<p>I have a few questions about the classes I should sign up for during CalSO (planning on majoring in Economics)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I took an AP Calculus AB course but I did not take the AP test because I want to re-take calculus in Berkeley. For Economics I gotta take either Math 1A or Math 16A, but am I allowed to take 1A first semester? On the website for 1A it says "Prerequisites: Three and one-half years of high school math, including trigonometry and analytic geometry, plus a satisfactory grade in one of the following: CEEB MAT test, an AP test, the UC/CSU math diagnostic test, or 32." I did not take the AP Calc test, so does that mean I can't take Math 1A first semester? If not, what would I take instead? Also, is it wise to take Math 1A or 16A during first semester?</p></li>
<li><p>I think I will be able to skip Intro to Econ because of AP scores. Is it better to just skip Intro or to re-take at Berkeley? If I skip and take Econ 100A, when should i take it, first semester or second?</p></li>
<li><p>In general, what should I choose for the first semester considering I want a relatively comfortable semester? I heard I should try and get an R & C course during CalSO because they fill up fast...</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If you have no AP Calculus credit, see this page:
[Choosing</a> the First Math Course at UC Berkeley - UC Berkeley Department of Mathematics](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_1stcourse.html]Choosing”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_1stcourse.html)</p>
<p>If you have AP Calculus credit, see this page:
[Advanced</a> Placement (AP) Examinations - UC Berkeley Department of Mathematics](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html]Advanced”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html)</p>
<p>The Economics major allows skipping Economics 1 with a 4 or higher on both AP Economics tests (the Business Administration major requires a 5 on both to skip Economics 1).</p>
<p>However, it should not be too difficult to take Economics 101A/101B or Economics 100A/100B even without Economics 1 or AP Economics. However, even 100A/100B (the “less math” version) does require calculus as a prerequisite, so you should wait until after completing the math prerequisites before taking either sequence.</p>
<p>If you plan to go to graduate school in Economics or work in quantitative finance, actuarial work, etc., you may want to choose the “more math” courses (101A/101B/141) and take Math 53 and 54.</p>
<p>I was a bit puzzled by the OP stating “I took an AP Calculus AB course but I did not take the AP test because I want to re-take calculus in Berkeley.”</p>
<p>Having a high score on any AP test does not force you to skip the class nor does it constrain your options in ANY way. At a minimum it gives you some undifferentiated units toward the total to graduate, advances your standing a bit, gives you a bit more preference in assigned telebears appointment times, and in combination with others may let you graduate a semester or more early. However, any maximum unit limits ignore AP credits - it is a ‘best of both worlds’. If you got 5 on Calc AP but took the course here anyway, they might erase those unit credits from the AP. AP doesn’t ever stop you from registering for a class.</p>