Switching Majors

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I am a senior in high school, seriously considering Cal Poly; however, I applied under a major that I am no longer interested in: Modern Languages, which is in the College of Liberal Arts. I want to switch my major to Psychology, which is in the same college. I have received preliminary information about switching majors, and it seems like this is a difficult, or possibly an impossible process. Have I been informed correctly? I would GREATLY appreciate any additional information from someone who has experienced a similar issue. Unfortunately, this is a major factor in my decision of where to go to college, so if someone could inform me as soon as possible, I would really appreciate it.</p>

<p>I have heard that changing majors can be difficult. They are very impacted in psychology. I noticed several students who were not accepted with high stats in psychology. I think that they will make you stay in your major for at least the first quarter and then you can try to change. There will be a lot of hoops. This is why they tell you upfront at Cal Poly that you need to choose a major that you really want to pursue. Many other colleges will be easier to change majors. The one thing that you have going for you is that it is in the same college. </p>

<p>Not sure if this is helpful, but I wanted you to hear what we have seen on this site a lot. Changing majors is tough at CP and they won’t let you do it before you start in the Fall. If you are really not happy about the major you selected, you should probably choose another school.</p>

<p>of course, the best place to find out information is CP. Call and ask. Good luck to you.</p>

<p>I see. I appreciate your help. It is a very difficult decision for me because CP is my number one choice. I really love it so much. Do you reallythink it is a bad decision to go there anyways, and take the chance? An alternative to switching majors that I thought of was double majoring, or adding psychology as my major and minoring in languages. What do you think about this?</p>

<p>go for it! The reason they say its so hard to change majors is because they don’t want people going in as a easy major and switching to business or engineering etc. My tour guide changed his major 4 times!!! College students usually change there major a few time throughout college, yes its a little harder at cal poly, but they also know that 100% of students aren’t going to be happy with their major. My tips would be to try and take classes that work for both majors during your first few quarters while your switching. I am going to switch from food science to nutrition, and there a number of classes required by both majors.</p>

<p>Great advice from kaicosmoz! If CP is your number 1 choice, then I say you should go there. Look at the major requirements and try to take classes that will work for both. Then do very well in your classes. Talk with an advisor in Modern languages and Psychology and I am sure that they will help you make it work. I wouldn’t pass up the school you really want to go to. Just be ready to work hard and be patient. </p>

<p>My neice is at Long Beach State. She knew after the first quarter that she was in the wrong major. She has taken a class in the major she wants to change to, as an elective. Now she has to go to summer school and complete enough units to be a junior in standing (she went in with a lot of AP credits and took a full load) She will be allowed to change majors because she will be a junior (really it will be her her 2nd year at LB) these are the types of hoops you have to jump through.</p>

<p>Again, you are lucky that it is a major in your same college. keep looking into this. You have until May 1st! I hope some current students who have changed majors will answer you too.</p>

<p>We met two students at Cal Poly a few weeks ago --both were involved with student tours–and each them have changed their majors. The girl switched hers twice. I have no idea how many hoops they had to jump through, but they didn’t seem stressed about it. VERY happy students! The gal said that going to Cal Poly was one of the best experiences of her life. She’s a senior. Also, the guy said he was on track to graduate in THREE years, so he’s minoring in an another subject just so he can stay a 4th year—he loves it so much!</p>

<p>What kaicosmoz said seems accurate. My son is a first year business major and wants to change to anthropology & geography with a concentration in environmental studies and sustainability. He met with the department head and was told he had to take 3 courses in the major(he’s taken one already) and a stats class and there was a minimum gpa requirement.</p>

<p>i think it will be VERY easy to switch to psych, they say that all the majors are impacted, which they are, but the liberal arts college is much easier if you’re thinking about switching. I know some people that have switched into psy major, it’s not that hard. Just do it ASAP. Don’t waste your money and time taking any modern languages courses, if you haven’t already, instead look at the psych course outline:</p>

<p><a href=“http://psycd.calpoly.edu/docs/psychology/PSY_Requirements_09-11.pdf[/url]”>http://psycd.calpoly.edu/docs/psychology/PSY_Requirements_09-11.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You might want to take psy 201 (its also GE credit) your first quarter instead of what they assigned you, because i think they still pre-register your first quartert schedule, though maybe it was just for the business school.</p>

<p>Hi I also have been recently accepted into a major I no longer have interest in. I applied as a Fruit Science major and now I am wondering if it would be possible to change my major. I would like to change my major to something in a different college, such as computer science. Would it be impossible because computer science and engineering are so impacted? Or is there any way I can do it? CP is my number 1 choice and I have dreamed of going there since I was a sophomore in high school. I just recently visited the campus and fell in love with the atmosphere and the students and everything about it. Do you think it would be worth it to try and change majors? I really don’t want to end up as a Fruit Science major after thinking alot about it. Is it worth the chance to try and switch majors, even if I may not be able to?</p>

<p>Fruit Science to Computer Science is a reach. You can try, but I don’t think they’ll allow it.</p>

<p>I am fairly certain that you will not be able to switch before school begins. You will likely need to start as a Fruit science major and then try to change after that. Like 08alum said, it is a reach because they are so different. Too many students get accepted as something that they want to change before even trying it out. Cal Poly is really trying to stop that from happening. Call someone at CP to find out more.</p>

<p>"I am fairly certain that you will not be able to switch before school begins. You will likely need to start as a Fruit science major and then try to change after that. "</p>

<p>I agree with momofmv about this.</p>

<p>If you really want to change to CSC, the requirements for Change of Major from outside the College of Engineering are spelled out here:
[College</a> of Engineering Advising Center - Changing Majors into CSC](<a href=“http://eadvise.calpoly.edu/dept/cscmajor.php]College”>http://eadvise.calpoly.edu/dept/cscmajor.php)</p>

<p>While progressing in Fruit Science, you will need to complete the freshman series for CSC/CPE/SE (which is the weed-out course series CSC/CPE 101, 102, and 103). You will also need to pass CSC 141, and Math 141 & 142. You will need a GPA of 2.75 or higher in these courses (not an easy feat!). You will also need at least a 2.75 for your Cal Poly GPA or in all “degree applicable” courses (this would include GE’s, major, & support for CSC).</p>

<p>Your best bet if you really want to “go for it” is to start now (this summer) taking a programming course at your local CC that will transfer as CSC/CPE 101. It would also help to get Engineering Calculus 1 (Math 141) out of the way if you don’t already have AP credit for that. Be sure to check Assist.org for articulation agreements with Cal Poly.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>You can’t switch majors your first quarter anyways, its only allowed AFTER your first quarter. You can attempt to switch to computer science but I think that is a bit difficult. During Fall, if you still want to try to switch you should set up an appointment with an advisor in the computer science dept, and probably sign up for the courses ralph4 mentioned right away… Like he said, starting this summer would be really beneficial…</p>

<p>Changing majors at Cal Poly is possible but not guaranteed. You must meet the criteria for the major you wish to apply to and cannot apply to change majors until you have been here for several quarters (varies by major).</p>

<p>Switching majors is hard in certain colleges. I can tell anyone upfront that switching into business is pretty hard. They’ll look at your HS stats, even if you take the required courses and do well. That’s what they did to me. However, I did change to another major and LOVE it. And a few of my friends switched into my major as well. The department was super helpful, nice, and friendly whereas the business department made me feel like a file of dirt. </p>

<p>I would say to talk to advisers. I tried doing the same thing & my adviser kind of scolded at me. But yes, you do need to take at least a quarter of your major in order to switch. Each college is different. Changing in liberal arts is a bit easier, but I heard psych was the most impacted major in the college of liberal arts.</p>

<p>It just make smile to know there is a major called fruit science. When my daughter finds out she may trade her spot in psych :)</p>