<p>So I really want to do Mechanical Engineering at UCSD, but my stats aren't completely on par: 3.75 UC weighted, 2100 SAT, 32 ACT, taking Math II and Chemistry SAT Subject Tests, moderate EC and awards.</p>
<p>I've been doing some research, and some are saying that general admission into UCSD is not influenced by the major, but they'll put you as undecided if you aren't admitted into a oversubscribed impacted major such as Mechanical Engineering. </p>
<p>Is this true? What would give me the best chances of getting into UCSD? Should I put:
a. ME as the primary major, and undecided as the alternative?
b. Undecided as the primary, ME as the alternative?
c. Undecided as the primary, no alternative?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot in advance.</p>
<p>It doesn’t make a friggin’ bit of difference. Admissions to UCSD has two phases:</p>
<p>(1) admission to UCSD</p>
<p>(2) admission to the college of engineering.</p>
<p>So if you get in to UCSD, you’re in. If you don’t make the second cut to get into the engineering school, you’re still in at UCSD - you’ll just have to select a major other than engineering when you get there.</p>
<p>I’d put MechE as the primary major and whatever your 2nd choice is as the alternative. Trying to switch your major to an impacted major is a pain and not even guaranteed. There’s a whole process where, after 2 years or something at UCSD, you apply to the major and they’ll evaluate your grades for academic competitiveness and see if you can switch in.</p>
<p>But putting Engineering vs Undecided as a major won’t affect my chances of being accepted to UCSD, right?</p>
<p>I’d check with UCSD to make sure, but I know for many UC’s that the major you choose does not affect your chances of admission.</p>
<p>No I’m pretty sure your major choice won’t have an effect on your getting in. I was just mentioning the benefit of putting mechanical engineering as your first choice just because of the tedious process of switching into it later on.</p>