<p>Hi all,
I will be an incoming freshman this fall. I am thinking of eventually applying to Haas, but I also realize that it is very competitive, so I am also thinking about backup majors. I was originally planning to take UGBA 10 this fall, but the class filled before I was able to register. Since I have already completed the Calculus prereq, I was thinking of taking Econ 1. </p>
<p>However, at CalSO, the adviser discouraged me from taking the course, saying that it was a very difficult course and not advisable for freshmen. I asked several current students who had taken the class, and the general consensus was that it was a challenging course, but not impossible. I also was told that Stats 21, which was another option I was thinking about, was much more challenging. I have very little background in Econ, but I have taken a few college classes in the past and have been successful.</p>
<p>Can anyone who has taken the course comment on whether it would be a very bad idea to try Econ 1 my first semester? The other courses I'm planning on taking do not seem as if they will be especially time consuming, and are all breadth requirements.</p>
<p>I was also thinking of signing up for Philo 6, because it seems interesting. However, I've heard that some of the intro philosophy courses are also very challenging. Can anyone who has taken the course provide me with their opinion about the difficulty level and time commitment?</p>
<p>Phil 6 is certainly appropriate for an incoming freshman. However, it is probably not an easy A. For many students, it probably isn't even a possible A; no matter how hard they work, they will not produce a paper good enough to earn an A in the class. However, if I were an incoming freshman, i would take Phil 6, it is the opportunity of a lifetime to take a course with Prof Dreyfus, and it's going to be a great place to meet people and make friends.</p>
<p>Econ 1 is a difficult course with a difficult grading curve. The CalSO people probably think that after a semester or two at Berkeley, you'll have a better sense of how things go at Berkeley, how courses are graded and the standards expected, and will be better prepared to do well in the course. It's not a strictly academic issues, there are no prerequisites you need to take, it's just that you aren't used to the Berkeley style and difficulty yet and so jumping into Econ 1 might be too much too soon.</p>
<p>My friend told me to take Econ 1 and he said I would be fine, but now I'm wondering whether I should take his advice or not. My CalSo is tomorrow, so I need to figure this out soon too! </p>
<p>Would Econ 1 be too challenging? I'm signing up for Math 16A and Nusctx 10 for sure, which should be easy classes, and I was thinking of taking Stat 2 just for the hell of it (I wanted to take Stat 21 instead of Econ since I just came out of AP Stats, but I don't wanna take Purves). That shouldn't be too bad of a courseload, right? I'm scared now!!</p>
<p>kenf: Thanks for the information! I realize that Econ 1 will not be easy, but I'm stuck on what other course I could take instead. I really want to do at least one pre-req for Haas each semester. Also, and probably most importantly, I really can't find any other courses that I'd like to take that would fit into my schedule.</p>
<p>I guess my real question, when it comes down to it, is if it would be possible for a first semester freshman to be successful in Econ 1? I am willing to put in the time and effort, but I know for some classes that even time and effort is not enough. Also, is Econ 1 a writing intensive class?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your advice so far! Any other input is also appreciated!</p>
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I guess my real question, when it comes down to it, is if it would be possible for a first semester freshman to be successful in Econ 1?
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<p>Yes, it's certainly possible. There is nothing you need to know that you don't already know. It is just an issue of study skills, note-taking skills, homework-doing-skills, etc.</p>
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Also, is Econ 1 a writing intensive class?
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<p>No, I don't think so.</p>
<p>I think part of the reason they are so negative on freshman taking hard classes is that there are so many distractions as a freshman, people often put studying on the back burner.</p>
<p>I agree with kenf1234 completely. There are no prerequisites to Econ 1, and I know plenty of people who took Econ 1 in their first semester without ever having taken Economics and they did fine. I myself skipped out of Econ 1 and took Econ 100B and managed to pull off an A, so in my opinion Psychotikid, you should take it.</p>
<p>If I were a incoming freshman, planning to take Econ 1 my first semester, I would buy the textbook ahead of time and read it. All of it. Carefully.</p>
<p>I'm interested in taking philo6 b/c i'm interested in the material. But I'd also like to get an A (lol) .. so, kenf1234 your comment worries me a bit :/ can anyone else provide input on the course?</p>
<p>Let's say you are a reasonably bright student. Let's say you read all of the readings BEFORE lecture, attend ALL lectures, attend ALL sections, participate in discussion in section, write your papers AHEAD of time so there is time to revise them. Do you have a very good chance at getting an A? I would think so. I don't know the grading standards, but it isn't a weeder course for sure. It's not a prerequisite for anything, and the philosophy department has a strong interest in freshman getting excited about philosophy, not scaring them off from philosophy.</p>
<p>I'm planning on taking Phil 6 in the fall as well, and I'll be a sophomore. My friend took Phil 7 with Dreyfus and ended up with an A-. Basically he showed me that if you everything kenf1234 mentioned, you'll get a reasonably good grade. Maybe not an A, but wouldn't you rather take a class, learn a lot, possibly pique an interest for a future major and get a B, than avoid taking a class that interests you JUST because it won't be a guaranteed A? My friend wasn't bogged down with work, either, but then again he had amazing time management. I guess it just comes down to how much work you'll be willing to put into it. My philosophy is that if a class interests you enough, you'll take it despite its supposed difficulty.</p>
<p>And in regards to Econ 1, I never took it but I had two friends who did. I think it is a lot of work, but I guess that's no surprise...I would just sign up for it and if you find the workload too difficult or whatever, drop it.</p>
<p>The pitiful thing is that most students show up to lecture not having read the material ahead of time. So they have one of the world's most brilliant professors lecturing about something, and they have NO idea what he is talking about. Instead of listening to his analysis, and comparing it with their own, they just sit half-comprehending what is going on. </p>
<p>I'm not saying it's easy to read everything ahead of time, and I'm not claiming in my undergrad days I always did, because I most certainly didn't, but let me tell you, if you do, you will get SO MUCH MORE out of the class. This is especially true in philosophy, I think. In some classes the textbook is optional, but in philosophy (except for logic and those types of courses) the texts are EVERYTHING.</p>