Hello everyone, so I have been admitted to UCSD as a freshmen into warren college and as an undeclared major. I had applied for computer engineering into the computer science engineering department. I was hoping someone would have some information about transferring into computer engineering if i decide to attend there. What makes it difficult? is it hard to get engineering classes since I am not in the major? And is it a plausible route of action? Is there a gpa cutoff? I understand that there is a link on the Jacobs school of engineering website, but it is very vague and tells nothing about difficulty. Also, I would like to get into computer engineering in the Electrical and Computer engineering department. Any information is greatly appreciated
Your class of 2019 will be the second year in which UCSD will have the impacted status for all engineering majors. I’m currently a freshmen wanting to transfer from math-cs to CE in the CSE department as well.
How difficult is it to get in?
Honestly no one knows yet, there’s a lot of qualified peers around you and since my year is the first for this to happen for CSE this question cannot be answered through an administrative perspective. The CSE department does not and will not publish statistics on the number of spots, the acceptance rate, etc. (Trust me, I’ve asked them quite a bit). The only thing they do tell you is: getting into the CSE department is purely on GPA and they have stated that they’ll rank applicants accordingly to highest GPA to lowest. Therefore leaving you with only one thing in your control, your GPA.
I guess at this point you’ll be wondering what classes you’ll need to take to get in so here they are:
In order to submit an application to apply for the CSE department you need to complete a minimum of 4 CSE courses that must be taken for grade only.
- CSE 8A/8B OR. CSE 11
- CSE 12
- CSE 15L
- CSE 20. OR. Math 15A. (Winter qtr)
So your best chance is to do well in these four courses, and if, by chance, you don’t get accepted, switching into the major will be harder as the only way to improve your GPA will be taking more CS classes, and more CS classes means you’ll be taken the harder ones.
Is it a plausible route of action?
This depends on yourself entirely. I chose the route because I was confident in my ability to do well (I’m currently taking CSE 12, and CSE 15L and I have an A). I would suggest stepping back and taking a good luck at your capabilities and if you believe that you can do it, then great!
Harder to get classes?
It is true that getting CSE classes tend to be more difficult than getting other. With that said, your first enrollment is completely random and all you can do is hope for an early enrollment time. However starting from the winter quarter, enrollment time is based on credits and, as a freshman, the AP credits come in useful here. If you have a lot of AP credits that converts to UC credits, then you will have advantageous enrollment time in the winter quarter and beyond. I would define an advantageous amount of credits, compared to your incoming peers, as around 40-50, give or take 10. Honestly I would say 30 would possibly be too little to get that big of an advantage. However this is just what I’ve experienced, and do not follow these numbers too closely.
Good luck!
Can CSE 11 be tested out by some proficiency test or something without attending class?
http://cse.ucsd.edu/node/2066#general_prereqs You might be able to talk to advising or the professor and skip into CSE 12, but I don’t know that that’s recommended.
Can anyone at least make an educated guess as to whether a student confident in their ability to do well in classes would have a better shot at CSE at UW or UCSD? I’m trying to make the decision right now, and it’s infuriating that UCSD absolutely refuses to provide any of the information that would make the decision easier.
I did a bit of research about transferring to CS as a freshman, you need to take 4 CS courses and try to maintain high 3s as in 3.8 and you have a good chance.
what about CS internships in UCSD, are there many opportunities?
Lots of opportunities as junior. However there are kids that have them before college starts and after freshman year as well as sophomore. But junior year is the most popular time because companies want to grab you the year before you graduate.