Note that L&S admits enter as undeclared. Currently, L&S students must earn a 3.30 college GPA in the prerequisite courses to enter the L&S CS major. In contrast, EECS students are directly admitted to the major and just need to pass their courses (C grades, 2.0 GPA) to stay in the major. The indication of major on the frosh application is only intended major for L&S applicants; there is no direct admission to L&S CS.
So it seems more and more applicants are applying to EECS despite it’s rising competition. What realistic advantages do EECS graduates over CS graduates, when UCB CS might be popular enough by employers?
EECS has an advantage of direct admission. But wouldn’t a successful EECS applicant could have achieved that 3.3 GPA without too much difficulty?
Both EECS and L&S CS graduates are highly desired by employers.
https://career.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/Survey/2015EECS.pdf
https://career.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/Survey/2015CompSci.pdf
There is always uncertainty about how well one will do in college. While high school grades and test scores are predictive on a large scale, individuals can over or under perform the predictions. In addition, UCB admissions is competitive enough that entering frosh have stats closely bunched near the top of the scale, so that predicting that a student with 0.1 higher high school GPA or 100 SAT points than someone else will have no difficulty getting a 3.3 GPA would be a risky bet. Hence the appeal of getting direct admission so that one can go into college without worrying about competition to enter or being “weeded out” of one’s major.
Note that some schools can be even more competitive to get into the CS major. Students who enroll at UCSD without direct admission to the CS major found it highly competitive; the most recent GPA thresholds to get into the CS major were 4.0 and 3.9, according to http://cse.ucsd.edu/CappedMajor .
Thanks for the very interesting information! It confirms what an Oracle manager said about them having difficulty attracting UCB computer majors so they have to settle with lower IVY graduates.
I notice that while most went to software, 1~2 went to banking. I heard from other forums that banking industry highly prefer CS majors now. I am curious why I only see 1~2.
Also it seems to somewhat disprove what UCB graduates often claims, that it’s very hard to get in to UCB graduate program because they are in UCB ug. Seems plenty are getting in.
UCB may be a lesser target for investment banking, as opposed to a primary target like some of the super-selective private schools. But also, CS (EECS and L&S CS) majors at UCB may be more aware of and drawn toward the startup scene rather than the investment banking or big company scene.
Some UCB departments do follow the notion that students should go to different schools for undergraduate and graduate work. Chemical engineering says that on its [web site](http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/grad/cbe/faq). However, (EE)CS is apparently not such a department.
It seems UCB creating the elusive M.E.T. program is a great decision then, to support start-ups.
http://met.berkeley.edu/
I wonder what would be correct adjective for competitiveness of this program that places a student in both CS and HAAS at the admission time. 
I can only imagine that the competition will be fierce as it’s the first time that one can get into Haas as a freshman.
In addition, if one is not selected, his/her application will be considered for the EECS only program.
Someone must have thought it was a good idea to offer a combined engineering (EECS or IEOR) + business program, since there seem to be some pre-professionally-oriented high school students interested in such (some other schools do offer similar combinations).
However, two things about it:
a. The sample schedules look to be about 20 credit units per semester, compared to the more usual 15-16. It would be interesting to see how many students in this program stay in both majors, as opposed to dropping one of the majors.
b. On the engineering section of these forums, [some posters](Majoring in Engineering and Business? - Engineering Majors - College Confidential Forums) look at new graduates with engineering + business combinations unfavorably when hiring for engineering (as opposed to finance), since that is seen as a signal that the new graduate is interested in engineering as more of a stepping stone to management, rather than because s/he is inherently interested in engineering.
I feel we are side tracking, but…
a. After a careful look in to the sample schedule and degree requirements, my conclusion is that, with enough AP and couple of Summer courses right after high school graduation, one can remove one course per each semester without ever taking Summer courses again.
b. I can’t see why a dedicated engineer would double major in business either, and would assume that the job applicant plans to stay only 1~2 years to get a hands on experience before moving into business. Hopefully M.E.T. graduates won’t have to worry about that. It seems the program plans to give them a special treatment on internships, etc. For business employers though, I think they can be very attractive (if they kept their GPA high enough, that is)
You are absolutely correct. With enough AP and proper planning, it’s something that very much achievable.
My son is currently pursuing double major in EECS and ME, and he only needs to take four classes per semester for the last five semesters which also allows him to graduate in four years.
That is very impressive, @StevenToCollege ! Engineering in any one of those majors is hard enough to complete in 4 years. What helped him the most? Can you share his HS course planning?
This is a funny statement. Somehow, I don’t think “despite” is the right word here:
He was able to get the following seven courses waived at Berkeley: first six through AP exams and last one through a community college class. That’s basically one year worth of workload which he can use to replace with the requirements for the second major.
Chemistry 1A/1AL General Chemistry
Mathematics 1A-Calculus
Mathematics 1B-Calculus
Physics 7A-Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Reading and Composition Course from List A
Humanities/Social Science Course
Humanities/Social Science Course
Do you have kids in high school as well?
Thank you so much, @StevenToCollege for sharing!
My D19 is targeting to be in UCs for engineering. She is taking many rigorous courses including APChem this year. We needed some direction in course selection sunsequently. Your inputs will definitely help give her a direction.
Supposedly they received over 2,000 applications for M.E.T., which means a 2.5% admission rate so elite or elusive seem like the correct adjective
FYI, just because your daughter may take AP classes and get 5’s which can be used to skip requirements in college, the college may still suggest retaking them. My STEM-leaning D at UCB got a 5 on the Calc B/C test but is retaking calc this year as she wanted a firm foundation. From the UCB website:
AP Exam Equivalency Chart
Your AP credits must appear on your UC Berkeley transcript before they can be used to meet major requirements. While your major may accept AP exams to satisfy a major requirement, consult with your major advisor to discuss what impact this may have on you. Remember that substitution is optional and students more often struggle with the subsequent biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses if they don’t take the introductory courses at UC Berkeley. Pre-Med students: Please note that most medical and pre-health graduate programs do not accept AP units for pre-med requirements.
Math1A was definitely not a rinse and repeat of calculus she’s already taken, so there was some learning and studying to do. She got an A, and is doing equally well in Math1B so far. She did use 5’s in AP Lang/Lit to skip having to take English classes.
@collegeandi AP Chem is highly recommended if your child is planning to take it at a UC. First-year chemistry is considered a “weeder” course and very difficult, at least at UCB. Better to go into with some background. D got a B (first of her life) and was thrilled. Org Chem is starting out much better.