I’m a rising sophomore at Cal planning to major in applied math and trying to finalize my Fall 2015 schedule. As of the end of this summer, I’ll have taken Math 1B, 53, and 54. I intend to take my first upper div math class this fall and then take 55 Spring 2016 and declare the major. I originally wanted to take 110 with Holtz, but I later saw that many reviews of her were less than stellar. I’m currently signed up to take 113 with Mann. I’m having some second thoughts as I’ve heard 113 is really theoretical and proof-heavy, which concerns me given that I have yet to take 55. My other choice is 126 (PDE) with Calder, since I’ve heard PDE is a more concrete application and extension of material from 53 and 54. I’m leaning towards 113 since Mann has excellent reviews and I’m good friends with another sophomore taking the class this fall, so I figured we could help each other out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
A huge amount of transfers just registered with today’s last CalSO so unless your already in a 110 section the only spaces left are in the dreaded 8am discussions.
110 is definitely recommended as the first upper division if you have no formal proof experience (55 or otherwise). 113 isn’t too bad though. IMHO as long as you stay away from 104 and H110 you should be fine. If anything, take a lighter load than normal to compensate.
I’m planning on taking Stat 20, PACS 126, and either PACS 94 or a decal along with 113 (13 Units Total). Does that sound like a manageable schedule for someone with very little proof experience? As far as my math/stats background, I got an A in 1B, a B in 53, and a 5 on AP Stats.
Btw, I’m from San Diego too!
I’m willing to bet at least one of the professors you had in 1B or 53 or 54 was not stellar but you survived.
If you did get all good professors, then I must say you are one lucky person.
Even though I’m no math major, I had my experience of going through the good and bad professors in engineering. I realized that even if the professor isn’t good, somebody will still get an A, so it’s all relative. I don’t think Math 110 is easy considering how much i struggled in Math 54, but it’s only an undergraduate course after all. In fact, by having a ‘bad’ professor, that will cause more people to not study and opens up opportunity to perform even better. There are other ways like study-partnering up which is a must later in college when things get truly overwhelming.
I say go to all 110 and 113 and 126 on your first day. You will make the most informed decision and pick the course that you find most comfortable. I had several experience that a highly-rated professor just wasn’t my kind of professor or supposedly-bad professor was just fine by me, so I always took the reviews with a grain of salt and not dismiss any class until I go through at least the first day of class.
I would highly highly highly (could keep this going) recommend you take 55 before you take an upper div unless you have extensive experience writing rigorous proofs. I would have gotten obliterated in my upper divs had I not (not that I did all that stellar with 55 under my belt). The only class you could maybe get away with not having that experience is 128A, which is basically a bit more challenging version of lower div math.
Is 55 really that crucial to success in upper divs? The math minor at Berkeley doesn’t even require 55, and none of the five core upper divs or any classes from either of the applied clusters that i’m interested in have 55 as a prerequisite.
Some students learn or adapt to proof techniques in upper division math courses like 110, 113, and 104 (or perhaps they remembered something from high school geometry with proofs). Others may need more of an introduction to proof techniques, which is bundled with 55, even though 55 is not an explicit prerequisite for 110, 113, and 104.