CalSo Scheduling Dilemma

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I will be at Berkeley for the CalSo Orientation on June 4 (the first one) and I was just in the midst of completing my Academic Orienteering Online while I realized that I am in a tiny bit of a debacle.. </p>

<p>I took AP Calculus AB a few weeks ago and scores will not be available until July..do you think I should schedule 1B or 1A for phase 1? I am a prospective CS Major in L&S. </p>

<p>However, if I do get a 5 on the AP test, would it be a good idea to take Math 1B in the fall? I keep hearing rumors that Math 1A and Math 1B get really competitive in the fall since most pre-meds will be taking it at the same time. My host at OHP advised me to take it in the Spring.</p>

<p>What else should I schedule for my Phase 1? I'm thinking of CS 3S since I have not really had a formal education on coding. That leaves me with 2 more units of space..I'm thinking of something really easy to fulfill a breadth requirement.. "L&S 1" perhaps?</p>

<p>What other "fluff" but practical classes should I add to my schedule? I'm looking for a class that can really help me with everyday life but doesn't require too much time commitment because I want to be able to concentrate of my core classes.</p>

<p>Any input/ suggestions?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>CS 3S is a self-paced course.</p>

<p>If you are motivated enough to self-study, you may just want to preview CS 61A, its lectures, its Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs book, and the Dive Into Python 3 book (all freely available on the web, as are the Scheme and Python interpreters) over the summer and then just take CS 61A. If not, then a self-paced course is unlikely to be a good idea.</p>

<p>Regarding math courses, Math 1B in the spring will have all of the same students that Math 1A had in the fall, so if you are trying to avoid competition, that won’t do. You are not really going to avoid competition, since you will likely see a lot of students in both Math 1A and 1B who have AP Calculus credit. However, the true math superstars probably won’t be there; they will likely be in H1B, H54, or more advanced math courses.</p>

<p>Did you think the AP test was easy and that you got a 5? If so, sign up for Math 1B. Or did you think it was hard and that your knowledge of calculus may be a bit shaky? If so, sign up for Math 1A. That way, you will sign up for the one you are more likely to keep.</p>

<p>As far as breadth courses go, perhaps something like Environmental Science, Policy, and Management 50AC? Fulfills American Cultures and any one of Historical Studies, Philosophy and Values, or Social and Behavioral Sciences from the L&S 7 course breadth.</p>

<p>Or English C77 / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C12? Fulfills any one of Arts and Literature, Biological Science, Philosophy and Values, or Social and Behavioral Sciences from the L&S 7 course breadth.</p>

<p>Don’t forget R&C courses if needed.</p>

<p>In terms of practical knowledge, courses in economics and statistics should come in handy whatever you do.</p>

3

<p>There’s no need to sign up for CS 3S during Phase I, as it is a self-paced course…</p>

<p>It would probably be a better idea to sign up for math and a breadth course like the ones ucbalumnus recommended, and just sign up for CS in Phase II.</p>

4

<p>ucbalumnus, once again, thank you for your input! Thank you aswell singh2010!</p>

<p>How hard is it to self-study and get myself up to speed for CS 61A? Computer Science, for me, is still a prospective major and I have not had experience in coding.</p>

<p>As for Math, I will register Math1B.</p>

<p>Right now, I have:</p>

<p>Phase I:
Math 1B
CS 61A (if not doable, then English C77)
Sociology 1</p>

<p>Phase II:
English C77
CS 3S (if, I decide to do it during the fall)</p>

<p>Is there a class that formally teaches you how to code? It doesn’t seem like they have any other introductory courses other than 3S :(</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>CS 10, but it may be too lightweight (generally “science 10” courses are considered very lightweight courses of the “physics for poets” type). Or a community college course during the summer.</p>

<p>Try starting to self-study the CS 61A stuff as soon as you can (before CalSO). If you like it and find it not too difficult (do the programming exercises in the books), then just continue to do so and sign up for CS 61A.</p>

6

<p>I downloaded an ebook version of “Simply Scheme” and am now taking a look at the first few pages…if I get about halfway through this book during the summer, would I be in a good position for 61A?</p>

7

<p>Try to do the examples and exercises as you read through Simply Scheme and Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. Also, you may want to try the assignments given on the CS 61A home page.</p>

<p>CS 61A may switch to using Python 3, but if you focus on the CS concepts, you should be able to apply them in any computer language.</p>

8

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Here is what I have:</p>

<p>Phase I:
Math 1B
Sociology 1</p>

<p>Phase II:
CS 3S/ 61A (still haven’t decided)
Economics 1 </p>

<p>Alternative:
English R1B
Intro Culture & Natural Resc. Management
Intro Environmental Studies
L&S 1</p>

<p>Total Units: 16</p>

<p>Will this be too much? I’ve taken AP Economics Micro/Macro so I believe I should have an easy time in Econ 1. Based on the reviews I’ve found on numerous sites, Sociology seems to be a pretty easy class too. </p>

<p>Will this give me enough time to concentrate my efforts on Math 1B and CS 3S/ 61A?</p>

9

<p>Note that both Sociology 1 and Economics 1 fulfill only the Social and Behavioral Sciences portion of the 7 course breadth. So if you are trying to cover more breadth requirements early (to leave more flexibility later), you may want to choose courses that can cover two different portions of the 7 course breadth (although you won’t need Physical Science since CS 61C will cover that).</p>

<p>Did you take both AP Economics tests? If you got a 4 or 5 on both, then the Economics department considers that equivalent to Economics 1 for the purpose of majoring in Economics (though Business requires a 5 on both for that purpose). If that is the case, you may want to consider leaving out Economics 1 for now and taking something else instead; you can then take more advanced Economics courses later after you have completed the math prerequisites for them.</p>

<p>In terms of time, math and economics courses typically are not that heavy. CS courses can be, though it depends on how much programming each course has (and some later ones have a large term project). Other courses that tend to be heavy on time commitment are those with labs or large term projects (including humanities and social studies).</p>

10

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<p>Can I please get some feedback on my tentative schedule for this upcoming fall?
It’s 16 Units but Music and Sociology shouldn’t be too time consuming (am I correct?). Therefore, I can concentrate on CS10 (CS 3S was cancelled) and Math 1A (have taken AP Calc AB).</p>

<p>I believe this schedule is pretty light even though I have four classes since I already have background in Calculus, a little bit in CS (though not enough for CS 61A), a fluff class such as Music 26AC and a humanities course with a good professor (or so the ratings show). </p>

<p>What do you guys think? Besides the classes, what do you think of my daily schedule? I also have Taekwondo practice from 9-11 at night every weekday.</p>

11

<p>Nobody knows how they will react to being on their own at college, until you get here. In addition, for many who come here, the level of work needed to do well here is quite a bit higher than what they had to put in during high school. Even what they think of as fluff classes. Reading a lot of pages or writing a paper takes time, regardless of the subject, time you might need to put into the classes you are more focused upon. That is why the advice given to most is to take it a bit light for the first semester, adjust to the school, then pick up the pace. 16 units plus five nights a week of practice isn’t light. It may be achievable, not saying it is impossible to do, but you are taking some risk. Keep in mind that many CS courses are said to take far more hours of time than the units imply, hours you put in because of the demands of the project, without much benefit gained from having a background in CS.</p>

12

<p>Regarding math, try the sample final exams found here:</p>

<p>[Choosing</a> an Appropriate First Math Course — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/new-students/choosing-an-appropriate-first-math-course.html]Choosing”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/new-students/choosing-an-appropriate-first-math-course.html)</p>

<p>If you can do the Math 1A final exams easily, then take Math 1B instead of Math 1A, since Math 1A will be a waste of time for you. If the Math 1A final exams are difficult, then you may be better off taking Math 1A (which means losing the AP credits).</p>

<p>How is the previewing of CS 61A course materials going?</p>

<p>Your schedule seems to have a lot of classes during “siesta time” or right after lunch, when most people tend to be most drowsy. This may adversely affect your performance in those classes. It may be better to choose classes in the morning before lunch, or later in the afternoon.</p>