Anyone want to help a indecisive freshmen?

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>Ahhh CalSO is on the 30th and so far I know that I want to have:</p>

<p>Chem 1A +1AL
Math 1A+Dis</p>

<p>After that I'm a bit unsure. I want to take an art history class (HistArt62: 4 units), and some kind of english/rhetoric class (r1a?). Do you think that would be too much for an incoming freshmen?</p>

<p>another option would be to take Chinese 1AX + dis (3 units) instead of the english/rhetoric class. How difficult are foreign language courses at Cal?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>do the R1A and a seminar/decal and that's enough of a workload.</p>

<p>chinese 1ax shouldn't be too hard since you already speak mandarin. if you have taken chinese school, it should be even easier.</p>

<p>hmm...after some thought, i really want to take the arthist course.</p>

<p>how difficult is Rhetoric 1A? i have to get an english course eventually, so i might as well do it first year or second. Do you guys have any recommendations?</p>

<p>do you think it would be to take:</p>

<p>Chem1a
Math1a
Arthist62
[insert rhet/eng class]</p>

<p>that would make it 16 units.</p>

<p>The Rhetoric, English, and Comparative Literature reading and composition courses are considered to be much more difficult than the various other reading and composition courses (i.e. Scandinavian, German, History of Art, Film), so I would actually recommend that you take one of those instead of Rhetoric and English. I myself took German R5A and absolutely loved it. If you're insistent upon taking Art History, then do it. The Art History courses sound really interesting and they're definitely worth taking. That being said, I think you should stick with Chem 1A, Math 1A, and Art History 62, and in addition, add one of the <em>easier</em> reading and composition courses. Don't listen to the CalSO counselors when they tell you that you should take the minimum amount of units. With an easier reading and composition course, you can easily handle the 16 units that you have. Good luck!</p>

<p>take 15-17 units for sure</p>

<p>thanks guys.</p>

<p>also, i'm considering med school, so do you know whether such "easier" r&c courses can satisfy the english requirements of med school? scandanavian/german doesn't really sound like "english" to me lol.</p>

<p>any R5A, R2A, R1A and B equivalents satisfy med school reqs.</p>

<p>^true. Scandinavian and German definitely work as English requirement for med school because those classes are taught in English and all your essays are in English - it just so happens that the cultural and literary focus doesn't revolve around the English-speaking world. They're all very good courses - I highly, highly recommend the German R5A/B courses.</p>

<p>You can only sign up for a certain number of units at Calso (10? 11?) so you can worry about choosing your third/fourth classes later.</p>

<p>yeah. don't worry. haha its funny how all premeds starts off with the same courses. the usual chem 1a + math 1a combo. i ended up taking psych 2 my first semester of freshman year. i recommend taking r5a. that should be 4+4+4=12 units. You can easily find a decal or a seminar. However I find these a waste of time since you don't learn anything, nor does it count in your gpa. You can try searching for easy two unit classes for a grade. There's eps 8 and eps 80 which are really easy gpa boosters.</p>

<p>Once again, don't disadvantage you self by taking 13 units. Take a regular load (15-17) units consisting of four classes and possibly a seminar or decal</p>

<p>I don't see how taking 13 units would put him or her at a "disadvantage" unless he or she constantly takes the minimum units. Although 15 is recommended to graduate in time, I say one semester of taking the minimum won't be a disadvantage in any way. The two units could be made up anytime within the next 3.5 years...</p>

<p>some of my friends who took 13 units their first semester had a hard time transitioning over the a regular load for spring</p>

<p>Also, I would like to add that for premeds, GPA is priority. What I've seen is that a lot freshman want to explore first semester and don't study as much as they should. This is understandable when you are given so much freedom. These freshman may not get A's even if they could have if they put in a little more studying. Fifteen to seventeen units is manageable as long as work is put in. However, there are those times when you have to make a choice between just chillin with friends or starting your paper for the class you could have taken next semester. Many Berkeley students will try to accomplish both, which in most cases, doesnt work out. Therefore, I think that for freshman, it is okay to take the minimum number of units, as long as they plan things out efficiently for the next three years.</p>

<p>anon2528462, what were your friends’ majors. I say course selection is important too. Many science classes have a heavier workload than do other classes. This is because on top of lectures, there are also discussions and labs. For example, Bio 1A and 1AL count as one semester of biology, but the workload is equivalent to two humanities classes. I’ve seen people taking an average number of units in science classes (ex. bio 1A/1AL + physics 8a + AC requirement + 2 unit PH class=15 units) and having to compromise either their bio or physics grade. This is a big nono for premeds. I’d say its better to spread things out, even if you’re taking these premed requirements into your junior year.</p>