Transferring/Switching Major

[mfoti1]

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Question:

If i were to be at a Community College for 2 years, take all my GE's etc, then transfer to a 4-year as an incoming junior, with a declared major in business, can i switch majors when i get to the 4-year?

My reasoning behind this:

I would normally declare bio, but if i declared bio, i would have to take a bunch of pre-reqs to the bio major ontop of my GE reqs, AND therefore; i would be taking bio major pre-reqs at a CC (which D schools look down upon). So i'm wondering, can i declare business, so i dont take any science pre reqs for bio, which are the same pre-reqs for dental school.

Basically the whole thing is, i wanted to wait to take all my sciences at a 4-year. but im also wondering, if i took zero science classes, and switched to bio as a junior, would i have to stay an extra few years at the 4-year or something? or could i finish all the bio major classes during the 2 years im at the 4-year.

Thx in advance if you decide to read my rant.

 

[MedDevil]

You're going to need those science classes for the DAT, so you might have to either take a gap year or spend an extra year at the university. If you're ok with that, it seems like your plan could work.

 

[mfoti1]

You're going to need those science classes for the DAT, so you might have to either take a gap year or spend an extra year at the university. If you're ok with that, it seems like your plan could work.

Yea, very true. I would mostly likely taken an extra year i guess.

Final question: would i have to wait a semester or something before i switched majors at the 4-year? or could i switch RIGHT when i get there.

thx sir

 

[MedDevil]

That will most likely depend on the university. Some colleges will allow you to switch majors at any point in your education, some others may want you to have taken a certain number of classes or have a certain GPA to be allowed to switch. In the event that you have to wait a semester to switch majors, start taking science classes to fill up your general education requirements and then when you're able to switch, it'll be a seamless process.

 

[nap5035]

That will most likely depend on the university. Some colleges will allow you to switch majors at any point in your education, some others may want you to have taken a certain number of classes or have a certain GPA to be allowed to switch. In the event that you have to wait a semester to switch majors, start taking science classes to fill up your general education requirements and then when you're able to switch, it'll be a seamless process.

you have to call the university. my school wouldnt let anyone switch to certain majors because that's not really fair. For example, we have a top-tier engineering program. You cannot transfer into our school and become an engineer. Those spots are only reserved for freshman that they accept.

I have seen your posts around and I think you're slightly confused. You could major in anything to get into dental school. You can be an art major--music--history--even comm- as long as you take the 40-something credits that are a prerequisite for dental school. For example, transfer as a business major. That is a great major to have. Since I'm sure you saved a lot of money at community college, you can stay an extra two years at the 4-year university taking these prereqs. There shouldnt be a problem with you enrolling in the pre-reqs--at my school they are offered as general education classes, meaning anyone can take them to satisfy their 9-gen ed credits of science.

You're hung up on majoring in Biology--chances are you're not going to be allowed to. But this is fine! Just start shadowing, and enroll in a school where you'll be able to take these pre-reqs.

 

[mfoti1]

That will most likely depend on the university. Some colleges will allow you to switch majors at any point in your education, some others may want you to have taken a certain number of classes or have a certain GPA to be allowed to switch. In the event that you have to wait a semester to switch majors, start taking science classes to fill up your general education requirements and then when you're able to switch, it'll be a seamless process.

great idea. thx

 

[mfoti1]

you have to call the university. my school wouldnt let anyone switch to certain majors because that's not really fair. For example, we have a top-tier engineering program. You cannot transfer into our school and become an engineer. Those spots are only reserved for freshman that they accept.

I have seen your posts around and I think you're slightly confused. You could major in anything to get into dental school. You can be an art major--music--history--even comm- as long as you take the 40-something credits that are a prerequisite for dental school. For example, transfer as a business major. That is a great major to have. Since I'm sure you saved a lot of money at community college, you can stay an extra two years at the 4-year university taking these prereqs. There shouldnt be a problem with you enrolling in the pre-reqs--at my school they are offered as general education classes, meaning anyone can take them to satisfy their 9-gen ed credits of science.

You're hung up on majoring in Biology--chances are you're not going to be allowed to. But this is fine! Just start shadowing, and enroll in a school where you'll be able to take these pre-reqs.

yea, but why spend two extra years, when instead, i could switch to Bio major, and save two years? Feel me playa?

 

[nap5035]

yea, but why spend two extra years, when instead, i could switch to Bio major, and save two years? Feel me playa?

you really have to call the schools that you are interested in.

you're from cali, and your schools pride themselves on the strong science curriculums. I'd be very surprised if an admissions board would let a kid who bombed high school (sorry) and then took a slew of gen eds at a community college for two years into my most competitive major.

Imagine being a stellar student in high school and getting accepted to your college's bio department. You work hard, only to see when you're a junior, a bunch of transfers from a community college who haven't taken a competitive college credit yet at the school are going to receive the same degree. Kind of waters down the prestige of that degree right?

OBVIOUSLY you can transfer, but you see how it might be hard to get into a major such as bio?

as hard as it might be to accept, you have to pay for the mistakes you made in high school. that may mean not getting into the major you want. However, this doesn't mean you cannot graduate from a 4-year institution and doesn't mean you can't go to dental school. It just means you have to overcome the obstacles you've created. You may have to stay an extra 2-3 semesters to get your pre-reqs done, while receiving a degree in a major that isn't as competitive as bio.

You seem very determined, and with that determination you can get into dental school!

 

[mfoti1]

you really have to call the schools that you are interested in.

you're from cali, and your schools pride themselves on the strong science curriculums. I'd be very surprised if an admissions board would let a kid who bombed high school (sorry) and then took a slew of gen eds at a community college for two years into my most competitive major.

Imagine being a stellar student in high school and getting accepted to your college's bio department. You work hard, only to see when you're a junior, a bunch of transfers from a community college who haven't taken a competitive college credit yet at the school are going to receive the same degree. Kind of waters down the prestige of that degree right?

OBVIOUSLY you can transfer, but you see how it might be hard to get into a major such as bio?

as hard as it might be to accept, you have to pay for the mistakes you made in high school. that may mean not getting into the major you want. However, this doesn't mean you cannot graduate from a 4-year institution and doesn't mean you can't go to dental school. It just means you have to overcome the obstacles you've created. You may have to stay an extra 2-3 semesters to get your pre-reqs done, while receiving a degree in a major that isn't as competitive as bio.

You seem very determined, and with that determination you can get into dental school!

Thanks, i am. Well yea, i guess all i can do is ask. Maybe some schools' bio departments arent as filled, and instead of going with my first choice(sf state), i would go to SJ state instead or something. anyways, thanks for the advice, i guess ill just call some schools