisite courses that everyone has to take (eg CSE 142 and 143), and except for the very few direct admits, nobody doing these courses is actually in the major yet. </p>
<p>I really regret not knowing that I wanted to do engineering before I applied. I sent a email to the ugrad advisor for this major at UW with a very small glimmer or hope. I was hoping if there were any stories like mine out there.</p>
<p>If you’re wondering whether you can still be directly admitted into the major, yeah, chances are slim to none at this point. But, you can still take the exact same classes that any prospective CE major would during their first quarter, and apply for the major the same way that all non-direct admits (who make up the vast majority of eventual CE majors) do, in a few quarters when you’ve completed the prerequisites. </p>
<p>Yes, exactly. Since CE is a competitive major though, you’ll have to apply and be accepted. I believe it’s based on your GPA, especially your GPA for the prereqs, and an application essay. </p>
<p>Darn I had good high school stats that would’ve made me really competitive for direct admit, but it sucks that I have to start my resume all over again…</p>
<p>One last question: what benefits do direct admit CE majors have vs. regular admit? is it just they got to avoid the competition of the regular admission?</p>
<p>Yeah that does suck. On the plus side, you’re right, the only advantage direct admits have is being able to avoid the competition. Other than that, there’s no benefit to being directly admitted. </p>
<p>On the webpage it says DAs also have more time for internships and research but if DAs are taking the same courses how can they have more time? Plus career fairs I’m not so interested in but could talks still be open for aspiring CSE majors?</p>
<p>We have more ‘time’ in the sense that since we have more access to resources, like career fairs. A lot of companies come to recruit, so that exposure gives us a slight leg up when looking for internships. Another point is that some CSE majors-only classes, like data structures, systems, or databases, open up a lot of opportunities, like research and internships. While there are <em>some</em> equivalent classes for non-majors, but it’s not quite the same. </p>
<p>Some talks are open to anyone in the university, but some talks are only for the CSE department (students, faculty).</p>