<p>I was talking to a freind who just finished his first year at Berkeley. He told me that most freshman do not take a freshman seminar but rather take an additional class that will fulfill a breadth requirement. Is this worth doing, or is it recommended that freshman take a seminar for there first semester? Im undecided on my major but im thinking about going into business or possibly mass communications. Any advice, help, or personal experiences with classes in Berkeley will be very much appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>I am going to be a freshman in the fall, and I plan to take a seminar. I also plan to have a lighter load during at least my first semester. If you want to get out of Cal in as little time as possible and don't mind heavier loads, you can (but I would not) take another 4-unit class and not a seminar. Personally I would say take what you're passionate about, so if there is a certain class that you really want to take that is four units, then take it. Keep this in mind, too: when registering for classes, you are first able to register for 10.5. This, for most people, would me two four-unit classes, a one or two unit class, and a PE class. I don't plan to take a PE during my first semester, so Ill be registering for the two four unit classes and seminar. I have the greatest chance of getting these because it is my first phase of enrolment. The 4-unit classes during your second phase of enrollment are much less easy to get to. In addition, I think that seminars can fulfill breadth requirements if they are two? but definitely three units. The seminars allow closer interaction with the established professors that are everywhere at Berkeley, but hard to access as lower-division taking freshman. Cal advises that its students take lighter loads during their first year. Thirteen units is the minimum number of units one can take and be considered a regular student. I personally dont mind taking a light load, because the potential consequences of not graduating in four years, which are predominantly monetary, do not greatly affect my situation and me. As crazy as it sounds, taking that extra class might help you graduate early, but I would say take what you want to take, because you can take the extra class throughout your next seven or so semesters. If you really want to take a larger step towards graduation and take a seminar, I would say take a larger unit seminar that will allow you to fulfill the breadth requirements. This way, you get the advantages of the seminar and the measure towards regular graduation. Dont kill yourself with too many units, and enjoy your time at Cal. It is your first semester, so having a lighter schedule will help you ease into the classes, because from what I hear, were in for a hell of a fun and difficult time .</p>
<p>From <a href="http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/pyyac/freshman/seminar.html%5B/url%5D">http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/pyyac/freshman/seminar.html</a>
Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Can a seminar complete one of the seven breadth requirements?
A - Some seminars, if at least 2 units in value, can count towards the Seven Course L&S Breadth requirements. One-unit seminars cannot count towards breadth.</p>
<p>How does the workload of a seminar compare to the workload of a regular class? Some of the seminars look quite interesting, such as the How Things Work one, but 1 unit is pretty useless and pointless unless it's a freebie sit-back-and-relax class.</p>
<p>My cousins who just finished freshmen year says that in her seminar, they periodically get handouts to read for discussion.</p>
<p>Another option for filling a unit or two is to take a decal class. THey are pass/no pass so you don't have to stress about the 'ole gpa quite as much, plus they can be a pretty good way to meet people in a setting without professors there. Cheers!</p>