<p>I am getting more money from UCI and I will be commuting. But I have a big problem. At UCLA, I am in the College of Letters and Sciences and I want to move into the Engineering school. I'm already in the Engineering school at UCI. It is a bit tough to transfer at UCLA. Do you think I should go to UCLA, and if I can't transfer, go back to UCI?</p>
<p>Yeah, I’d say the risk of not getting into engineering is worth it to go to UCLA. UCLA will offer a much better college experience than commuting to UCI, if you can comfortably afford it.</p>
<p>UCLA for sure, the prestige will carry you a long way. </p>
<p>UCI is… meh. You’re going to have to really fend for yourself for a job after school from what I hear.</p>
<p>Another sign is that you always see people with UCLA license frame on their cars… no one ever rock a UCI license frame.</p>
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I wouldn’t count on this. First off, you will only be able to xfer back as a junior. And you’ll be competing for entrance into the College of Engineering against the CC xfers, who UCI gives preference to by CA law. There is a good chance you’ll end up trapped at UCLA outside of engineering should UCLA turn down your change of major request. </p>
<p>Look into whether you can be reevaluated for Engineering at UCLA before decisions are due.</p>
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<p>Your chances on transferring to Engineering depend on your gpa. My son entered UCLA undecided, and was put into Letters & Science. He then took the same calc, chemistry, and physics prerequisites that the engineering school students were taking, kept his gpa above 3.5, and towards the end of his freshman year, submitted an application to change majors and switch to the Eng School, along with an essay on “Why I want to be an engineer”. He was admitted within the week.</p>
<p>[Change</a> of Major — UCLA Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs](<a href=“http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/change-of-majord]Change”>http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/change-of-majord)</p>
<p>The OP has a choice to make. At UCLA if his GPA is 3.49 or less in the engineering prerequisite classes (when he is eligible to apply for the major change) he will not be an engineer. At UCI with a 3.49 or less, he will. His call.</p>
<p>And according to the UC Statfinder ([University</a> of California: StatFinder](<a href=“http://statfinder.ucop.edu/]University”>http://statfinder.ucop.edu/)) the average xfer GPA to engineering at Irvine was around 3.5 (within a few hundredths above or below) for the years within the last decade. And thats for all xfers, the majority of which come from CC’s. Average GPA for just non-CCs xfers are not disclosed, but are higher since UCs give preference to CC students. So if UCLA says no, the door back to Irvine Engineering will likely be closed as well.</p>
<p>UCLA offers a minor in environmental engineering, this could be a backup plan.</p>