<p>Hi guys! as I mentioned above, I really consider about taking some courses with P/NP or letter grades. I really want to transfer into Cal EECS from CCC. I'm an international student from abroad and this fall semester is actually almost my first semester in US(I'm taking a summer course now.) and going to take 4 courses following fall:</p>
<p>2 transferable courses (8 units in the end)
1 English class (5 unit, prerequisite for English composition, not transferable)
1 Major class (4 unit, a computer science lecture class with lab, not transferable just on Cal) </p>
<p>Here is the question; I do have a option whether choosing these 2 English and computer classes with P/NP or letter-graded scores. Because I ain't really confident I am able to take all 4 classes with A's, so this may lessen my burden on my first semester. When I took the assessment test on the college, I couldn't enroll English Composition 1 directly since my lack of English proficiency. This is why I have to take one more English class(NON-transferable, the class right befo composition 1) and I was really worried it could result in more time to finish up TONS of required courses, mostly STEM classes.</p>
<p>But fortunately, the counselor in my college told me if I get a really great score and am able to prove your academical excellence on my English class, the instructor can change the name of class on the transcript as an English Composition 1, and it depends on the professor's decision. So if I turn it into P/NP, I will lose the chance. But I doubt I can get a good score on the English class cuz this is my almost first semester and I am not that good at English, especially writing now. So in this case, which choice can be a better strategy for me to apply 4-year Univ afterward?</p>
<p>One more, I'm going to take a major(CS) class on this fall. I want to take this even it is not transferable on Cal because I need to practice programming before taking CS61 series-articulated courses and this is transferable on other Universities like UCSD and SJSU as my back-up plan for transfer. I'm not kinda coding genius and not sure how difficult the computer classes provided in CC is. so I don't want to take a risk. Also I already realized 17 units on the first semester is pretty tough for internationals. </p>
<p>I have been reading a lot of threads for several months and been getting helpful informations thru this. Really want to hear the experts' voice from EECS transfer as well as any type of UC transfer. Thank you!</p>
<p>Anything in your major, whether it articulates or not, should be taken for a letter grade. It’ll show Cal that you’re serious about the major, and that you do well in it. I would suggest never ever getting less than an A in an EE or CS class, that could really destroy your chances.</p>
<p>As for the others, if it’s not related to your major, and if it’s non-transferable, I don’t think they’ll care…</p>
<p>@failure622 So, does it mean I HAVE TO take this class with a letter grade even if it is articulated none of CS61 series? To explain this course in detail, this is a java class and I am considering it as a kind of warming-up course before taking CS61A(maybe having another name in CC’s). At this time, I don’t really have much coding experience and do have a weak understanding to concept of OOP, this makes me hesitate on choosing this course with pass/fail or letter grades. Does it affect on applying to UCB as a transfer if I get a B or sth like that on this NONarticulated class? make me less competitive?</p>
<p>I’m not an admissions officer, so I can’t say one way or the other. Personally I’d say taking it for a letter grade looks better.</p>
<p>Also, you really need to have a back-up school in mind. Cal admissions, especially EECS, are very unpredictable. Some students get rejected with a 4.0, some get in with a 3.7. But it’s never a sure thing. Chances are whatever other schools you apply to will accept the CS class that doesn’t articulate at Cal.</p>
<p>Yes, I strongly agree with you that I need to think about backups. And this class is a part of the plan though. Some of schools in CA like UCSD and SJSU(maybe more Univ might have been articulating this but I dont know much about that.)articulate this class and as you said, I have to take this with a letter grade because this is my major.</p>
<p>Thanks alot! I decided my mind and am going to try all 4 courses with letter grades. I have seen your comments many many times in this website cuz I remember you left lots of comments on question about UCB transfer as an EECS. So I wanted to ask something through this forum. I’m glad I can get a help from you.</p>
<p>If it’s a rudimentary non-transferrable class I don’t see why you can’t take it P/NP. That’s what I would do because your English needs work (no offense) so why have the added stress. Send an email to UC admissions and ask them. I may have been misreading but if it’s a rudimentary class as I think you are saying (rudimentary means below the basic one you are required to take) you should be able to do P/NP and the UCs won’t care. But send an email to verify. </p>
<p>I think you are confusing transferable classes with articulated classes on ASSIST. If a class is transferable to once UC, it’s transferable to all of them. The credits will transfer to Cal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will fulfill a class there.</p>
<p>The CS articulations for Cal are kind of a crapshoot. The main reason why one class would transfer to UCSD and not to Berkeley is that most classes at CC are usually taught as an intro to Java, intro to C etc where Berkeley CS classes seem to follow a broader idea of programming, rather than just languages. That is my take on why it is hard to find articulating classes. </p>
<p>I have been searching assist after leaving this post so far and the java class was turned out it is not articulated to CS61 series but articulated to “COMPSCI 9G JAVA for Programmers” in Berkeley. so the problem is clear now and I’m going to take all the classes with letter grades. I hope I will do my best with getting a great score in the English class, and the instructor will change my classname and grade to those of English Composition 1</p>