<p>So I've decided on these classes:
Math 1A 4 units
Computer Science 10 4 units
Chem 1A 3 units
Chem 1AL 1 unit
MAYBE some seminar (neuroscience) 1 unit</p>
<p>So this comes out to be only 12/13 units, which is supposed to be more than manageable for the first semester. However, I can only sign up for 10.5 units during CalSO, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on which classes I should Phase I? Also, apparently Chem gets filled up fast, but someone told me that if I sign up for the one-unit lab class only, then I'm guaranteed the Chem lecture during Phase II. Is this true? I literally refuse to have any classes before 9AM haha so I really want to make the best of CalSO.</p>
<p>Intended major and other academic goals?
AP/IB/A-level/college credit you have going in?</p>
<p>To check how quickly classes fill, you can use <a href=“http://telebearsoracle.com”>http://telebearsoracle.com</a> on last fall to check historic patterns. For example, see <a href=“http://telebearsoracle.com/#26127,53403,53448,53490,11003,11006,11009,semester:fa13”>http://telebearsoracle.com/#26127,53403,53448,53490,11003,11006,11009,semester:fa13</a></p>
<p>I’m undecided and on the pre-med track. I have a handful of AP credits, but not using them to skip classes or anything. I’ve passed about 8 AP tests so ~32 units I think?</p>
<p>What AP tests and scores?</p>
<p>AP scores of 3 or higher typically give 4 or 8 quarter units, which equals 2.7 or 5.3 semester units. They may or may not count for subject credit.</p>
<p>Note that if you take a course that the AP score could let you skip (e.g. taking Math 1A when you have an AP calculus score of 3 or higher), UC policy is to remove credit units from the AP score.</p>
<p>It may not be a good idea to “waste” your AP credits (particularly for math) for pre-med purposes immediately. If you decide not to do pre-med later, you won’t have filled your schedule space uselessly repeating AP credits. But if you do decide to keep doing pre-med, you can decide then whether to retake the course or take a more advanced course in the subject instead.</p>
<p>I am planning on signing up for the same courses as you (are you considering the Matter, Mind and Consciousness Neuroscience seminar?) except exchanging Computer Science with “Roots of Western Civilization”. Since Phase I allows 10.5 units I will register for everything except Math 1A in Phase I. This is because I am a bit unsure of which math course to take (Math 1A or 10A), so I will see what people around me think about it. </p>
<p>Also @ucbalumnus , would you happen to know whether taking IB Math+Phys+Chem HL with a score of 6/7 will allow me to skip introductory courses such as Math 1A/1B, Chem 1A/1B, etc? If so, would you recommend skipping some of them (I heard they can negatively affect GPA)? Thanks!</p>
<p>To determine if you know the material in the Berkeley courses, you can try the old final exams:
<a href=“Exam and Syllabus Database - Tau Beta Pi, California Alpha Chapter”>https://tbp.berkeley.edu/courses/</a></p>
<p>However, each department may have its own criteria for whether IB credit can fulfill course requirements (often, IB credit is not listed, so you have to ask the department directly). Be aware that if you are a pre-med and use IB credit to skip pre-med courses, you will probably have to substitute a more advanced course in the same subject. For example, if you skip Math 1A and 1B with a IB math HL score, you may have to take Math 53 in order to have a college calculus course for pre-med purposes. However, you need not make the decision immediately for all of the pre-med subjects.</p>
<p>For math, if you have a IB math HL score of 6 or 7, you may want to defer your math course decisions until later, when you are more sure of your major and whether you want to still be pre-med. If you take Math 1A this fall, you will commit to “wasting” your IB math HL credit, which could end up being a waste of schedule space (that you could use for some other interesting course) if you decide not to do pre-med later. But if you defer math, you can choose to take Math 1A, 1B, 53, or 10A-10B later if you are still pre-med, and depending on what your major is (and if you drop pre-med and choose a major that does not require more math, you need not take any more math at all).</p>