If you are concerned about the likelihood of being accepted to your first choice major, we strongly recommend that you explore a parallel plan before you hear your admission decision in January.
As our Sophomore Registration Workshops are coming to an end, you may be thinking more about whether you will be accepted to your first choice major this coming January. As a reminder, students who apply to a major and have a Technical GPA of 3.2 or higher at the end of the Fall semester are automatically accepted to their first choice major, while the remaining spots are given on a space available basis. In the Spring application cycle, acceptance to the major is determined by space availability, and there are no guarantees based on Technical GPA.
Due to popularity and space availability in certain majors, some degree programs are more competitive to gain upper division admission to than others. While we can never guarantee acceptance to any major prior to the completion of the semester, we can provide information about the typical level of competitiveness for your first choice major during drop-in hours or a scheduled appointment.
If you are concerned about the likelihood of being accepted to your first choice major, we strongly recommend that you explore a parallel plan before you are notified of your admission decision in January.
A parallel plan is an additional major option that may contain similar course requirements or may allow you to pursue similar career or graduate school opportunities as your first choice major. In our experience, students who had a parallel plan in place before they learned they were not admitted to their first choice major experienced less stress and had a smoother transition adjusting their Spring registration before classes resumed at the end of January.
If you have any questions or specific concerns about gaining admission to your intended major, make sure you are communicating with your advisor now, while you have more time to explore majors and careers so that you can make an informed decision about a parallel plan. As advisors we have an understanding of other majors that often lead to similar career or graduate and professional school opportunities as your original intended major.
To explore Parallel Plans check out: Four-Year Plans
To compare majors and career options check out: What Can I Do with a Major In...
