<p>Hey guys, I'm new to CC and I just wanted some feedback on my schedule since I missed 2nd day of CalSO...btw I'm in the College of Letters and Science. So I'm planning on taking :
Classics R44 (R&C requirement+breadth, 5 units)
Math 54 (Math major requirement)
Chem 4a (Chemistry major requirement and Biology major substitute prerequisite)
I got a 5 on AP Chemistry my junior year, and a 5 on AP Calculus AB (the highest math course offered at my high school), so I'm taking Calculus 2 at a community college right now and Calculus 3 at another college, I'm confident I can get As on them. I checked on ASSIST to see if they correspond to Math 1B and 53 and they do. I'm also taking an equivalent to R&C 1 requirement, so I'm taking Classics for the second half to round out my schedule to the 13 unit minimum because I know these are heavy courses, but I've heard its a lot of work!
I'm planning to triple major in Math, Biology, and Chemistry. And I want a B.S. for Chemistry not a BA , so I know I will have to transfer to CoC at some point. My primary motivation for this is to get in Harvard Grad School.
I'm scared for Chem 4a and Classics R44 because I've read around CC that they are very time-consuming courses, but is it possible for a Freshman to get As in all 3 classes?! Thank you!!!</p>
<p>If you want to make in CoC chemistry and one or both of math and biology, then you need to pursue simultaneous degrees, which would require completing the breadth requirements for both CoC and L&S as well as the major requirements for each major. It probably is not worth the hassle; you can theoretically major in L&S chemistry but take the additional chemistry courses that CoC chemistry requires. “Theoretically”, because having three majors would be difficult to fit together.</p>
<p>By “Harvard Grad School” do you mean a PhD program or some other post-bachelor’s program (MD, MBA, etc.)?</p>
<p><a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a> indicates that applied math majors do better than MCB and IB majors for employment at graduation. Chemistry does not have a reputation of being job-plentiful. So it may be less stressful to make math your primary major and just take chemistry and biology courses of interest as electives.</p>
<p>You should consider doing the Chemical Biology major in the COC, it is one class difference from a double major in biology and chemistry. This would be much more doable and probably better tailored to someone who is interested in Biochemistry.</p>
<p>Please be advised upper division math classes are immensely difficult at Berkeley, some professors fail 50% of the class. in Math 104.</p>
<p>Oops can’t edit my post</p>
<p>I wanted to add that, you should consider that math ties in well to chemistry, but in biology it is only really applied in genetics and genomics so far. What I mean is that, the things you need to do to succeed in a biology class are based on memorization and understanding concepts, there are rarely actual problems to solve you don’t have prior knowledge of. Math is the exact opposite, you learn techniques and ways to solve problems, you don’t memorize anything.</p>
<p>I say this because, the people I have met that have double majored in math and mcb have regretted it due to the exact reason above. I am not saying its a bad idea to major in both of them, but the type of people who excel at them have very different skills.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus Wow! I feel so honored to have you respond to my first ever post! I’ve read so many discussions with you in them. Thank you for the website and job comparisons! Yeah my parents weren’t happy when I showed them the Chemistry major surveys. And woops I meant to pursue a PhD…</p>
<p>@Jweinst1 I’m so glad you told me this! You’re right I should rethink adding strictly Biology.</p>
<p>Thank you for both of your inputs! I definitely want to major in Math, but I liked both Biology and Chemistry (and Physics but I got a 4 on the AP test, so I’m not very good at it) Would a possible solution be Bioengineering? </p>
<p>“Rated one of the top ten bioengineering undergraduate programs in the country, bioengineering at Berkeley is a multidisciplinary major intended for academically strong students who excel in the physical sciences, mathematics, and biology.”</p>
<p>Bioengineering may combine your interests, but it is not great for bachelor’s level employment prospects. PhD programs in bioengineering do admit students from various undergraduate backgrounds.</p>
<p>The other issue is, changing into a CoE major if you are not in the CoE requires going through a highly selective competitive admission process.</p>
<p>Note also that the CoE does not allow double-counting Classics R44 as an R&C and as another H/SS breadth course, according to <a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/requirements/hum-ss-requirement/HSS%20NEW_10-24-13.pdf”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/requirements/hum-ss-requirement/HSS%20NEW_10-24-13.pdf</a> . The CoC does not allow Classics R44 to be used as an R&C course, according to <a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/degree_programs/docs/breadth-requirements-grp-1.pdf”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/degree_programs/docs/breadth-requirements-grp-1.pdf</a> and <a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/degree_programs/docs/breadth-requirements-grp-2.pdf”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/degree_programs/docs/breadth-requirements-grp-2.pdf</a> .</p>
<p>Its alright, I don’t plan on searching for a job with a Bachelor’s. But if I want to double major in math and bioengineering, Can’t I still use the Classics to satisfy a L&S breadth since I will have to satisfy both L&S and CoE requirements? And take a summer courses next summer to satisfy the other breadth requirements before I can apply for a change in college? Or do you recommend on taking a regular English like R1B and fulfilling my breadths in another way? I’m open to any class recommendations 
</p>
<p>I think one needs to consider what “job” prospects mean for them. Average salaries for a specific degree after graduation does not mean everything. College drop outs have become multi-billionaires, and some PHD’s work at Starbucks. It’s all what you do with your degree and your knowledge that counts.</p>