Help a CS minor with Phase I!

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

<p>I've got my phase 1 today, and I'm still iffy about which CS upper divs I want to waitlist for first... The classes I'm trying to get through next year to complete the minor are at least three of the following: </p>

<p>CS188
CS186
CS160
CS169</p>

<p>MAYBE: </p>

<p>CS170
CS161</p>

<p>From these, I was thinking about taking either 188 or 186 along with 160 next sem, but I'm not sure. If anyone is familiar with how these classes typically fill up or which two pair up best, I'd appreciate some advice on how to go about this... I'm in the terrible position of having no priority as a minor, so I could use all the strategy you can give me :P Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>Anyone? :(</p>

3

<p>As a declared CS minor, you get lower priority than CS or EECS majors, but higher priority than other non-CS majors.</p>

<p>[Computer</a> Science Minor | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/csugrad/minor.shtml]Computer”>The Computer Science Minor | EECS at UC Berkeley)
[Enrollment</a> Guidelines](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Policies/enrollment.shtml]Enrollment”>Getting Into Computer Science Classes - Google Docs)</p>

<p>You can check past on-line class schedules to see how full each course has been in the past. This spring, 162, 164, 172, 184, 188, C191, and some of the 194 special topics courses have significant unfilled seats, but the other upper division courses are pretty close to full, though not completely full.</p>

<p>For applicability to industry software jobs, the concepts in 162, 170, EE122, 169, 161, and 186 are likely to be the most commonly encountered. For graduate study in CS, [150</a>, 162, 164, and 170 are recommended](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Prerequisites.htm]150”>Graduate Research Program Admissions | EECS at UC Berkeley), presumably in addition to courses in your intended graduate specialty within CS.</p>

4

<p>CS188 fills up VERY quickly when Klein is teaching it, so you might have a hard time getting in. That being said, he’s the best professor for the class. I’d say that 186 is a slightly easier class though. I’m taking it with Hellerstein right now and it hasn’t been taking up much of my time. Either one of these can be paired with a more project-intensive class and you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>CS169 was/is very full this semester. Fox and Patterson as great, as usual. Don’t pair it with 160 unless you want project classes up your ass. </p>

<p>I had 170 with Vazirani and Rao. Vazirani was good and Rao was ok. Enthusiastic, but a little awkward with his jokes and goes on tangents sometimes. People seem to like Papadimitriou for 170, so I’d check the draft schedule and plan it based on the professor. 170 is one of the more useful classes on your list, so I’d be sure to prioritize it over something like 160. </p>

<p>I haven’t taken 160, but I hear that it’s a lot of work and it can be painful if you don’t go in with a group. I also hear that it’s not as useful/mostly common sense. I don’t know much about 161, but my friends this semester said that it’s been mostly the GSIs teaching the class. I’ve signed up for it next semester so we’ll see…</p>

<p>(You should take 164 with Hilfinger. :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: )</p>