UCLA: Switching majors?

<p>Hey everybody, so I just got admitted into UCLA as a Latin American Studies major...but I'm thinking about switching to Econ or Bus. Econ. </p>

<p>When I applied, I wrote my essay about how I'm interested in Latin American culture, but I also have a strong interest in economics. I mentioned that I'd like to do both majors, and that my goal was to become an international economist dealing with relations between the US and Latin American countries. But I applied under L.A. Studies because it gave me a better chance of being accepted (3.4 GPA).</p>

<p>I was thinking about emailing UCLA admissions and telling them I'd like to switch to econ while minoring in Latin American studies, and maybe even sending them the essay I put on my application. </p>

<p>Would this be a good idea? Does anyone know how difficult it is to switch majors, and how I would have to go about it? What methods would you recommend?</p>

<p>(I got into UCSD and UCSB as an Econ/Bus.Econ major, so if switching at UCLA isn't a good possibility I still have those to fall back on)</p>

<p>What should I do???</p>

<p>Eh. Unfortunately with LA (unlike SD and SB, specifically) you're accepted into the major, as opposed to as a pre-major. Therefore you're accepted only under the terms that you applied under, which for you, mean latin american studies. Usually this means taking whatever they accept you for or nothing. Especially since business econ is so impacted, I'd say the chances are pretty slim (they definitely frown on switching majors when they're impacted). </p>

<p>Regardless, I dont think emailing would do anything, other than maybe get them to clarify their procedures on this. Usually, in order to switch majors, you have to petition once you're already enrolled in the school. </p>

<p>I think if you really have you're heart set on econ, you should probably go to one of the other schools and not chance it. The odds of them letting you into econ this late in the game are really, really slim. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>No no no. Do not switch schools over a damned major. Just get to UCLA, and take the econ classes as a second major/minor. The whole "major" label is somewhat unimportant in the "real world" anyway, and won't mean a damn thing for grad school. As long as you take the classes, you'll be fine. However, don't change schools over something so trivial as a major, that's just stupid.</p>

<p>I promise you that you can take all the econ classes you want at UCLA, even if you're not an econ major. Switching the major may be hard down the line, but as a second major it won't be tough at all. </p>

<p>I studied political science as a major, but I probably took more East Asian history and language classes than poli sci, so it's not like your major limits what you can or cannot study. </p>

<p>I repeat, however- Choosing one school or another over a secondary major is a waste of time. I guarantee that you will be able to study all the econ you want. </p>

<p>Now, if you prefer UCSD or another campus, GO. But choosing another campus over a second major? Foolish.</p>

<p>Well obviously if he really really wants to go to ucla, he should stay with what he has. But if he really really wants to major in econ, his chances of doing that (instead of the other major) arent terribly high. I would totally agree with the suggestion to take the econ classes as a minor or double or whatever. </p>

<p>simply meant that starting school in the fall and expecting to be easily switched into econ (as a sole major) wouldnt be good.</p>

<p>I agree 100%. However, I don't think that choosing another school over a major is really a good thing. Especially in classes at that end of the spectrum (i.e. North Campus), everything is fluid enough to study whatever he wants.</p>

<p>And, just as a personal sidenote- I would never go to another school just because I didnt get into the major I wanted. This is something I debated all year since, as a comm major, admission rates were super slim. I wouldve stuck it out with my alternate (which im not terribly crazy about anymore) over going to Sd or SB (the other schools i applied and got into) for Comm. I was too stuck on LA.</p>

<p>Si. We are in agreement, Yo.</p>

<p>Yeah, I definitely believe that if you want to go to a school, find a major you like and study the other stuff on the side.</p>

<p>In the end, and 10 years from now, your major is going to count for beans.</p>

<p>Most definitely.</p>

<p>Favorite example: My aunt, who among other things, has a double masters in religion and philosophy from Harvard, now open's Dr. Phil's mail. Before that she was a researcher for Hard Copy. </p>

<p>Seriously.</p>

<p>* I'd say the chances are pretty slim (they definitely frown on switching majors when they're impacted). *</p>

<p>Chances are exactly zip. Here's what it says in the UCLA transfer agreement from Business Economics:</p>

<p>**After transfer to UCLA, students may not change their major to Business Economics if they were originally admitted to a major outside the Department of Economics. <a href="This%20goes%20for%20regular%20Economics%20majors">/b</a></p>

<p>And you can't switch to Economics now because admissions decisions are made based upon your major.</p>

<p>You can't do that I asked and they said they do not allow this for certain majors the ones they mentioned were: Econ, comp sci, and Communication/journalism. They referred to this as a "backdoor entry" because I think they had too many people getting in as Asian American studies, geography, anthropology and suddenly switching to more impacted and more competitive majors like cs, econ, and comm.</p>

<p>Yeah your not going to be able to switch to Econ offically. Also, in response to UCLAri's comment, will he actually be able to take upper division econ? Because first you need to complete the "pre (biz) econ" major requirments (EC 1,2,11,Mat31ab,Manag 100, that stats class etc) And in order to register for upper division classes, such as EC 101, don't you need full (Biz) Econ major status? I mean theres no way hes gonna get that without being a major.</p>

<p>Why not? If he took econ 1 and 2 (macro and micro? micro and macro?) then he can take the classes he wants. Not all upper-divs have stringent prereqs anyway (most do, however.) Nonetheless, if he was already accepted into other UCs with econ, I'd bet that he's got his stuff together and has some econ under his belt to begin with.</p>

<p>If there's a will at UCLA, there's a way.</p>

<p>Guys how about getting in as General Chem and then switching to Biochem or Bio?</p>

<p>Biochem and Bio both impacted thoughq</p>

<p>About my pre-reqs...</p>

<p>By the end of summer, I will have completed calc 1, macro and micro econ, business stat, and accounting 1 and 2. Does this change anything?</p>

<p>That puts you in line for getting into some upper divs right away, and only having to take a couple of lower divs for the rest. You're well on your way.</p>

<p>You can add psychology to one of those majors you can't change to, although I'm going to try my damnest to do it. I'm a comm studies major, so I think the two are related enough that I'm going to be able to do it.
As UCLAri wrote "If there's a will at UCLA, there's a way." You just have to talk to the right people, say the right things, and my guess is be PERSISTANT!</p>

<p>Hah charlie. I was totally intending to do a comm/psych double like all the way through CC until one day I checked assist in fall and psych had the message up about not being able to be admitted after acceptance. Thats when psych became my TAP alternate. Good luck with that (though dude, cant imagine why you'd wanna give up comm. youre one of like 75-80 people who got in. our acceptances are like gold).</p>

<p>Anyways. yeah. persistance and knowing who to talk to are definitely crucial points.</p>

<p>Okay, so I sent 2 identical emails to 2 different UCLA addresses (new bruins, and general admissions), asking if I could double major or minor in econ.</p>

<p>Here's what general admissions responded with...</p>

<p>"It is a possibility and would pend the approval of the College
of Letters and Science. Again, this is a possibility not a guarantee."</p>

<p>Here's what new Bruins responded with...</p>

<p>"Economics is not an option at UCLA as either a double major or a minor."</p>

<p>I called admissions, and amazingly I spoke to the same guy who answered the first email. Basically he repeated what he said in the email, that it IS possible, and that I can still take upper division econ classes even if I'm not majoring or minoring in econ....BUT priority is given to students who are majoring in econ. He seemed to be hinting that the 2nd email about it not being possible is almost just trying to repel students from trying.</p>

<p>So now what I'm wondering is... would it still be worth it to go to LA over UCSD and UCSB (which I've been accepted to under econ/bus. econ) since I'm not totally sure if I'll be able to do my econ? And do you think it could actually be hard to get into these upper division courses, since I might not be able to double major or minor in econ? Thanks.</p>