Haas advice?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I'm currently a freshman, intending to apply to Haas.
1) Right now, I have two classes that I'm likely to get an A in and two classes I'm likely to get a B in. Should I pass/no pass one of the classes I'm likely to get a B in, if they're breadth? Would a pass look better than a B? Should I take the chance to pass/no pass one class so I can work harder in the other? What should I do to help my Haas GPA the best?</p>

<p>Right now, I'm only taking Math 1B, and the rest are breadths. I'm confident I can get an A in math.</p>

<p>2) Would it be too heavy to take both UGBA 10 and Econ 1 next semester? I'm already behind since I'm a spring admit. The other classes I plan to take are Japan 7B, Japan 189, and PFFP.</p>

<p>Would Japan 189 be too hard if it's an upper div, even if it's a class on Japanese film?</p>

2

<p>I was FPF too.</p>

<p>Take UGBA 10 next semester, and then econ 10 in the fall (2012). That’s how I did it…and no, you aren’t really “behind.”</p>

3

<p>I’m also an intended econ major, so I want to get my econ done as well so I can take the Econ 100A and/or UGBA 101B next fall. The rest of my breadth is pretty much covered, so it’s not like I have many classes I can really take as it is.</p>

4

<p>Then it looks like you’ve already decided. Go with your gut.</p>

5

<p>I’m just not all too sure what to do. I hear mixed things, and I’m serious about getting into Haas. It’s just that circumstantially, I finished a good amount of prereqs through AP, and being in FPF pretty much puts me in the situation to clear out most of my breadth. :confused: Idk.</p>

6

<p>So this is my projected schedule after thinking a bit:
UGBA 10 - 3 units
Physics C10 - 3 units
Japan 7B - 4 units
Japan 198 - 4 units
Random De-Cal/Seminar - 2 units</p>

<p>Any recommendations for what to phase 1 and what not?</p>

<p>And to HelloAll, could you give suggestions on how to plan out my year two as well? Thanks for the help!</p>

7

<p>I’m in FPF too, and trying to get into Haas (haha we might be in the same 1b class!, Bourgoin 9am?). I’m also planning on taking UGBA 10, econ 1 (or stats 21, haven’t decided), and a discovery course…plus math 53. I hear that it’s fine as long as you stay on top of things - so it’s based on how well you mange your time at that point? Seeing as you decided you want to take econ 100A/ UGBA 101B next semester, just stick with what you have.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/700372-difference-between-lower-division-courses-upper-division-courses.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/700372-difference-between-lower-division-courses-upper-division-courses.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>About taking that class p/np, are you positive you can’t get an A? Is it curved? Sometimes people just get intimidated to begin with, and end up doing better than they think.</p>

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<p>Haha, I’m actually in Bourgoin’s earlier lecture. The thing I’m worried about is whether I can handle it or not. I’m having a hard time adjusting to Berkeley, so I’m not all that confident about my ability.</p>

<p>The thing is though, I’ve already tested out of one semester of calculus (and of course, taking the other right now) and a year of English, so amusingly, I have very little classes to take. On top of that, FPF is clearing a good amount of my breadths, so I’m just worried I might be swamped with upperdivs already in second year. The only reason I’d take econ next semester instead of fall is to declare econ earlier, ya know?</p>

<p>And the two classes in question are ESPM 2 and Art History 11. ESPM 2, I know I’m definitely not doing well, and Art History just has so little grades and is very subjective, so that sort of makes it difficult to discern how well I’m doing this early.</p>

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<p>My schedule: (You can plan out your own breadths so I’ve included the main courses here)</p>

<p>Spring - UGBA10 + Math 1B
Summer - Stat N21
Fall - Econ 1
Spring - Econ 100b + Writing Requirement</p>

10

<p>If you want to declare soon, you should take 2 prereqs…drop a breath if you think there’s too much. Have you thought about when you’re taking stat 20/21? I you do take econ 1 next semester, you can take stat 20/21 with econ 100A or B right after, and declare (probably more stressful for you). Then again, you can go ahead with your schedule and just take econ 1 fall next sem, and econ 100 A or B in the spring. </p>

<p>Woah, same here again with the prereqs! I’m almost regretting not going straight to 53, but honestly, if you could test out of those you may be underestimating yourself (I haven’t talked to any other FPF kids who have)! Did you do any econ in high school? I want to say econ 1 should be ok (Delong’s ratings are concerning though…), but as you said, if you want to declare asap, you HAVE to get this out of the way so you can move on. You’re probably still just getting used to moving out and being on your own - I’m a commuter, so in that sense I have it easy. It should definitely be easier as you go on, so just don’t be defeatist!</p>

<p>On a previous thread, I was told to try and have an easy breath stuck in while moving on to upper divs - basically a breather course that doesn’t need much work. I heard study groups help too, and there were a few people that were trying to put one together for the last ESPM midterm, so you could check that out too. There will also be a lot more people on campus, so you should be able to find people to study with next sem. From what I gather, upper divs really aren’t that much harder - especially since they will probably be things you like doing.</p>

<p>haha and I’m in ESPM 2 too…weird…small class, so we probably have seen each other before. Yeah, I have heard some bad things about art history…have you tried talking to your professor? All the ones I’ve talked to have been incredibly lenient and helpful (the only one I couldn’t talk to was ESPM, so I’m not sure how she is). Technically speaking we’ve only had 15% inputted for ESPM, plus 25% for the midterm (which hasn’t been returned), so if you get high enough, maybe you could talk to them about it?</p>

<p>I wouldn’t p/np if I were you, simply because to anyone looking at your transcript, it’s as good as a C, you know?..If you know you can pull off a B for sure, I’d say just keep it, and see if you end up doing better than you think, or just try to be a beast and get all A’s later…but then again, I’m a freshman too, so that’s just my two cents :/</p>

11

<p>I just realized I forgot to even consider Stat 21 as an econ prereq, haha. I guess I won’t be so behind after all. I suppose I’ll just spread out my Haas prereqs and hopefully try to get into some easier econ upperdivs in between so it’s not too bad.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I’ll still talk to a few counselors to get further opinions. And yeah, FPF courses are killing me. ESPM 2, I sort of fall asleep in class a lot, and I’m interested in the whole environment conservation theme as an idea, but the science sort of bores me. I emailed Dr. Swei about the midterm and second written assignment, and let’s just say, getting a B is even a long stretch now. :confused: I feel as if I’m forced to stick with art history, but I’ll need to wait and see how I did on the midterm.</p>

<p>Gah, not sure if I’m not cut out for Berkeley, or if it’s just classes that I’m not all that into.</p>

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<p>p/np if B+ or lower, gpa matters more than transcript (nobody looks except to see you didn’t lie).</p>

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<p>My concern is that it’s going to be too bad if I P/NP two classes. So should I just P/NP one and suck it up and take the B in the other one?</p>

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<p>If you’re taking 5 classes, p/np 2 is fine. </p>

<p>If you’re taking 4 classes, p/np 2 is fine if you are SURE you can get A or A- in the rest of your classes (this semester and next semester) and you are going to get at most a B- in your classes right now.</p>

15

<p>There’s a dilemma between finishing your econ pre-requisites (some of which are Haas pre-reqs and all of which are, in one way or another, relevant to Haas) as quickly as possible and potentially jeopardizing your GPA for Haas. In other words, by finishing stats 21, econ 1, econ 100a/100b/101a/101b (just one of those), among the other econ pre-reqs ASAP, you can declare for econ ASAP. However, the econ 100/101 series is difficult, and stats 21 has a difficult curve, which means that, to optimize your schedule in terms of Haas/GPA, you can do what a lot of people do and leave one of the econ 100/101 classes and stats 21 until your 4th semester (after you submit your Haas app). Keep this trade-off in mind as you plan classes; however you plan them, try to spread out the pre-reqs over the next few semesters so you can focus on them. Also, only P/NP classes if you think doing so will significantly impact your semester GPA and try not to P/NP too many, especially if you’re considering any type of grad school.</p>

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<p>Don’t take a B for the sake of taking a B. One B will cripple your GPA. Just take them both P/NP and then feel the shame and work hard for straight As next semester. </p>

<p>Wait but I’m not actually sure if u can take two classes P/NP your first semester.</p>

17

<p>

this would be good advice. but it’s implying that you aren’t working hard now, with freshman classes. classes only get harder. so is it within your capacity to get straight A’s? if not, then you’ll be taking P/NP classes every semester, and you can only hold that charade up for so long (& probably not long enough to trick haas admissions).</p>

<p>imo, take both classes p/np (the deadline is this friday to make your final decision) and then next semester really be honest with yourself when you are juggling multiple “important” classes at once and decide for yourself whether fall 2011 was a “hiccup” (chalk it up to “adapting to college” whatever that means) or whether fall 2011 is your “norm” in which case I guess you will have to “adapt” to that realization. hopefully it’s the former. good luck.</p>

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<p>At this point, I really don’t know my ability. Right now, I’m pretty much only taking breadths, and the one non-breadth is Math 1B, which I’m doing fine in. I don’t want to have to take more than one class P/NP either. I’m just not 100% sure how I’d do in the prereqs at this point.</p>

19

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<p>Well, the only way to find that out would be to take the courses…but the fact that you’re fine with your only prereq class could be a good sign. On the bright side, you know what type of courses to avoid in the future. (ESPM really is boring, especially if you took AP bio, so it’s not just you :/) Good Luck! :D</p>

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<p>All I know is that I’m going to P/NP ESPM for sure.</p>