<p>Get ready for a long read. So I recently transferred into Cal Poly as a City and Regional Planning major, but I’ve recently come to terms that it is not the career path I want to go through. Planning is too overwhelmingly political for me, and I don’t want to end up in the heat of politics in my career. I want to change my major to Bio-resource and Agricultural Engineering, but obviously this is not possible considering that I am a transfer. This was actually the major I wanted to apply to Cal Poly as from the beginning, but seeing as to I was in a hurry to transfer (self-conscious on being an older transfer student, I know its stupid), and didn’t believe I could make it as an engineer to Cal Poly, I choose the easy way in. Since CRP takes in such a broad scope of everything regarding the development of cities, I thought I could taylor the curriculum to suit my interests regarding the environment. Now I see that as a CRP major I could only indirectly fix the environment through political means.</p>
<p>I definitely did not do my research on the major, and now I’m paying for it. I know there is more to planning than what I know, but I have a gut feeling this is not what I want. I’ve been thinking about dropping out and re-applying as BRAE major, but I’m too afraid to take action on that. I feel like there has to be another option. I still don’t know who my advisor is since the department still hasn’t let us know who they are. I’ve been freaking out for the past 4 weeks now because all I’ve been doing is researching how to transfer out of SLO so I could change my major instead of doing hw, so I’ve been slacking off quite a bit. PLEASE HELP! What can a transfer do in a situation like this? I really don’t want to drop out. Cal Poly is my dream school and I don’t want to give it up. And please give me sincere advice, I’ve had enough people tell me I’m a complete screw up already.</p>
<p>You are not a screw up, I met a 4th year student who was in the process of changing her major via ICMA. How? I have no idea. My advice to you is to call the BRAE department ASAP and arrange a meeting or discuss over the phone what you can do.</p>
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well, you’re the second person posting today that applied to a major they didn’t really want b/c they thought they couldn’t get admitted to the major they really wanted… and is trying to change majors once in.</p>
<p>According to the other post, it is doable if you’re persistent and also doing well in the classes you’re in currently.</p>
<p>Changing from college of arch to college of ag should be easier. But you MUST keep your grades up while at Cal Poly. If you do poorly, all major change chances are in question. </p>
<p>Also, you need to talk with your department advisory and also the advisor at college of ag to ask about the major change requirements. Ag engineering is less competitive than other engineering since it is not part of the engineering school.</p>
<p>quietdude, please get advice today or tomorrow from an advisor (any advisor). If you don’t know where to start, just walk into either department and start asking questions until someone directs you to the right person who can help. It’s OK not to know what to do but you need good advice and information. Please stay on top of your current classes so you don’t damage your academic record. The advisors at Cal Poly are there for you, so don’t be afraid to start getting help…you will feel so much better when you do! And remember–life is not a race–it’s OK to be an older transfer!
Best of luck to you. It’s going to be okay! :)</p>
<p>Thank you guys for being so positive. You guys have no idea how much it means to me to see that its OK to be going through this right now. I’ve gone to the department and made an appointment with the head of Bio-resource program next week. They all welcomed me with open arms, which was very comforting and put a lot of stress off my back. Today I had a talk with one of the professors in the program and he seemed to like me so I hope I made a good impression, and I hope he puts in a good word for me. Unfortunately the CRP department still hasn’t let any of the students know who our advisors are, so I’ll have to deal with that later. </p>
<p>I have to take about 2 quarters of math and science courses before I even get accepted or considered into the major, but I don’t care as long as they give me the chance to TRY. I will know for sure what my options will be by next week once I speak to the department head. I plan to write him a brief personal statement about why I want to change into that field, and do my best to get some letters of recommendation from some professors even though they don’t know me all that well. I was thinking of maybe using a letter of recommendation from my previous employer even though its not academically related to this, but it really goes into depth about my general work ethic. Along with that I am already working on a flow chart of what classes I need to take in order to catch up. If he sees that I already have a plan of how I’m going to catch up, I think that should show him that I’m invested in the major and that I’m not playing around. </p>
<p>Keep me in your prayers/thoughts guys, and any other students who are going through the same thing. And you know what, if I go down, I’m going down SWINGIN’! Thanks again for the support guys.</p>
<p>quietdude,
You sound great today…so GLAD to hear it! I think you are on the right track…keep going back until you get a chance to talk with your advisor. Work hard in your current classes and go to office hours so your profs all get a chance to know you and help you. You will be in my thoughts & prayers. Take good care of yourself!</p>
<p>I attended a change of major seminar and polls showed that 30-40% of students at cal poly change their majors. Like I said, I met a FOURTH YEAR student that was in the process of changing their major.</p>
<p>quitedude – make sure that you keep your grades up. If your grades are good it will give you huge leverage.</p>