Hi, I want to go to UCLA as a Computer Science major. I have a 4.0 and all of that but the pre-reqs to transfer into CS is quite a lot. I was originally fine with this but another student I know who is also a “CS” major says he intends on transferring as a poli sci major and then switching to CS after.
I did my research and I know it is possible but I’m wondering, is this actually viable or does this make it much harder on yourself to get into the CS program?
I’m not sure where you got the idea that you can switch to CS AFTER you transfer. The UCLA engineering website says “Transfer students who apply to UCLA in a major outside of engineering are not eligible to later change their major once admission decisions have been released.” Political Science and CS are in 2 different schools at UCLA. You really can’t switch between them.
http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/com-faq/#transfer-student
Also, even if you were eligible, admission to the CS major for UCLA enrolled students trying to change major is highly competitive.
@2016Candles Idk I saw some people say it has been/can be done. I think I’ll transfer straight into CS it was just nice to think about transferring earlier for a second lol
you aren’t the only person to ever have that idea.
@NCalRent haha It wasn’t even my idea, I hadn’t even thought about it until my friend said that’s what he was doing. It didn’t seem viable to me as then why wouldn’t everyone just do that.
What he is hoping to do. A lot of kids on this forum convince themselves of things that are just patently false.
UCLA students have a hard time switching majors such as psychology to sociology let lone wanting to transfer from a Poli-Sci major to CS(Which is not feasible). As others have posted, they are two different school’s at UCLA.
So, I am not sure if you have done your research nor has your friend. Your counselor would’ve told you this. If you’re going to apply as a Poli-Sci(Which is under the L&S banner) and you or your friend gets in, then you will have to follow in that path.
Finish your requirements for CS then apply or else if you want to go in as a CS major, do not try to bamboozle UCLA admission. They’ve seen it all and heard it all.
It doesn’t work that way.
It can happen within same college and if you have completed the major requirements. Like Molecular Biology major switches to Microbiology major. Both majors have exact major prerequisites. And it would be more smooth since it’s within Life Science category. It may be even more smooth if it was within the same department. Like Chem to BioChem.
And, yeah it’s a lot of pre-reqs. Hear me carefully. I’ve seen a lot of students who (even myself included) wanted to major in engineering or CS in general. But they always gave up and switched their intended major to something more manageable. So far, I’ve only seen one person who would spend 3-4 years in CC trying to complete all the prereqs. My friend is currently doing his 3rd year and planning on applying the year after (on his 4th year). He’s majoring in EECS. So if CS worth that much of dedication, then go for it. But only if you can keep up 3.85+ GPA in major requirements. It’s exhausting. With that GPA, you can go to Med school honestly haha. Just take two Ochem and one biochem and you are on your way to Med school. All I’m saying is, it’s that competitive. It is almost like a race to med school.
@laccstudent Yeah I know that’s pretty much how this thread came about because I want to do CS so bad but it gets kind of depressing knowing how long I will be at CC for and still might not get into the school I want to, so when someone tells me something like what my friend did I let my mind wander just because it gives me some hope even though I know it’s not possible hahah. So yeah when I made this thread I didn’t really believe it myself but was just letting my mind wander and was just double checking just in case.
Bud don’t get me wrong I’m trying to make it the right way, I still have my 4.0 I just hope it survives until the full Physics set and all the way until differential equations lol. By the time I’m done I could double as a math major and go to med school hahahha
On the bright side, how many of the pre-reqs have you completed so far?
Seems like you have completed some of them, no? Which courses have you fulfilled so far?
And no, doubling as math major will only give you more math courses to take.
Only thing (after completing requirements for CompSci) you would left out is Biology, GenChem 2, OChem and BioChem. If you major in CS and take those full Life Sci 1-4, Chem 30A-C and Chem 153A/L then you can 
@laccstudent Is it that many more math classes? There is no difference in the math requirements for a Com Sci Major and a Math major (according to assist).
And the only ones I have left are math and physics so I should be able to apply for transfer next fall!
A math major will have to take many more upper division math courses after transfer than a CS major, even though the number of lower division math courses before transfer may be similar.
@ucbalumnus Oh yeah I figured that, I just heard that it’s popular among CS majors to double in math but that’s something I’m not even worried about right now haha
Nice, so you aren’t that far off. Don’t even think of applying as different major!