Switching majors UCSD

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

I am currently in high school and i’m hoping to go to UCSD after I graduate. My chosen major is biology, however seeing that it is a capped major and that most people get accepted into the Undeclared. I was wondering if I can go into UCSD with an easy major and switch it to Biology? If possible, how? Thank you

2

Yes. You just need to complete the biology screening courses with a certain GPA (you have to get a 2.5 in biology major classes) then you can apply to change your major.

https://biology.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/admission/capped-major.html#Non-Biology-Majors

If you apply biology and get accepted to undeclared, you can still change your major to biology in the future as long as you satisfy that criteria. So I would recommend you applying biology rather than some “easy” major, since UCSD IIRC admits into the college first and then into your major. There is no difference between switching from undeclared to biology or from another major to biology.

3

Would this be the same for Biomedical Engineering?

4

@jdcarcollector it applies for all impacted majors

5

Thanks — I know impacted majors have hurdles but the sense I get is that each major has its own set of hurdles.

6

@jdcarcollector to clarify, some majors are harder to get directly admitted to (bioengineering takes significantly fewer freshmen per year). Additionally, if you’re switching from undeclared to a capped major, some will have fewer slots open (biology is generally easier to transfer into than bioengineering or ECE). Definitely apply directly to your first choice major so that you don’t have to risk the transfer hassle in the future.

7

@DoctorP thanks for the color. My D got her 2nd choice (cognitive science) and I was wondering how realistic t might be to switch. Not guaranteed but is it 50/50, 10% etc

8

@jdcarcollector I know people who have done it, so it’s not impossible, but definitely challenging. If she’s set on UCSD, she should definitely be ok with doing cogsci before committing.

9

Thanks — yes that’s a fair comment. I wish there was some way to make that assessment.