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<p>At the end of the first year my GPA was a 2.9, and by the end of Fall sophomore year it was a 3.49 (including 8 units over the summer). It’s definitely possible, but you have to understand that you’ll have to change your study habits in a big way.</p>
<p>Is it manageable to take Chem 3A/3AL and Physics 8B at the same time?</p>
<p>How hard is my schedule if I take CS61A, Math 53, and Chinese 10AX? Or CS61A, Math 53, Geography 70A, and a seminar class? I don’t want to go overboard first semester, but I’d really like to take a language class if possible.</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman (MCB major) and I was wondering if my current schedule would be too much:</p>
<p>Chem 1A (4 units)
Math 1A (4 units)
Asian American Studies R2A (4 units)
History of Art 10 (4 units)</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Hi I am a fall transfer as an economics major. Should I take mathematics or political economy of industrial society as minor? Which has more job opportunities?</p>
<p>Also is there any good advice for new transfer students, i am current taking some summer classes here and find them much harder than my old community college, no multiple choice on the exams, all essay questions, need to improve my writing skills.</p>
<p>Also how to make good friends during the 2 school years? And how to manage time between academic load and these social lifes? And how to allocated time for the weekends?</p>
<p>thx a lot!</p>
<p>How much time do parents typically spend with their kids on dorm move-in day? Does Cal offer any programs for parents that weekend? Our son will be moving in on that Saturday morning. We live locally. I have been invited to something (not Cal related) that Saturday afternoon and am trying to determine whether I should accept the invitation. If there are parent events on campus that are worth sticking around for, I’d rather do that. But if the dorm thing is usually a two-hour drop and dash, then I’d like to know that now so I can plan. Thanks.</p>
<p>Basically, once you help him get everything up and in the room, he will be anxious to start meeting people and heading out in small packs to explore. More like two hour, although there can be serious jams waiting for elevators that make the movein perhaps a bit longer. still, you are looking at a half day not a full day.</p>
<p>vandeley: Sure it’s manageable.</p>
<p>jthunderz: Not too bad. 10AX is only 3 units.</p>
<p>dinosaur90: That should be fine.</p>
<p>noodlesli: take whatever interests you. Both have some job opportunities depending on what you want to do. With math you could be an actuary or maybe get an engineering job. With PEIS you could work in politics. As for studying, try studying together with other students in your classes. Helps you with the coursework and making friends.</p>
<p>is math 1a really that much more difficult than the 16 series?
i took calc bc in hs, but im not sure my foundation is solid enough.</p>
<p>how’s christ for 1a?</p>
<p>@thesounds: it’s difficult, but not that much more if you put some time and effort into studying. if it’s not absolutely necessary for your major though, you’d be better off taking 16a and keeping your gpa up (assuming you get a good grade in the course).
I had borcherds for 1a, so not sure how christ is. my friend was definitely more stressed out about his midterms and, after taking a look at my midterms, said she got the harder professor.
Check out this site for prof ratings: [University</a> of California Berkeley - California](<a href=“http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/SelectTeacher.jsp?sid=1072]University”>http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/SelectTeacher.jsp?sid=1072)</p>
<p>I plan on being an English major with the pre-Haas track once I enter Berkeley as a freshman. I have heard is UGBA10 is very competitive and not to take it first semester. I was wondering if Economics 1 would also be a heavy workload for someone who is just adjusting. I’m not the greatest at math but I just barely scratched by AP Calculus, so I guess algebra shouldn’t be a problem. Have you had any experience with ECON 1?</p>
<p>thesounds: Math 16A is similar to AB and Math 1A tacks on a few things that are a bit harder. For the most part you will find 1A to be a pretty easy review outside of a few topics like that delta-epsilon junk that you probably didn’t do very much of in AP.</p>
<p>mylondoncalling: Econ 1 isn’t as bad as UGBA10 for sure, I think taking it your first semester is a fine idea as you are still pretty motivated from high school. After a while some people tend to get into the college life and lose motivation to get A’s in college (which is much harder to get than in high school and not as important).</p>
<p>Maybe this is a little random as a question but… what’s up with the parking? I’ve never visited campus while class was in session so I have no idea. I’ve seen the parking prices and have no problem with them. I’m renting a place up in El Cerrito, about three miles from the school, and I plan on driving. Is finding a parking spot typically a pain? If so, how’s motorcycle parking availability?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Which math, if any, should I take? </p>
<p>I read on the berkeley “earning your degree” booklet that “medical schools generally will not accept test scores such as AP exams in lieu of college-level courses in the subject areas they require for admission.” </p>
<p>If I’m majoring in integrative biology, should I take math 16a/b OR 1a/b? even though I got a 5 on the Ap calc bc exam (may 2009)? should I waive using my ap credit or just take the class again?</p>
<p>thank you so much! :)</p>
<p>Hi Sweetmochi,</p>
<p>I’m a 4th year MCB student who will be applying to medical school post-graduation and would like to share a few pointers about what a typical premed goes through at Berkeley.</p>
<p>Logistics: If you do decide to major in IB by the end of your second year, then Math 16 series is fine. Math 1 series is a prerequisite for students wishing to major in MCB. Regardless of what Math series you take, the significance is in your choosing not to waive college math with AP. However, you can do the following: If your math background is strong, then take Math 16B and supplement with a Statistics class.
Now I believe one of your other classes may be Chem1A or Bio1B in conjunction with the introductory Calculus class. While this is maybe the most easiest semester load in your premed years, you can not afford to “experiment” during this time. Please feel free to search our forums for MCB, Premed, Med School Reqs for further assistance.</p>
<p>Thank you babydragon!</p>
<p>I’m also planning on taking chem 1a (I took AP chem in HS), but I’m not sure about the rest of my classes. (I considered taking a language such as japanese or chinese, but would that put me “behind” on the pre-med track?) Are there any other courses you would recommend for me? Thank you :)</p>
<p>There is some debate on math, because it is not one of the universally required medical school pre-reqs. Those are a year of chem, year of ochem, year of bio, and year of physics. Usually some humanities requirement is added. </p>
<p>Only a few med schools ask for math - most of those are a bit vague about what is needed - for example one semester of calc and one of statistics fits the bill for most of those. There are a small number that want a year of calculus. </p>
<p>The general consensus is that schools will accept AP credit for calculus. </p>
<p>For a couple of examples:</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins Medical School wants a year of math (calc or statistics) but explicitly defines AP credit as sufficient. [Requirements[/url</a>]</p>
<p>UCLA school of medicine lists a year of math (intro calc and statistics) and rejects AP credit [url=<a href=“http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/prospective/admissions/default.cfm?pgID=3]UCLA”>http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/prospective/admissions/default.cfm?pgID=3]UCLA</a> SOM: Admissions Information](<a href=“http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/admissions/md/process/requirements.html]Requirements[/url”>http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/admissions/md/process/requirements.html)</p>
<p>Harvard med school requires one year of calculus but accepts AP credit [Harvard</a> Medical School: Requirements](<a href=“http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=requirements]Harvard”>http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=requirements).</p>
<p>Georgetown SOM lists one semester of math (could be stats) and they accept AP</p>
<p>Brown SOM lists one semester of calculus and accepts AP [Admission</a> Requirements](<a href=“The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University”>The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University)</p>
<p>Dartmouth SOM has a half year calculus requirement, doesn’t mention AP. </p>
<p>UCDavis SOM requires one year of college math (stats can be part of the requirement), does not accept AP.</p>
<p>UCIrvine SOM requires one semester each calc and stats, accepts AP credit</p>
<p>Washington at St Louis SOM requires a year of calc but will accept stats as a substitute for one semester. They don’t clarify AP credit</p>
<p>Duke requires semester of calc, semester of statistics, no word on AP credit</p>
<p>UCSD SOM requires a year of math (can be mix of calc, stats and computer science), does accept AP for math</p>
<p>Yale school of medicine has no math requirement. Nor does UCSF, Stanford, UPenn, Cornell (Weill), Columbia, NYU, UVa, UChicago, USC, UWashington, or many others, but those often mention it is good to have calculus. For those with no requirement, AP credit would be considered equivalent to coursework.</p>
<p>As you can see, if you rely only on the AP credit, you will block yourself from a small fraction of med schools. Since med school admissions looks at both overall GPA and ‘sciences GPA’, with more emphasis on the latter, it is in your interests to take calc and get the highest possible grade. I personally recommend 16A and 16B.</p>
<p>For the first semester, I’d suggest holding off on a language class unless you can not get into anything else. Try to sign up for an English class as those fill up fast but are probably the most enjoyable owing to small classroom size, good curriculum, and fair grading. Remember that you are under no pressure to take the max load for premeds because your coursework can not be compared to everyone else. Most of the lower division science courses you will ecounter over the next couple of years are considered “weeders” (Organic Chemistry, General Biology) but don’t pay attention to this stigma. Some of the more interesting and fulfilling classes I have taken are upper division MCB classes, especially Bacteriology MCB 103, which has changed my view of microbes and made me appreciate the study of infectious disease on a whole different level. </p>
<pre><code> What you should keep in mind the next couple of weeks is that getting into medical school is not a sprint, nor a means to an end. As I have learned, you have to balance school with a memorable experience of college which means that when things don’t go the way you want them to (all premeds can attest to this), do something that will make you feel good. Also, you will meet some of the brightest and stupidest people in your Chem 1A class so don’t shy away from meeting them. Get to know the good and bad of premed.
</code></pre>
<p>I was unable to attend CALSO and thus will be registering for my fall freshman semester solo on Saturday. I wanted to sign up for a poli sci class called Congress, which also has a discussion, but although the class itself shows 15 slots available, every discussion group is filled and has a waiting list of at least five. What’s up with that? Any advice on what I should do? In general, are waiting lists worth gambling on?</p>
<p>any advice on a R&C course?</p>
<p>Asian American Studies R2A or Rhetoric R1A?</p>
<p>I’m not really an English kinda person.</p>
<p>Anyone with past experience with these courses?
I want something that has easier grading.</p>