<p>So I got a 5 on my Calc BC test and 5 on the AB subscore (I was expecting that so I signed up for math 1b with FPF since it was the highest and I thought it was a requirement for Haas)</p>
<p>Looking through other CC posts about math, I just realized I could just go straight to math 53/54 (but I'm in FPF so that's not an option I think....are we allowed to go on campus for higher math courses?) The date to add a class just passed on friday, but I was wondering if I should stick with 1b (pretty simple so far) or just drop it....that would only be 12 units though...</p>
<p>But if you drop Math 1B, the problem then becomes what to replace it with, given the limitations of FPF, and the likely fullness of Berkeley City College Math 3C (= UCB Math 53) and Math 3E/3F (both of them = UCB Math 54).</p>
<p>The math 1A stuff seemed pretty basic…there were a couple 1b problems that I knew how to do at one point, but forgot, and 2 that I couldn’t remember at all (though they may have just taken some time). </p>
<p>I’m pretty confident about my calc, but you’re right, the replacement is a HUGE problem. I was thinking of asking to let me petition for concurrent enrollment, but I feel like it’s way to late and I don’t really have a valid reason? It says “Students with exceptional circumstancessuch as those in theme houses, on ROTC scholarships, or who are eligible for advanced-level coursework” can, but is this considered as advanced level? </p>
<p>(and I checked Berkeley city college, and you were right again, it was all filled!)</p>
<p>Would it be a bad idea to just not take math this semester?</p>
<p>Depends on your intended major, but since you are already “ahead” in math, it is not likely cause delayed graduation[1]. On the other hand, if there is no useful replacement to take that you could add, you could just keep FPF Math 1B for review, and to cover the small bits of Math 1B not in the AP syllabus (introduction to differential equations).</p>
<p>[1] The main risk that FPF students have is that if they are in a major that requires freshman courses not offered in FPF, like lab science or CS courses, they may need to overload these high workload courses in other semesters, or will be starting late on the necessary chains of prerequisites.</p>
<p>Well, I’m planning to major in either economics or business (I really liked econ in high school and business seems interesting, so I haven’t picked yet), meaning if I take the 2 econ courses, stats, UGBA 10, and finish up this semester of math, I should be set for both. I still have to get my Int’l studies, phil/val, soc/beh and american cultures though…it seems doable, but have I gotten a good chunk out of the way?..or will I be scrambling the next three semesters? There were also a few courses I wanted to take for fun, like Japanese and additional math courses, so I could always become a math major if I really dislike econ/business. </p>
<p>I never realized I was considered “ahead,” since I was just freaking out over how I “wasted” my 5 on calc bc…but I liked calculus, so I guess I’ll probably stay like you said I should - but would this review time essentially be a waste of a course? Are those small bits of math 1B worth it? Should I bother trying to petition for concurrent enrollment? </p>
<p>Thanks again! Sorry I have so many questions!</p>
<p>Well, first figure out if you can take Math 53 or BCC Math 3C or some other useful[1] or interesting course in place of Math 1B. Given that you said that the add deadline has passed, and BCC Math 3C is full, that might force your decision…</p>
<p>If it is not possible to add another useful or interesting course in place of Math 1B (i.e. you would have nothing in place of Math 1B if you drop Math 1B), then the least undesirable situation would be to keep Math 1B. It would normally be kind of a waste if you already know most of it well and only need to learn introductory differential equations (which the Math department suggests to self-study before taking Math 54), but if the choice is between Math 1B or nothing, you might as well take it. That incidentally fulfills the math prerequisite for Haas (though Math 53 or 54 would also do that).</p>
<p>If you like math, consider Economics 101A over Economics 100A if you take an intermediate microeconomics course from the Economics department (when you get to that point).</p>
<p>[1] “Useful” meaning it helps with the requirements of the majors you are interested in, or fulfills breadth requirements.</p>
<p>All right, so I will e-mail FPF right away and ask if I can take 53 on campus. If not, I guess I will have to stick to 1B. If they don’t let me take that, there’s no way they’ll let me take anything else…but that’s true, 1B is better than nothing!</p>
<p>I will definitely keep the economics course in mind! - I think that should be in another year?</p>
<p>I have been so confused about all this because I talked to my GSI about it and he recommended to just keep it for the practice, differential equations and more advanced problems, while all the other people said to skip it if possible…so thanks so much for helping me out!</p>
<p>Even if you cannot officially take Math 53, there is nothing stopping you from sitting in on the lecture to preview it so you can have a head start on taking it next semester. The same goes for other large lecture courses like Math 54 or Economics 1.</p>
<p>Economics 101A lists as prerequisites Economics 1 and Math 53, though from what I remember, Economics 101A and 101B just redoes the stuff in Economics 1 in greater depth with more math.</p>
<p>I never even thought of that! the lectures for 53 and 54 start after my classes end, so it’s perfect! I sent an e-mail to the FPF admin, and will check in tomorrow, but sitting in on lecture would definitely make taking 53 and 54 at the same time easier - if that ends up happening. </p>
<p>Honestly, that sounds like exactly what I would want. I mean, I really like math, but can’t see myself doing specializing on just math in the future, which was why I liked economics (it was like applied math)…but then again, a math degree would probably prepare me more for higher level economics courses (while I don’t think undergrad econ courses would be as great).</p>
<p>Note that there is enough overlap that you can fairly easily take the courses fulfilling both pure math and applied math majors, although you won’t officially be able to double major in pure math and applied math.</p>
<p>Note that the Berkeley Economics graduate program’s recommendations for undergraduate preparation emphasize more math than economics:</p>
<p>(“intermediate math-based economic theory courses” would be Berkeley Economics 101A and 101B; “additional courses in algebra, real analysis, and statistics” would be Math 113, 110, and 104 and upper division statistics courses)</p>
<p>So, I heard back from campus, and they said it is too late to petition (so math 1B for me). There definitely is a lot of overlap between the math courses needed for pure math, applied math, and economics as well, but after reading all this, I’m leaning towards an applied math major with a cluster in economics (for now, that is). I don’t want to take Haas completely out of the picture though, so I’ll plan on taking care of the rest of my breaths over the summer and focus on the prerequisites for both now.</p>
<p>I’m thinking of taking math 53, 54, UGBA 10 and econ 1 next semester (I would do econ 2, but it’s not on the lecture list for next semester). This way I can see what each of the subjects are like and try to choose a major. I’ll try to map everything out tomorrow to see if it’s plausible. Hopefully if I get a taste for everything I’ll be able to make a choice by next year.</p>
<p>If you really like math, then you may find that Haas UGBA is not mathematical enough (no UGBA course requires more than Math 16A).</p>
<p>Also, Math H53 (honors) is usually offered in the spring; if you want to get a taste of what upper division math courses are like (more theory and proofs), you may want to consider that course.</p>
<p>I figured it wouldn’t be, but UGBA 10 is a prerequisite for Haas, so I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone (finish up the requirement and try a business course). However, I did take intro to business at a cc near my home, I need to ask if it would count because I technically took it before I was a student here - though I don’t remember much from it.</p>
<p>I will definitely check H53 out, but are honors courses significantly more difficult than the regular ones? On their website it says they are more rigorous, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much coming from the university itself…</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) will show what community college courses are equivalent to what Berkeley courses.</p>
<p>You can try to find someone in H1B or H54 this semester and ask to compare their assignments and tests with those in the regular 1B and 54 courses.</p>
<p>The intro to business class that you took at your cc probably will not be able to satisfy the UGBA 10 requirement.</p>
<p>“If non-UC Berkeley college level course work was completed before admission into UC Berkeley, it can be used to satisfy prerequisite or breadth requirements (with the exception of Principles of Business (UGBA 10), which must be taken at UC Berkeley).”
[Prerequisites</a>, Undergraduate Program - Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley](<a href=“Application Process - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas”>Application Process - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that since once you are at Berkeley, you must take all your business administration prerequisites there.</p>
<p>Thanks! I will see what I can get at a cc around here. I’ll ask my math GSI about the honors courses, or if he knows anyone - he might have taken honors courses himself.</p>
<p>@scoobysnack darn!..well, I guess I skimmed through that first paragraph or something… oh well…I’ll take care of that next semester if I can then. </p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, I am trying to get into a research program with the museum of vertebrate zoology or paleontology (just because I’m interested in that kind of stuff), but would it be a waste of time seeing as I do not plan to major/minor in anything related to it? I’m hearing both sides (that it is a nice plus to a resume, and that it is essentially useless unless I REALLY want to do it - in which case I should probably switch my major), but just want to hear some other opinions.</p>
<p>If you do get it, and it is not related to any major or minor you may do, consider it as more of an “extracurricular”. I.e. do it if you are interested in it enough to just do it (like you would for things like playing recreational sports, doing stuff with volunteer or political organizations, or other activities); don’t do it if usefulness to your (unrelated) major or minor is a key part of why you would do it.</p>
<p>Note that biology type majors do not have very good job and career prospects, so if you are equally interested in biology type subjects and math / economics, the latter is likely a better choice as a major when using job and career prospects as a tiebreaker (though you could still take courses in and do “extracurriculars” in the biology type subjects).</p>
<p>I certainly wouldn’t choose to major/minor in biology (I definitely enjoy math-related fields more), but for grad school and even for getting into Haas, would doing this as an extracurricular help out? I probably would not do any other extracurricular work this semester as the professors at Haas that I contacted regarding their research ignored my e-mails. While usefulness to my major is not a huge factor, on the other hand, I do not want to do something that is completely useless to getting into Haas/grad school (I’m looking at these volunteer jobs for now <a href=“Volunteer Jobs S2012”>Volunteer Jobs S2012)</p>