<p>So far, all I've put down is IAS 45, Intro to Stat, and Chinese, the three of which total to 13 credits, which is what everyone's been telling me to do.</p>
<p>I'm still waiting on my AP Calc BC and AP Lit test. I'm hoping for a 5 to skip that Reading and Comprehension test, and I think my SAT scores already cover the basic math requirements. I've taken 3 years of Spanish language at my school, and am going to take Chinese now instead.</p>
<p>So, are the three classes I've chosen alright for a first semester freshie to go through, or is there something else I should do as well?</p>
<p>So what breadth class should I take as a freshman? Aren’t there those freshmen seminars and whatnot?</p>
<p>Also, about the tolerance thing, I’m taking 4 AP’s this year, but my Physics teacher is really chill, and I don’t know how badly senioritis has got me. So would adding 2-3 more units be a miniscule more amount of work or what?</p>
<p>i took 18 units. i died. just take 13 real units + decal or something</p>
<p>decal = ?</p>
<p>sorry, first in family to college, don’t know any of these terms.</p>
<p>it’s ok i didn’t know what they were until i got here…</p>
<p>decal.org</p>
<p>they are student taught courses. pass/no pass. easy. chill classes</p>
<p>lol… yea. gg leftist :)</p>
<p>18 units is doable only if you’re taking, like, 2 lower-level language classes. 'Cause they’re 5 units each and an hour or less of work per day.</p>
<p>I think you should really consider your background in your decision. I took 13 units too but the classes were really easy since it was mostly review for me. I felt like I could have totally taken another class but I fell for the 13 unit thing. However, if those classes had been new to me and I wasn’t as prepared, I probably would have suffered. So it really depends.</p>
<p>Eh, I took 15 units and it was fine. I disagree on the language classes bit though; maybe I’m just terrible at foreign languages, but my Chinese class moved way too quickly for me. I took ES10, Chinese 1AX, Eth St 41AC, Classics 24 (1 unit seminar) and Math 16B and I ended up with one A- in eth st, with the rest being As.</p>
<p>I also know people who’ve taken 20 units and have been perfectly fine, but they’re kind of socially dead. I took it easy this semester and only took 13 units. Possible I’m doing that, or 14 units, next semester. Idk, it depends on what else you plan to do outside of academics. It’s also nice if you’ve taken a lot of APs. I came into Berkeley with 37+ units so I could afford to take it easy every semester.</p>
<p>Oh God, is Chinese really that hard at Berkeley?</p>
<p>I mean, I’m Chinese so I understand, but I just can’t read or write. Is it really that hard? </p>
<p>Another question: I took 3 years of Spanish. Could I retake Spanish from the beginning levels to fulfill my 4 semesters for my major (PEIS)? Or is that too shady and they’ll catch on?</p>
<h2>I mean, I’m Chinese so I understand, but I just can’t read or write. Is it really that hard? </h2>
<p>Chinese 1AX is for native speakers who can’t read or write. My hunch is that a majority of the kids in the class DO know how to read and write, but are just faking ignorance to get an easy A. </p>
<p>But as I said, I’m terrible at languages. Even my own. :/</p>
<p>lol, sounds like me. I gave up on Chinese in like the 5th grade.</p>
<p>How about Chinese 001A (Elementary Chinese)? Is that the same as Chinese 1AX? </p>
<p>Maybe I will go back to Spanish, I just couldn’t stand languages at my high school, each year I had a teacher new to teaching, and we never finished the material and I just kept building on shaky foundations. Sigh.</p>
<h2>How about Chinese 001A (Elementary Chinese)? Is that the same as Chinese 1AX? </h2>
<p>If you’re at all competent in spoken Chinese, they won’t let you in that class. :/</p>
<p>perfect, I can’t speak it, plus, how would they know or have the time to check every Chinese class-taker to make sure they do speak the language? Plus, I’ll just pretend I can’t even understand Mandarin.</p>
<p>When would I have to take 1AX? Is that intermediate Chinese or beginner Chinese for Chinese-speaking people?</p>
<p>Nah, 1AX is basically accelerated 1A. They’re in different series.
You do take a placement test, and the teacher miiiight be able to tell if you’re accent is too good.</p>
<p>My sister got kicked out of her Chinese 1A class because 1) the professor knew our family, 2) she moved to the US from Taiwan at the age of 16. xD</p>
<p>Hmm, I don’t remember, did the UC Apps or any Berkeley questionnaires ask if I spoke another language at home?</p>
<p>****.</p>
<p>It’s supposed to be self-sorted. You’re meant to put yourself in the appropriate level and show them the results of an online placement test on the first day of class.</p>
<p>I also recommend you stick with about 15 units. You can go up to the 18-20 range your second semester if you want, no rush.</p>
<p>Make sure you try to plan ahead so you are taking major requirements and breadth classes. You don’t wanna get behind early or be stuck later with lots of major requirements.</p>
<p>maybe I’ll start econ second semester or next year, but this year I’ll dedicate myself to getting rid of the slightly easier-ish classes.</p>