Undergraduate Chemical Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm looking for some insight into the undergraduate chemical engineering program at Berkeley and I'd appreciate any feedback by current or former undergraduate chemical engineering majors. I will be transferring in Fall 2014 from a community college in San Diego if I get accepted.</p>

<p>What is your overall impression of the chemical engineering department? Is there a sense of community between the students, or is everyone too competitive to become friends? Do the professors meet your expectations at such a prestigious school, or do they not seem to care about the success of their students?</p>

<p>Any other feedback related to the undergraduate chemical engineering program at Berkeley will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Note that many transfer students are expected to take five semesters after transfer:
[Alternative</a> Program for Chemical Engineering Transfer Students](<a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/policies/alternative.php]Alternative”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/policies/alternative.php)</p>

<p>However, if you can find equivalents of the following courses at your CC before transfer, you may be able to finish in four semesters after transfer:

  • Engineering 7
  • Engineering 45
  • Electrical Engineering 40 (substitution for 100)
  • Biology 1A
  • Biology 1B or Physics 7C as the science elective
  • Chemistry 112A by scoring in the 75th percentile of the ACS organic chemistry exam after taking organic chemistry</p>
3

<p>Thanks for the reply ucbalumnus. Of the courses you listed, I will only complete Chemistry 112A and Physics 7C prior to transferring, so I will probably need five semesters. I like the fact that they give you a fifth semester to complete the program. Taking all of those courses in four semesters would be pretty brutal.</p>

4

<p>Former ChemE major here. Transfer from a Cal State in late 1990s.<br>
Coursework was challenging. Students I didn’t find overly competitive. Most would form study groups and work together (often segregated racially - unfortunately). Professors are tops and accessible; most seemed to care about their undergrads learning.</p>

5

<p>@UCBChemEGrad Thanks for the feedback. It’s great to hear that the professors actually cared about their students learning. One of the most common complaints I’ve read about Berkeley is that the professors only care about their research and hate having to teach the undergrads. Hopefully Berkeley still has some awesome ChemE professors.</p>