Read somewhere that at some UCs they admit by major, so that if you apply to a more impacted major, you are less likely to get accepted than if you applied to a less impacted major. Anybody know if this is true, and which UCs admit by major?
Usually the Engineering college will admit by major at the UC’s but each campus has their own admission policy.
Some admit into the University first and then into the major so it is possible to be accepted to a UC but not into your first or alternate major.
Some admit directly into the major, they do not consider an alternate major so you will be rejected if you do not make the admission threshold.
The problem with applying for a non-impacted major, is that if you truly want to pursue an impacted/competitive major, you may have a very difficult to almost impossible task of trying to switch into these majors later. For example Computer Science at UCSD, UCLA or EECS at UCB.
My advice is always apply to the major you want to study.
Which major are interested in pursuing?
Here is an example of how UC Davis admits:
Admission decisions are made based upon the qualifications of the applicant pool and the number of available spaces within each academic area:
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences admits by college
College of Biological Sciences admits by college
College of Letters and Science admits by division within the college
(Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies; Mathematics and Physical Sciences; Social Sciences)
College of Engineering admits by academic department
Here is how UCLA admits:
SELECTION
UCLA is among the most selective universities in the country and is becoming more competitive for freshman applicants each year. This past year UCLA received more than 102,000 applications. Generally the campus is able to admit about one in six freshman applicants for the fall term.
For the College of Letters and Science, the applicant’s major is not considered during the review process.
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science admits students by declared major, with more emphasis on science and math programs.
The School of Nursing also places more emphasis on science and math programs and requires the submission of an additional supplemental application.
The School of the Arts and Architecture; Herb Alpert School of Music; and the School of Theater, Film and Television admit students by declared major (within the school), and put more emphasis on special talents through a review of portfolios and/or auditions, which are the most significant admission factors for these schools.
I’m probably going to apply as a chemistry major, and possibly biology as an alternate. However, I know that all bio majors will probably be impacted at the UCs. Do you know if UCD admits by major? They are my top choice.
UCD admits by the College of Biological Sciences so all Biological sciences majors are lumped together. Biological Sciences is impacted at UCD.
For Chemistry, that major is in the College of Letters and Sciences which admits by division within the college. Chemistry is in the Division of Physical Sciences so you would be lumped together with the Chemistry/Physics/Geology/Atmospheric Sciences.