<p>I have to take CS61A as part of my engineering major, but it says that a prerequisite for it is prior programming experience (it doesn't really say how extensive) or experience equal to a 3 on the APCS A test. The only programming I really know how to do is for my calculator (TI-84 Plus, TI-89 Titanium) haha, although I write pretty elaborate programs that have been used by my teachers for classes after mine. While at the Overnight Stay Program, I talked to my host who was a CS major and he said that he is taking CS3 and doing CS61A after. My question is, how manageable is CS61A for the first semester at Berkeley? I'm also doing Math 53 (hopefully 5 on Calc BC) and Physics 7A. Oh, and another question. I took AP Physics independent study this year and will probably get a 4 or 5, but should I retake 7A anyway even if I pass out of it with a 5? Does EECS build on the knowledge in 7A or should I just pass out because there is no point in taking the class?
Thanks.</p>
<p>You can skip out of 7A without missing much; 7B is the more important of the two material-wise. But 7A also teaches some good classical mechanics and you improve your problem-solving techniques. Either way, I know people who did great in 7B and some of them skipped 7A while others didn’t.</p>
<p>Your schedule looks good to me - CS61x + Math5x + Physics7x + humanities is pretty common. 61A is slower-paced (but you can’t slack off - be sure to attend discussion!) than other CS courses, so I’d say it’s relaxed compared to 61C, for example. CS3 covers maybe a quarter of 61A, so I think it’s too slow. To put it in relative terms, I think 61A is going to be less “too fast” than CS3 is going to be “too slow”.</p>
<p>7B is fine. Go for it! </p>
<p>For 61A, the main thing if you’re comfy with some ideas of programming is that you should familiarize yourself with the programming language, Scheme, and then do some practice problems involving recursion. I honestly think you might as well take 61A if you learn these things over summer, and that’s not at all much to learn. Just do some practice. 61A is about absorbing the material as you go by, and it’s not about overloading with material.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on specific things to self study over the summer before taking 61A if you’ve had no programming experience mathboy98? Should I get a textbook for the Scheme language or is this stuff available online, etc?</p>
<p>You can find everything related to CS61A [url=<a href=“CAS - Central Authentication Service”>CAS - Central Authentication Service]here[/url</a>]. The textbook, homework assignments, projects, etc. Look it over and decide how much of a head start you feel you will need.</p>
<p>As I wrote in my post above, get familiar with the language Scheme, and learn recursion. Frankly, if you know this, then you’re good to begin the course and won’t feel left behind. The first week will be basic recursion problems.</p>
<p>Does Harvey webcast his lecture every fall? I have an unavoidable conflict with lecture next semester and I don’t think he’s webcasting this spring but he did last fall.</p>
<p>No. They cut the webcast due to budget issues. Although the earlier webcasts match the content of the course well enough.</p>