UCSD Capped Major: What Does It Mean?

I'm looking at UCSD and noticed they have something called a 'capped major'? Can someone explain what that means to me? Does it make it harder to get into that major? Any advice or info would be helpful, cheers!

"Capped major" at UCSD refers to a major that has more students interested in it than the major can support, due to the limitation on resources. The effect of this is that UCSD has to set additional admission criteria for these majors. These often include a minimum GPA, completion of certain prerequisite courses, and/or a separate application process after you've been admitted to UCSD.

To get into a capped major, applicants usually need a stronger academic profile than for non-capped majors. Applicants directly admitted into a capped major generally have higher high school GPAs, more rigorous coursework (like AP or IB classes), and higher test scores, if submitted. Students typically can't switch into capped majors after enrolling without achieving a high GPA in their first-year courses and sometimes completing a separate application.

For those of you interested in applying to a capped major at UCSD, it's worth considering how confident you are in your chances of being admitted directly into the major, as it can be challenging to switch into a capped major later on. Some students choose to enter as an undeclared major or choose a non-capped major with the hope of switching to their preferred capped major once they start at UCSD, but this strategy can be quite risky if you're committed to pursuing a certain area of study.My advice would be for you to ensure that your academic profile aligns with the admission requirements of the capped major and that you're willing to put in the additional work required to secure a position within that field of study. Also, consider having a backup major in mind just in case your plans change or if you can't get into your preferred capped major.