Concerning UC Davis' Impacted Majors

Hey, everyone. I'm a junior thinking about UC Davis, since I'm from Cali and I've been considering engineering. I've read about this thing called 'impacted majors'. What exactly are these at UC Davis? It'd be helpful to know.

Impacted majors refer to degree programs that have more students interested in enrolling than there are available classroom seats or resources to accommodate these students. Essentially, demand outstrips supply. At UC Davis, like at many large public universities, certain popular and competitive fields like engineering can indeed become impacted. To manage this, the school may set higher academic standards or set a cap on the number of students that can declare that major. Getting admitted to an impacted major can be more competitive as a result, and often requires completion of specific prerequisite courses and a higher GPA.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't apply if you're interested in an impacted major. It means you need to carefully review the specific admission requirements for that major and work hard to meet or exceed them. Also, create a well-rounded college application that showcases your strengths and commitment to the major.

Remember that if you are not accepted into an impacted major, you can start with a related, non-impacted major and then try to switch over later. However, you'll need to consider the potential difficulty and feasibility of this option, as often schools will additionally restrict the changing of majors into impacted programs.

Also, keep in mind that UC Davis is one of the UC schools that does not allow you to apply undeclared to their College of Engineering. Keep these things in mind as you decide when to declare your major. As a note, it's always good to contact the school's admissions office or visit their website to get the most up-to-date and accurate information about their impacted majors and the specific requirements necessary to get in. Planning ahead can help make the application process smoother and increase your chances of success.

Hope this clears up the concept of impacted majors for you!