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FAQ's

Links to questions and answers to learn more about Jacobs School of Engineering admissions.

Freshmen Admissions FAQ's

Transfer Admissions FAQ's

Miscellaneous FAQ's


Freshmen Admissions FAQ's


Q) How do I apply for admission to UC San Diego?

A) Students who want to apply to UC San Diego should complete the UC Undergraduate Application during the annual November 1-30 filing period for admission for the following Fall. For more information, visit here. To start your application, visit here.

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Q) How do I apply to the Jacobs School at UC San Diego?

A) When you select one of our engineering majors on the UC Undergraduate Application, you are "applying" to the Jacobs School of Engineering.

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Q) What is an impacted major and how does it affect my chances of getting into engineering?

A) Due to high demand, some engineering majors at the Jacobs School have been designated as oversubscribed/impacted. They are:

Bioengineering Department (BENG)

  1. Bioengineering
  2. Bioengineering Biotechnology

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

  1. Mechanical Engineering (Effective Fall 2009 for freshmen. Effective Fall 2011 for transfers)
  2. Aerospace Engineering (Effective Fall 2009 for freshmen. Effective Fall 2011 for transfers)

Admitted freshmen that have applied to an oversubscribed major will be further evaluated by the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools for admission to the major. Acceptance will be granted to the maximum number of students in each of these impacted major programs. Students who are not admitted to the oversubscribed major are placed into the alternate major they selected on the UC Undergraduate Application, provided the alternate is not oversubscribed.

We highly recommend that freshman applicants list a non-oversubscribed open major as their alternate choice on the UC Undergraduate Application. If a student lists an oversubscribed major as both the first and alternate choices on the UC application, and is not admitted to the first choice major, the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools will place the student in the Undeclared major. The Undeclared major is not affiliated with the Jacobs School. However, students admitted as undeclared may later seek admission to an open engineering major.

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Q) Which of the six UC San Diego colleges do engineering students choose?

A) Each undergraduate college at UC San Diego is comprised of all types of majors, so there is no “particular” college for engineering students. Once you are admitted to UC San Diego, you will meet engineering students who are affiliated with each of the six colleges. The main difference is that each college has its own general education requirements to graduate, mission, philosophy, traditions, and housing/dining facilities. To pick the best college for you, we suggest you do a little research. Please visit on-line for Tips on How to Choose a College

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Q) What criteria are used to evaluate my application to an engineering major at UC San Diego?

A) All applicants must first meet the UC requirements for freshman admission. Admissions officers then evaluate your application using the Comprehensive Review process, and determine your admission to UC San Diego. For more information, please visit the UC San Diego Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools

Major Decision
Open Majors: All applicants who have been accepted to UCSD and indicated an open engineering major on their application are placed directly into that major.

Pre-majors: Incoming freshmen who identified a pre-major as their first choice on their UC application are accepted directly into the pre-majors upon admission. Subsequent acceptance to the major is dependent on performance in selected mathematics, science, and engineering screening courses as well as competitive grade-point average in the pre-major screening courses.

Impacted Majors: Applications from students who have been accepted to UC San Diego and applied to one of our impacted engineering majors are then screened for major decision by the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools. Acceptance will be granted to the maximum number of students in each of these impacted major programs. Students who are not admitted to the oversubscribed major are placed into the alternate major they selected on the UC Undergraduate Application, provided the alternate is not oversubscribed.

We highly recommend that applicants list a non-oversubscribed open major as their alternate choice on the UC Undergraduate Application. If a student lists an oversubscribed major as both the first and alternate choices on the UC application, and is not admitted to the first choice major, the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools will place the student in the Undeclared major. The Undeclared major is not affiliated with the Jacobs School. However, students admitted as undeclared may later seek admission to an open engineering major.

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Q) When will I be notified if I have been accepted?

A) The UC San Diego Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools generally sends their decision letters in early to mid-March. The Jacobs School sends letters via postal mail approximately one week after the UC San Diego admissions letter to let you know if you have been admitted to your selected major. The Jacobs School welcome letter usually includes an invitation to UC San Diego Admit Day where you and your family learn more about the Jacobs School, tour your engineering department, and meet current students, departmental faculty, and staff members.

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Transfer Admissions FAQ's


Q) What courses should I take in my community college to prepare for transferring to the Jacobs School of Engineering?

A) The major preparation courses listed below are strongly recommended for success in an engineering major:

  • Calculus I – for Science and Engineering (Math 20A)
  • Calculus II – for Science and Engineering (Math 20B)
  • Calculus and Analytical Geometry (Math 20C)
  • Differential Equations (Math 20D)
  • Linear Algebra (Math 20F)
  • Calculus Based Physics series with lab experience (Physics 2A)
  • Calculus Based Physics series with lab experience (Physics 2B)
  • Calculus Based Physics series with lab experience (Physics 2C)
  • Chemistry 6A (except Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors)
    Note: A total of ten quarter-units of general chemistry (including laboratory) is recommended for students applying to all majors offered by the Department of Bioengineering. At a community college, this requirement will typically be satisfied by the first two semester "Chemistry for Science and Engineering" courses. Please refer to ASSIST for specific course equivalent information.
  • Highest level of Computer programming course offered at your college

The above courses are listed by their name at UC San Diego. Students may visit ASSIST to see what they are quivalent to at their community college.

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Q) What is an impacted major and how does it affect my chances of getting into engineering?

A) Due to high demand, some engineering majors at the Jacobs School has been designated as oversubscribed/impacted. They are:

Bioengineering Department (BENG)

  1. Bioengineering
  2. Bioengineering Biotechnology

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

  1. Mechanical Engineering (Effective Fall 2009 for freshmen. Effective Fall 2011 for transfers)
  2. Aerospace Engineering (Effective Fall 2009 for freshmen. Effective Fall 2011 for transfers)

Admitted transfer students who choose impacted engineering major programs as their first choice major on their UC application are strongly encouraged to complete the major preparation classes. Acceptance to impacted majors may be limited to the best transfer applicants, e.g., those who have been admitted with the most complete lower-division preparation and the highest college grade-point averages. For impacted majors, a competitive UCSD transferable cumulative GPA of 3.20 and 3.40 in the major-preparation courses is recommended. Since acceptance is restricted to these majors, transfer students are encouraged to apply to more than one major degree program.

We highly recommend that transfer applicants who list an impacted engineering major as their first major, choose a non-impacted engineering major or non-engineering major as their alternate choice. If a student lists impacted engineering majors as both the first and alternate choices on the UC application, and is not admitted to either of their engineering major choices, the Office of Admissions and Relations will place the student in the Undeclared major. The undeclared major is not affiliated with the Jacobs School. However, students admitted as Undeclared may later seek admission to an open engineering major.

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Q) How do I apply for admission/who can transfer to UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering?

A) Priority enrollment is granted to transfer applicants coming directly from California Community Colleges. Those wishing to apply from other UC campuses and other four-year institutions should contact the UC San Diego Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools for further information.

Applications to UC San Diego are available on-line by going to the UC Office of the President website. The filing period for all UC applicants is November 1-30 for admission for the next fall (except for TAG applicants*)

*Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) applicants – Can apply for admission during the Fall and Winter quarters. Please visit the UC San Diego Officer on your campus for TAG submission deadlines and application requirements. More information about the TAG and other Transfer Preparation Programs, please visit here.

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Q) What criteria are used to evaluate my application to an engineering major at UC San Diego?

A) Students must meet the UC San Diego requirements for transfer admission. Priority is given to applicants from California Community Colleges. All applications are reviewed by the UC San Diego Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools. This office determines admission to UC San Diego and assigns transfer students to their undergraduate college.

Major Decision
Open Majors: All transfer applicants who have been accepted to UCSD and indicated an open engineering major on their application are placed directly into that major.

Pre-majors: Admitted transfers applicants who identified a pre-major as their first choice on their UC application are accepted directly into the pre-major upon admission. Subsequent acceptance to the major is dependent on performance in selected mathematics, science, and engineering screening courses as well as competitive grade-point average in the pre-major screening courses.

Impacted Majors: Admitted transfer students who indicated an impacted engineering major program as their first choice major on their UC application are strongly encouraged to complete the major preparation classes. Acceptance to impacted majors may be limited to the best transfer applicants, e.g., those who have been admitted with the most complete lower-division preparation and the highest college grade-point averages. For impacted majors, a competitive UCSD transferable cumulative GPA of 3.20 and 3.40 in the major-preparation courses is recommended. Since acceptance is restricted to these majors, transfer students are encouraged to apply to more than one major degree program.

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Q) Which of the six UC San Diego colleges do engineering students choose?

A) Each undergraduate college at UC San Diego is comprised of all types of majors, so there is no "particular" college for engineering students. Once you are admitted to UC San Diego, you will meet engineering students who are affiliated with each of the six colleges. The main difference is that each college has its own general education requirements to graduate, mission, philosophy, traditions, and housing/dining facilities. To pick the best college for you, we suggest you do a little research. Please visit on-line for Tips on How to Choose a College

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Q) Can you transfer from an out-of-state institution?

A) There are many things to consider when planning to transfer to UC San Diego from an out-of-state institution or internationally. Transfer applicants must meet the requirements for admission set by UC San Diego. It is important to note that priority enrollment is given to students transferring from California Community Colleges. UCSD considers applicants from other 4-year institutions based on available space and academic competitiveness. For full details on our screening process, visit here. We also suggest you visit the Financial Aid Office to find out about cost of attendance and find out about CA residency requirements for tuition purposes.

Students who want to apply to UC San Diego should complete the UC Undergraduate Application during the annual November 1-30 filing period for admission the following Fall.

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Miscellaneous FAQ's


Q) Do you allow second bachelor's degrees?

A) UC San Diego does not offer second bachelor's degrees. However, you can pursue a Masters or Doctoral Program in Engineering as long as you satisfy the prerequisite requirements for the program.

If you would like to pursue a graduate degree in engineering, please contact the department you are interested in directly. All graduate admissions are handled directly through the departments. For more information on the different Departments and majors, please visit: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/admissions/graduate.shtml

If you are interested in taking UC San Diego courses to prepare for advanced study you may sign up for UC San Diego courses in several ways. Concurrent Enrollment through UC San Diego Extension might be your best option. The following website is very useful:

If you are pursuing an additional bachelor's degree, another option would be to find a school that does offer the opportunity to pursue a second bachelor's degree.

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Q) What type of computer should I purchase?

A) If you are planning to live on-campus, please be aware that there are certain computer requirements. For more information, please visit: http://resnet.ucsd.edu/requirements.shtml

If you are interested in finding out what type of software programs are needed for your computer, please contact your department's academic advisors directly.

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Q) How do you choose a major?

A) If you are unsure about which engineering major to choose, please read carefully through the engineering majors offered by visiting: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/academic/academic_undergrad/undergrad_majors/

In addition to meeting with a career counselor and academic department advisor, you may also find the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Handbook a very good resource in choosing a career path. You can find this handbook online, by visiting: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Finally, there are also many publications that you can refer to in choosing a college major.

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Q) Can I double major?

A) UC San Diego does allow students to double major, however, you cannot double major or major and minor in two engineering majors. For example, you can double major in Economics and Electrical Engineering but you cannot double major in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

To learn more about how to declare a double major once you are a current student at UC San Diego, please visit here to view the requirements.

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Q) Do you have programs for working adults?

A) Although, the Jacobs School does not offer undergraduate degree programs specifically for working adults, UCSD offers a number of programs for individuals who want to continue their education. For more information about these programs, please visit here.

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Q) I am a current UC San Diego student, how can I change my major/declare a major?

A) If you're an undergraduate and you want to declare or change your major, follow the steps online.

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Q) Do you offer tours of the Jacobs School of Engineering?

A) The Jacobs School of Engineering does not offer tours of our facilities; however our campus holds daily tours and general admissions information sessions. The tours run every Monday through Saturday and are approximately 90 minutes long beginning at 11:00am and the admissions information sessions begin at 1:15pm. Admissions information sessions cover:

  • College system overview and information
  • San Diego and the surrounding area
  • The UC San Diego campus community
  • Admission requirements and selection process, including the comprehensive review process
  • Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

For more information about campus tours, please visit here.
For more information about admissions information sessions, please visit here.

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Q) What companies recruit UC San Diego students?

A) Various engineering companies actively recruit students from the Jacobs School of Engineering and a majority of these companies belong to our Corporate Affiliates Program (CAP). To view a list of some of these companies, please visit: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/external/external_cap/cap_membership/members.sfe

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Q) What is the difference between college and department advising?

A) Each undergraduate student at UC San Diego has academic advisors in their academic department as well as in their college.

Engineering Department Advising
Helps students with engineering major requirements and curriculum planning, petitions, regulations, degree checks, etc. Department advising staff can also refer students to faculty for advice on engineering specialization, technical electives and career options. See list of department academic advisors.

College Advising
Helps students with four-year curriculum planning and college-specific general education course requirements for graduation. See list of college advising websites.

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Q) How would I find out about internship opportunities?

A) The Jacobs School is located at the heart of San Diego's thriving technology and life sciences industry, and career opportunities abound for our students. Engineering students make connections with prospective employers through the following resources: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/student/student_career/

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Q) What engineering organizations can I get involved in as an engineering student?

A) Our engineering student organizations help students develop their leadership skills and connect with the Jacobs School community. Activities range from professional development and career networking to project teams, design competitions and K-12 outreach. For a list of engineering student organizations that you can be involved in please visit here: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/student/student_org/

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Q) What resources are available for international students?

A) For resources available to international students, please visit here.

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