<p>Anyone else out there completely suck at math but intending to go to Cal pursuing a science major?</p>
<p>When it comes down to it, I'm much stronger in English than I am in math and math-based sciences, but it's my intent to pursue a science degree because I feel it will be more fulfilling and beneficial to society than an English degree.
Anyway, I haven't been exposed to Calculus yet (embarrassing), and I'm hearing there are weeder classes for the calc classes required of science majors. I'm scared! People who've already had BC, struggling through these calc classes at Berkeley?</p>
<p>If I can't overcome this obstacle, does this mean no science major for me? Those who are students and have already taken calculus classes (pref. those who struggle through it like I do), is there help readily available, tutoring for it, anything that can help a person make it through the course material?</p>
<p>what makes u think an english or humanities or social science major can't be beneficial to society? some of the greatest social reformists on earth where social science people. Ghandi was a lawyer, Malcom X got his degree in prison, Earl Warren got his degree @ cal in poli-sci, and he was partially responsible for desegregation.</p>
<p>do what you wanna do, but if your gonna hate math (like i do) or are bad at it (like I am) do something you like, and change the world on your terms</p>
<p>There are two sequences of Calculus at Cal. </p>
<p>1AB intended for engineering/sciences, and those who wish to take further classes after 1AB (ie 53,54 etc). </p>
<p>16AB intended for social sciences. This is a <em>terminal</em> calculus sequence, that after these classes, you won't be taking any more math classes.</p>
<p>For obvious reasons, 1AB is harder relative to 16AB. If you are sure that classes in your program don't require more than single-variable calculus (ie 1AB/16AB), choose either sequence. As far as med schools go, they don't really care; in fact, 16AB might even seem like more rigious courses just because 16 > 1.</p>
<p>What do you plan on doing after college? It's quite possible you could benefit society much more by say, majoring in some non-math/science subject, then doing something beneficial to society. There is no reason to discount something you're better (and hopefully, intersted) in. But of course, if you think you'd be more beneficial to society through math/science, or you think that you'd feel more fulfilled that way, that's fine. Also, don't be embarrassed about not being exposed to calculus.</p>
<p>i'm horrible at math too and will try to avoid taking as many courses as possible. i'm considering development studies, so if i take just calc for non science...would that be enough?</p>
<p>"
Yeah, physics 8A > 7A in that logic! O_O!"</p>
<p>Yah, that's what L&S adviser told me about medschools. I have yet to verify her claim but it totally makes sense in spite of its paradoxical nature.</p>
<p>Listen...if you want to go into the sciences, make it happen and do it! Yes, you will have to take math 1a/1b. Yes, it will be killer! A fair amount of students in that class are foreign students (India, China, Japan, Korea, etc), and YOU KNOW these kids have been doing calculus since they've been in diapers, and they have no problems studying all day long. You will have to study like you've never studied before, and even then you won't be guaranteed an A. But you'll pass, and that will be an accomplishment in and of itself. And you'll make it as a scientist. But you have to go in with the mindset that its going to be absolutely brutal while you're taking these pre-reqs. If you don't, you're going to get swallowed up and spit out.</p>