<p>“4 blocks from campus”, but what is the exact location of the FPF program? If living in dorms (Cal or private) might they be so distant as to look for public transportation? If classes could be both extension (FPF) and on campus wouldn’t it be tough to get from one to another in a timely way?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Look at a map on the Cal web site - the Unit 1,2,3 dorms are off campus, Clark Kerr quite a bit more than the four blocks of the FPF program. The idea of ‘off campus’ does not mean what it might for other universities.</p>
<p>None of the dorms on the campus-proper. Bowles, Stern, and Foothill are all on the extended campus. (Look at Google Maps for Berkeley and look at the huge grey chunk they say is UC Berkeley)</p>
<p>Does being a Spring Admit affect the chances of getting into a Bio Major?</p>
<p>FPF is one block from Unit 2, two blocks from Unit 1, about 3 blocks from Unit 3, and a few blocks from Clark Kerr. A bit farther for Foothill/Bowles/Stern. Depending on where you live it might actually be closer than the campus.</p>
<p>Also, being a spring admit does not affect your chances of getting into bio majors such as MCB and IB. If you want to switch colleges though, such as into engineering for bioengineering, being a spring admit might mean getting behind a little in prereqs, which might affect your chances a little.</p>
<p>No, declaring for L&S is done typically at the end of second year, aftering satisfying requirements. It doesn’t matter at all when you enter. Since there are a number of general requirements, including seven breadth areas and an american cultures class that are needed prior to graduation, these can be knocked off in the first semester while you are waiting to enter Cal, either in FPF or in a qualified CC class. </p>
<p><a href=“http://ib.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://ib.berkeley.edu</a>
<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://mcb.berkeley.edu</a>
<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu</a></p>
<p>If I mailed the FPF reservation today, I shouldn’t be too late, right?</p>
<p>What are the disadvantages of taking a community college instead of FPF? (or is there any?)</p>
<p>My parents felt that cc is so much cheaper than the cost of FPF. (which is true)
Anything that I can tell them that FPF is better?
(note: reasons such as better teachers and good transition to berkeley are not going to help because none of those outweigh the cost unfortunately)</p>
<p>For example is there any disadvantage when graduate schools looked at my transcript from berkeley and they see that i have grades from cc? (but the classes i’m taking from cc are probably general graduation requirement and breadth + american cultures etc.)</p>
<p>Are the grades I’ll receive from cc going to be weighted the same as the grades from FPF in the berkeley gpa (considering I take berkeley credit classes in cc)?</p>
<p>Is there also a maximum amount of units/ classes I can take in cc? like in FPF…
Do berkeley only accept the maximum of 18 units from cc also?</p>
<p>“Also, being a spring admit does not affect your chances of getting into bio majors such as MCB and IB. If you want to switch colleges though, such as into engineering for bioengineering, being a spring admit might mean getting behind a little in prereqs, which might affect your chances a little.”</p>
<p>Hmm, this is what I feared. I was thinking about switching from L&S to CoE for EECS. If I do FPF, do you think I can get enough prereqs to transfer by my sophomore year? I understand that FPF has a very limited number of classes that it offers, so would going to CC for prereq credits be a better idea? This sort of goes hand in hand with twkiwilee’s question, haha.</p>
<p>Is starting year long courses in the spring more difficult that starting in the fall?
Like is it harder taking Bio 1A in the spring and then continuing with Bio 1B in the fall with a summer vacation in between than it is starting in the fall?</p>
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<p>Short answer: no. FPF is nice for basically starting Berkeley in the fall, getting to live with other freshmen, joining clubs, getting the experience, etc. etc. One small advantage is that FPF classes are easier than on-campus classes and they count towards your UCGPA whereas CC does not, so it might help boost your GPA a little. But as far as for grad school…it doesn’t really matter. Also, don’t worry about maximum units. It’s not a good idea to take more than the max in any case.</p>
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<p>Sure. If you start doing EECS prereqs in the spring, you should have little problem finishing the prereqs in time, and have a good amount by your sophomore year, which is when you’ll apply to transfer. However, I should warn you that it is very difficult to transfer from L&S to CoE, especially EECS. It’s likely that you’ll take some prereqs and decide that either EECS is not for you, or the classes are too hard for you to get the grades needed to transfer into EECS. Not to discourage you, but it brings me to my next point: I think the REAL disadvantage is that you won’t get to take the EECS prereqs in fall, so you’ll be testing the waters one semester late, which means if you decide EECS is not for you and you want to do something else, you’ll be a semester behind. Many people start their prereqs during sophomore year and finish in 4 years so it’s not a huge deal, but just keep it in mind.</p>
<p>As for CC, Berkeley EECS really doesn’t like it when you take EECS prereqs somewhere else, especially if you’re trying to get into EECS, so I wouldn’t say CC is a better idea than FPF.</p>
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<p>Nah it doesn’t really matter. As for Bio 1A and 1B, most people actually take 1B before 1A.</p>
<p>Yeah, I figured it would be a big risk to first try out the classes for EECS in the spring. I was planning on doing CS at L&S anyway, but I’d still be behind on the L&S breadth requirements if I change my mind about switching to CoE or if I find it too hard. Despite that, I think I’ll still take the risk. As long as it is not impossible, I want to give it a shot.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>
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<p>Thank You for replying!</p>
<p>Oh yes, I have heard about grades from cc do not count towards UCGPA. But, what exactly is a UCGPA? Is it something similar to high school weighted and unweighted GPA? Who looks at the UCGPA? If the grades from cc don’t count towards UCGPA, then where do they count towards and who looks at them? Are the grades from cc just there to fill up the unit requirements and general requirements as well as major requirements?</p>
<p>No, it’s not like that. Your UCGPA is basically, your GPA at UC Berkeley. So, as far as Berkeley is concerned, that’s your GPA. Meaning, say you’re applying for an on-campus job and it requires at least a 3.0. They mean your UCGPA. Or, if you need at least a 2.0 to get into your major, etc. etc. As for jobs, since they usually will ask you for a transcript, your CC grades won’t be on there. As for grad school…I’m not sure if they’ll look at your CC grades. If it’s for say, medical school and you’ve taken one of the prereqs at a CC, then yeah they’ll probably look at your grade for that class. But yeah I’m iffy on the details.</p>
<p>Here are the two best tracks for bio majors (IMO) and/or premeds in FPF for Fall 2009</p>
<p>Track 1
Summer 09
Chem 1A</p>
<p>Fall 09
Math 16A (if premed and/or if you don’t have AP credit)
Three breadth courses or R&C course + two breadth courses</p>
<p>Spring 10
Chem 3A/L
Bio 1B
two other classes</p>
<p>Track 2
Fall 09
Math 16A (if premed and/or if you don’t have AP credit) or breadth course
Three other breadth courses (or R&C course + two breadth courses)</p>
<p>Spring 10
Chem 1A
Bio 1B
two other classes</p>
<p>Summer 10
Chem 3A/L</p>
<p>I pursued track 2.</p>
<p>Chem 1A for this summer is NOT full.</p>
<p>I got accepted into spring and need some advice. If I choose to go to community college during fall, will it still be possible for me to dorm during the spring semester?</p>
<p>most people who apply for dorms for spring semester get it</p>
<p>Do grades of classes taken from Cal State Universities go into the ucgpa or just count as passing the class?</p>
<p>Do spots for FPF fill up quick? Decisions came on what Thursday? And I just sent out my registration today. Will I be able to secure a spot, or will I too late?</p>
<p>I sent mine out the day I was admitted, and my myberk just updated today saying they received it.</p>