Switching Majors

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>I was wondering how easy it would be to switch from Electrical Engineering to Regular biology. If i do normal biology, is it easier then to apply for medical school etc? Lots of info please thanks!</p>

2

<p>very easy.</p>

<p>go fill out a few forms at the department. It'll take a few minutes, plus the added time it takes for them to transfer you from HSSEAS to L&S</p>

<p>as for medical school, your grades will probably be better in bio than in engineering, which would increase your chances for sure.</p>

3

<p>so basically if you want to switch u're guaranteed that major?</p>

4

<p>no.</p>

<p>some majors are impacted, and still others you're admitted to premajor status, meaning that upon completion of the prequisites, you petition (or compete) with allllll the other people with premajor status for that major. if you're admitted, great! If not, oh well.</p>

5

<p>is normal biology impacted? How easy is it to switch from EE to regular bio. Also when you fill out these forms do you have to be physically at UCLA or can you print it out send it by mail or something?</p>

6

<p>you have to have completed your first quarter at UCLA.</p>

<p>and yes, normal biology is impacted, so switching from HSSEAS to that particlar major would be harder than switching into say...MCDB or another nonimpacted LS major.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]

Also when you fill out these forms do you have to be physically at UCLA or can you print it out send it by mail or something?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You must physically pick up a form, and then return the form to the secretary.</p>

<p>
[quote]

How easy is it to switch from EE to regular bio.

[/quote]

99% chance, unless you state a nonsense reason on your statement.</p>

<p>
[quote]

you have to have completed your first quarter at UCLA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not sure if this is a requirement for EE -> Bio. Your high school records will then be evaluated.</p>

8

<p>so there is a reevaluation of your highschool records when you want to switch a major? Does that really have much effect, since ive already gotten into EE?
I'm more worried about not being admitted into regular biology and then not having the EE major either. Also could someone also answer whether or not regular biology is impacted? Im thinking of going the medical route instead of the double E so i figure that a biology major would help a lot more</p>

<p>also, are these forms easily filled out or is there some kind of essay i have to write etc? And what information would i need to bring thanks in advance!</p>

9

<p>
[quote]

so there is a reevaluation of your highschool records when you want to switch a major?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you submit your petition within the first two quarters at UCLA.
Therefore, you should have no trouble being able to change your major.</p>

<p>
[quote]

also, are these forms easily filled out or is there some kind of essay i have to write etc?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>A page of form, and an essay. I can't tell you the length, because it's not stated. SO write what you want.</p>

10

<p>sonic boom, are you an incoming freshman, or what are you?</p>

11

<p>incoming freshman, so if i do make this change, should i base my classes freshman year off the biology or ee? Or will i be just taking GE's anyways for the first year?</p>

<p>also, still no answer about whether or not Biology is an impacted major? </p>

<p>so is it easier to change your major first quarter than it is to change it 3rd 4th and so on?</p>

12

<p>Sonicboom, why don't you just stay in the engineering school? You can still take whatever classes you want.


Majors</a> and Requirements</p>

13

<p>well i was thinking of going to biology, therefore i would have a better preparation for medschool. And as someone said above, i believe the biology classes will be easier and better overall for my GPA. </p>

<p>now if i want to switch majors can i do so before orientation? i would really like to know the chances of whether or not i will be allowed to switch. Are the chances high considering i am from engineering school etc? Does the essay portion have a large impact or do they barely look at that. What happens if i dont get the switch and what should i do about it? sorry about all the questions, i just want to know complete information before i make a move.</p>

<p>also which department is normal biology? Im looking at the site but i dont see a normal "biology" department.</p>

14

<p>bump need more help please</p>

15

<p>Normal biology is <a href="http://www.eeb.ucla.edu/ugrad_biomajor.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.eeb.ucla.edu/ugrad_biomajor.php&lt;/a> . </p>

<p>I read the description. How is this major different from any of the other biology majors? How is this impacted? </p>

<p>At Orientation, you can hang out with the biology majors instead of the EE majors. Just ask your orientation counselor to switch groups. (They tend to group students by major at the session.)</p>

16

<p>What do you mean by how is this major different and how is it impacted? </p>

<p>i don't know myself if this major is impacted. I was wondering if anyone else knew. </p>

<p>and are the chances high that i will be admitted into bio major? </p>

<p>and the link you gave me, is that part of the life sciences department?
is the "Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution" the same major?</p>

17

<p>No. EEB is something else. Mariopuzo mentioned that the regular biology major is impacted - I was asking my questions to him or anyone else that mentioned it was impacted. I didn't think the other biology majors (sub-divisions) were impacted. [This[/url</a>] page has a list of impacted majors for the UCs. Scroll to page 6. </p>

<p>Impacted Majors @ UCLA:
- Architecture
- Studio Art
- Design
- Drama/Dance/Music
- Biz-Econ
- Communications
- Engineering and Computer Science
- Film </p>

<p>So, biology is not listed as an impacted major. (Where did you get your information mariopuzo?) </p>

<p>It shouldn't be a problem to transfer from HSSEAS to the College of Letters & Sciences for a biology major. What BoelterHall said about the essay works. </p>

<p>So yes your chances are high.</p>

<p>For life sciences: </p>

<p>Go to <a href="http://www.college.ucla.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.college.ucla.edu](&lt;a href="http://www.eap.ucop.edu/reciprocity/undergraduate/formbook/0607/choosingamajor.pdf%5DThis%5B/url"&gt;http://www.eap.ucop.edu/reciprocity/undergraduate/formbook/0607/choosingamajor.pdf)&lt;/a>
Click on Life Sciences
You'll see the divisions
--> within these divisions there are further sub-divisions sometimes
--> an example would be biology, marine biology, and that other one within the EEB's website </p>

<p>I hope that helps!</p>

18

<p>thank you emmeline i appreciate it a lot! thank you for your time and effort!</p>

<p>just two last questions, normal biology IS the undergrad major i should go with as a basis for medical school to become a physician correct? and would you recommend i change my major when i go up for engineering open house? or at the orientation?</p>

19

<p>Sonicboom, have you researched the requirements for medical school? It's usually of this nature: </p>

<p>Inorganic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Calculus-based physics
Biology
Writing/English requirements </p>

<p>If you did not notice, all of the biology majors consist of a Life Science core curriculum. They have all the same math, physics, and chemistry requirements. Note however that biochemistry is an entirely different field and that it requires higher-level chemistry courses. Look up "LS CORE UCLA" on Google and you should be able to see that. Afterwards, the upper-division courses help you specialize in your desired biology subfield whether it be neuroscience, physiology, EEB, biology, MIMG, marine biology, etc. In short, as long as you complete those requirements (i.e. LS CORE), you should be fine for medical school. For example, I know someone who is a comparative literature major who took the required classes for medical school. Some students who are pre-med are particularly attracted to physiology. Just choose which one you are most interested in. You will have plenty of anatomy and physiology courses in medical school to keep you busy and learned. Also, you will have a good 2 years or so to decide which biology sub-field to get into.</p>

20

<p>oh ok! i dont know if you noticed my second question, i edited it, and would you recommend i change my major when i go up for engineering open house? or at the orientation?</p>

<p>i really really appreciate you helping me thanks again!</p>