<p>I was just wondering if it's possible to complete an ORMS or Computer Science major at the CL&S in 3years? I'm used to handling a much tougher course load than the standard 15units per semester load recommended by Cal.</p>
<p>It's definitely possible, especially if you're coming in with 40-50 units of AP credit. Even if you come in with no AP credit, it's definitely possible. You'd have to take 20 units per semester, which might be a little difficult with your major, but if you do summer sessions every year I don't see how it would be a problem.</p>
<p>Def - are you saying that AP credits can count towards the total 120 requirement as stated in the following website, regardless of the AP subjects taken??</p>
<p>As far as I know, you can use AP credits towards the 120 unit minimum, but you can't use them to fulfill breadth courses in L&S. It's different for Haas, and I'm not sure about engineering or chemistry.</p>
<p>quesce, it is not exactly regardless of the subjects taken. Each college has a policy for the credits they grant for each specific AP test, but the units count towards your total 120 unit requirement for graduation and they count for class standing (Soph, Junior, Senior) as far as your priority for Telebears appointments.</p>
<p>Ah, thanks rider :)</p>
<p>Could you specify as to what this class standing would mean? How many AP units would I need and would it just allow me to graduate a year earlier, or would it also allow me to sign up for courses otherwise unavailable to freshman (if there are any of this nature)?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Once you have 30 units of credit or more, you are a sophmore as far as Telebears appointments and standing for restricted classes. Once you pass 60 credits, you are a junior. Once past 90, you become a senior.</p>
<p>College of Letters and Sciences has a list of the credits granted for the various AP tests. In general, it appears that AP tests that involve year long HS classes earn 5.3 units and those that are only a semester class earn 2.7 units. </p>
<p>AP tests give you class standing (soph, etc) including the registration timing benefits, they can satisfy pre-reqs for classes (but the equivalency of an AP test as a pre-req for a particular class is determined by that department), and they count towards your total units needed for graduation. They can satisfy requirements for quantitative reasoning, foreign language and the R&C requirements, but not the L&S breadth obligation. </p>
<p>Although the points are added into your total for class standing and graduation, they do not limit you as far as the school maximum units that can be taken, nor do they force you to declare a major early - for these two purposes, only units taken in a college class will count. </p>
<p>L&S has a great brochure, Earning Your Degree, that covers many policies and the AP credit issues - <a href="http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/fp/EYD.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/fp/EYD.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you are in another college, look for their corresponding rules for AP test credit.</p>
<p>For College of Engineering, here is the corresponding guide <a href="http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising07-08.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising07-08.pdf</a></p>
<p>L&S credits any score of 3 or higher, but CoE has minimum of 4 for some AP tests.</p>
<p>I couldn't find a guide for CNR that covered AP credit - simply a reference that credit is determined by the Dept of Undergrad Admissions of the campus. </p>
<p>For the College of Chemistry, the guide with AP credit info is <a href="http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad_info/publications/chem_08_09.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad_info/publications/chem_08_09.pdf</a>
and it lists the courses that are equivalent as well as the unit credits</p>
<p>Hmm thanks rider, that was extremely helpful - made the picture a lot sharper :)</p>
<p>From what you have said, do you know if a student who has gained sophomore standing for Telebears can still graduate in four years? Or does opting for that standing mean you'd also have to graduate within 3 years?</p>
<p>Also, would these AP units allow one to apply for their major (both in the case of a single or a double major) early? Say, at the end of their first year? </p>
<p>Apologies for overwhelming you with questions!</p>
<p>The AP credit units increase your class standing but don't affect either declaring majors or when you must graduate. The L&S cap on units - that anyone who goes beyond 8 semesters and has more than 130 units can't register for any further semesters, whether ready to graduate or not - does not include the AP derived units. Also the rule that one must declare a major before reaching junior standing does not include AP credits in the calculation of the standing.</p>
<p>Thus, you could be a junior based on AP units, get preferential telebears times, but still be a sophomore or freshman based on actual college course units and delay declaring your major.</p>
<p>You can declare early if you have the pre-reqs out of the way, but you won't have to declare any earlier than when you finish 60 units of college classes.</p>
<p>Yes it's definitely possible. The people who want to do it tend to fall into these two categories:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>They're naturally above average in intellect and therefore think they were awesome in high school. They come to Berkeley and want to take 20 units per semester to prove (to no one in particular) that they're awesome. They promptly get their ass kicked by Berkeley and realize this was not a smart way to go.</p></li>
<li><p>They're major nerds whose self-esteem in high school was mainly built on how many more APs they took than their peers. They don't have much of a life because they're not sure how to get one. They actually do finish school in 3 years because that's all they did.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>This is of course, the extremes. I'm not trying to be insulting but honestly this is what I've come across.</p>
<p>Tuition is so high for international and out-of-state students, I can understand why they might want to try to finish in 3 years. If you are serious about doing this, you can take some of your breadth courses at a community college, or online via a community college.</p>
<p>If money isn't a huge issue, I'd be inclined to think Berkeley has so much to offer, better to spend 4 years there.</p>
<p>^That's the issue mate, $$$.</p>
<p>^^I understand. Anyway, check out Laney College, it's a community college a short BART-ride away. They have all kinds of summer courses, including a short "intersession" or whatever they call it, like 4 weeks long right before regular summer session. Diablo Valley College is too far to take classes in person, probably, but they have online stuff, as does contra costa college, etc. Anyway, you could get a bunch of easy units that way and it would ease your path a bit.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot mate, on the website now. :)</p>
<p>Thanks rider, I'll most likely try contact the Registrar's office asap :)</p>
<p>Also, I agree with Legend - sometimes it's all about the $$$. Especially for internationals. All the best to you ^^ (and thanks for letting me hijack your thread back there :P)</p>
<p>kenf1234, Berkeley City College is also an option, right?</p>
<p>trying to join the class of 11 I see...</p>
<p>I believe AP credit empty units can help you meet 120 units early.</p>
<p>
[quote]
kenf1234, Berkeley City College is also an option, right?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yes, that is another option.</p>
<p>I can't really get much useful information on the Berkeley City College website, but if they have an "intersession", I'll give it some serious thought once I get there.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot mate.</p>