Undeclared/L&S UCB or Mechanical Engneering UCLA?, Money or Major?

<p>I got accepted to UCLA Mechanical Engineering.
And for Berkely, Undeclared/L&S...
I really wanted to go to Berkely so bad, but was afraid that I might not make the Engineering school, I made a bad decision.
Now I am regretting.
What shall I do?
I am a possible Regents Scholar at Berkely. Even I get rejected; I know I will still get some kind of financial assistance which will pay for most of my college expenses. (My older brother is getting one from UCB and I sure I will get the same scholarship, also. It is regional and only awarded for kids in our high school district)</p>

<p>For UCLA, as far as I know, I will only get the Cal Grant B which will cover for tuition. Rest, I have to make a loan.</p>

<p>Money? or Major?
Shall I go to UCLA and work to death to pay for the school?
Shall I go to Berkeley and study to death in order to get in to Engineering School and end up get killed?
(Getting almost A's in all weeder classes will be impossible!
And I heard that getting 3.75 GPA does not even promise a space)
The research project I am involved now is leading me to Mechanical Engineering field and I kind of like it. I co-author a paper at this international conference and now moved on to the hands-on building machinary
Berkeley was my primary choice because of it's reputation and so much research opportunities.
Is that really a horrifying experience and becomes almost impossible to change major to Mechanical Engineering later?
Please tell me!
I got lost.
Thanks
I really really really want to go to Berkeley.......</p>

<p>Didn't you already answer your own question?</p>

<p>You really really really want to go to Berkeley. It is possible to get into engineering as long as your grades are really good in the engineering reqs.</p>

<p>Seeing that you are undeclared......you would have to take all the necessary pre reqs for Mechanical Engineering. If you are a transfer student, that is even worse, b/c you are only allowed 2 years (plus 1 semester by petition) to graduate. And the College of Engineering accepts applications only once a year. Therefore, even if you do get in, you'd be cramming 4-5 technical courses per semester. And I am sure you know about the competition hellness at this school. Competition is so fierce that I have seen potential engineering students drop out of CAL or switched major to L&S. And the ghetto thing now is that L&S (college known for engineer dropout) now requires a minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered for a major change.....so if you are already getting "banged" by your engineering courses......hell is all loose. My say is that go to LA....even though it is not comparable to CAL.....try to get a good GPA and then apply to grad school. If you don't you'll sacrifice a lot to get into Mechanical Engin....and there is no gurantee that you'll even get accepted. It's all up to u.</p>

<p>What's more important to you, wonderinghoboII?</p>

<p>"You really really really want to go to Berkeley. It is possible to get into engineering as long as your grades are really good in the engineering reqs."</p>

<p>Easy for YOU to say!! Nor scaring the topic creator, but you have to brace yourself if you do choose to study here.</p>

<p>And you never know; people might switch out of your impacted major of choice or else they might decide not to go and free up more spots than anticipated by adcoms. For example: I'm 99.9% sure I'm switching out of bioengineering to which I was admitted. I know that's not the major you want, but there are bound to be kids who switch out of mech eng too.</p>

<p>Thanks guys!
That’s horrifying!
I will never go to Undecided L&C, if I want to transfer to Engineering School later.</p>

<p>I don’t know what I want to do with my life yet, all I know is somewhat math and science field. Taking few science courses from lousy high school does not mean anything. I applied for different engineering school, different programs.</p>

<p>I have another option.
I also got in to 5 year Dual-Degree Engineering from UCSC.
Its 3year BA from UCSC and 2 year BS from UCB Engineering.
While I have to be on 3.2 GPA in engineering preparatory courses for Industrial engineering and operations research for UCB, I must graduate from UCSC majoring Business Management Economics in 3 years (or other L&S majors)</p>

<p>I am getting Cal Grant only and I have to make a loan to pay the rest.</p>

<p>Do you know anybody who is in this program? Is it worth spending 5 years undergrad?
Shall I just go to UCLA Mech. Engineering School? </p>

<p>I also got Regents from UC Davis Civil Engineering. UC Davis will be also a good choice because financially takes burden off from shoulder while I can still get an engineering degree.</p>

<p>But for the Fame stands for UCB.
What would you do if you are in my shoe?</p>

<p>mycornerofparadise, what made you decide to switch out of bioE? I am also a bioE student comtemplating a major change.</p>

<p>I know someone on my floor that did that program, and I know a friend that, last time I talked to him, was planning on doing it. It works for some people. What matters is it works you, though. How do you feel about spending five years as an undergraduate? How do you feel about UCSC? You might end up spending five years as an undergrad for various reasons, you might choose to stop doing the UCSC program and graduate from there, but regardless, you will spend lots of time at UCSC in that program. Visit at the very least.</p>