I can’t find my first or second choice academic program on the Common App question page for ncsu. Is it supposed to say "Life Sciences First Year in front of all bio majors? Why can’t I see any engineering majors? Are they all filled up or not available for the spring semester?
What is your major? Why Spring? If you are a transfer student, then you can not transfer to engineering in spring. Biological Science is definitely on the list as well as other majors within the department.
My S is having the same problem, at least it seems like a similar prob. There’s first and second choice for majors. He selected Engineering-Aerospace, and then for second choice he wanted to select Engineering-Biomedical and it won’t let him. For some reason you can only select Engineering once and for a second choice you have to select something nonengineering. He is interested in aerospace, biomed, computer science and that’s it but they’re all engineering so he has left the second choice major blank for now. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to handle this problem? He doesn’t want to put something in second choice that he’s not interested in. Why is NC State limiting candidate’s choices in this way?
“Freshman applicants interested in Engineering or Life Sciences programs will choose “Engineering First Year” or “Life Sciences First Year” on their application. First year students in each of these programs will take a common set of courses and participate in a variety of programs designed to facilitate a successful first year in college. When students complete the program, they are expected to go through a change of degree audit (CODA) to apply to major in one of the 18 engineering degree programs or life sciences programs.”
“The College of Engineering and College of Design only admits students in the fall semester.”
Thanks for the reply. I still do not understand why candidates are not permitted to choose a second choice major in engineering if their first choice is also engineering? Any ideas?
If you are applying as a freshman, there is only one engineering, freshman engineering. You apply to your particular engineering major in your second year. It’s called Change of Degree Audit (CODA). All freshman engineering majors take the same classes. Then they take your grades in chemistry, physics and calculus and create an engineering success score. In your second year you apply to different engineering majors and they use your success score to help determine which major you are accepted in to.
You either get into engineering as a freshman or you don’t. So your second choice should NOT be engineering. It is possible to matriculate into engineering in your second year from other majors, but not very easy.
Thanks for this explanation. I’ll encourage him to pick something nonengineering for his second choice and not leave it blank.
Consider choosing the First Year College/Exploratory Studies (the name recently changed). This program is designed to help you get to a desired major as well as figure out what that would be. Many students go into engineering this way. I’m not trying to help you game the system, just a suggestion for a second choice.
Thank you for the suggestion. This maybe perfect for him because he has many interests in engineering (aerospace, biomedical, computer programming) and he was hoping to minor in art (but not major in it), so he definately will be doing some exploring to figure out his career path.
Thanks, this was very helpful!