My junior DS1 will be lucky to have a UC/CSU weighted GPA of 3.0, and has struggled balancing his extensive H.S. music activities (top performing arts H.S., principal in youth orchestra, all-state, etc.) with challenging academics (4 APs this year, but mostly C’s). He wants to major in computer science, but would still like to possibly minor in music and at a minimum play in the school orchestra. He would also consider a dual degree, although he’s concerned again about balancing it all. He is thinking that the only way with his grades that he will be able to get into a better school for computer science is if he has the opportunity to audition for music. If admitted to say UCSB, UCI, or SDSU as a music performance major, how difficult would it be to then change his major to computer science, and keep music as a minor (if at all, maybe just keep playing in the orchestra)? Does anyone know someone who has successfully done this? Any help would be appreciated; thank you!
I don’t have any answers for you, but I do have a question - if he wants to study computer science in college why hasn’t he concentrated more on academics and less on music - or was this a very recent change of direction for him? You might have him attend a computer science program this summer instead of doing something musical. For CSU’s he might look into San Jose - they obviously have a strong computer science department - but less obviously they have a small but sweet music department. I’ve heard that computer science is an impacted major and may be hard to break into with his grades - and if he starts as a music major he’ll be behind in the curriculum sequence for computer science - so it will probably take extra semesters to complete. Students certainly can and do change majors - but there will probably be consequences - whether of time to completion or loss of scholarships if they’re music related. Or he might not get accepted into the desired major and will need to transfer to another school…
Hi, he goes to a Performing Arts high school with challenging academics, but to be honest, he just isn’t that motivated as a student. I don’t think the music has hurt his academics; it just gave him something productive to do, since he probably wouldn’t have studied much more anyway. We’re going to take a college road trip next week and check out both the computer science and music departments of a number of CSUs and UCs, and ask them the question I posed above. Thank you for your reply!
The majority of CS programs at the CSU’s and UC’s are impacted, so they are very difficult to switch into unless you are a direct admit. With a GPA of 3.0, it is highly unlikely he would get into a CS program in the UC system, but he would have options at some of the CSU’s. If he is serious about CS, he should try to get into a program as a Freshman admit where he could minor in music. It will definitely be more difficult the other way around. Also CSU’s are Stat driven, meaning the CSU GPA and SAT/ACT scores are what your admission decisions are based upon. With the UC’s, you have EC’s and essays to help bolster the application. Good Luck with your visit and fact finding mission.
To answer your question - you can change majors once admitted. Most students at most colleges do it at least once. Changing into a competitive major like CS frequently has a GPA threshold and some pre-reqs.
I don’t know you or your son but, CS is a brutal major - time consuming projects require late hours and not much time socializing outside the CS community. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone described as ‘not that academically motivated’.
Tour a college or two near your home. Find and talk to some CS students - chat with them about how demanding the program is and what they do with their free time.
Unless he’s recruited for a specific role in the music program - with a 3.0, admission to any of the schools you list in any major. Without test scores it is hard to recommend anything specific - Perhaps Sonoma State and Sacramento State. I know they are both solid in both areas.
Hi, thank you for your reply! I should add that “not that academically motivated” does not apply to anything computer or technology related ;-). Spanish, AP US History, and AP Language have been struggles this year, but he is doing well in Physics and AP Calculus BC. Overall, though, he will be lucky to have a 3.0. He would rather take more difficult classes and get a B or C than easier ones, so I’m hoping that weighted GPAs will be considered, and not just his unweighted GPA, which is low (below 3.0).