Help me plan?

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

<p>I'm just looking for any sort of input, so all your opinions are appreciated :)</p>

<p>I'm going to talk to my counselor later, but right now, I am a first year majoring in CS (L&S). I have the following requirements to complete before receiving my BA:
CS61C
CS170
2 CS breadth (160 and 186 are what I have in mind)
2 additional CS courses (CS 188, CS 161)
1 technical course (honors thesis if my GPA magically gets to 3.7+)</p>

<p>Since I need 13 units per semester, </p>

<p>Fall 09 (finishing my breadth, R1B, and AC):
CS61C
Anthro 2AC
History of Art, R1B
Need 1 more unit</p>

<p>Spring 10:
CS 188
CS 160
Need 5 more units</p>

<p>Fall 10:
CS 160?
CS 161?
Need 5 more units</p>

<p>Spring 11:
CS 170 (Wagner)
1 technical course
Need 5 more units</p>

<p>I have 16 units to screw around, but I'm comfortable with a 15-16 units courseload per semester, although I'm very certain two CS courses per semester will be killer. My GPA is kinda...****ty. I took way too many classes my first semester here, so I got decimated with 19 units. I'm fighting an uphill battle, so I'd like to preserve my GPA (or raise it).</p>

<p>So here's the crux of my post: what do I do with my 16 required units? </p>

<p>That can comfortably raised to around 30 units if that opens up the opportunity to minor in something. However, I'm really concerned about my GPA, and I'm very uninterested in liberal artsy minors (languages, philosophy/sociology, etc). Problem with this is that minors in technical subjects (marine science, astro, math) require pretty tough classes, and my GPA can't handle screwing around. </p>

<p>I'm hoping that by taking courses outside my major, I become more marketable (I want to get a job before graduating). I'm very interested in marine science, but I can't see CS+marine making me more marketable in a conventional way. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'd really appreciate your opinions -- On what should I spend my time and units? Anything particular you find interesting that you want others to experience? I'm open to anything.</p>

2

<p>taking 13 units a semester isn’t always the best idea. What is your current gpa?</p>

<p>Also, in most cases, UD courses are much more generous grade givers than lower division courses (though I am not sure about CS in particular)</p>

3

<p>I only have one semester under my belt, and my GPA is around 3.0. I admit I really screwed up a lot of classes last semester, but I seem to be doing marginally better this semester with 3/5 classes being tech courses. I’m really hoping I can bump up my GPA with this semester’s grades, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen (thank you, CS70).</p>

<p>I realize 13 units a semester isn’t always the best idea, but I was suggesting that I would be required to take more units anyway. </p>

<p>I heard that about UD courses too. Someone I spoke with earlier in the year who was admitted to the 5 year EECS program said he was the cut-off between B/B+s in lower div courses, and once he got to upper div, he was the cut-off between A-/A. He was borderline in both instances, but the border moved up by one letter grade. I’m not sure how I personally will fare, but I’m ridiculously scared for my GPA – I’m afraid that employers will brush me off as an underachieving student.</p>

4

<p>Do you know the procedure for getting a BA in CS in LS? Technically, you are an undeclared in LS. Near the end of your fourth semester, you have to apply for the CS major. If you cumulative CS classes gpa is not up to par, you might get rejected from CS. I am not putting you down or unnecessarily scaring you, but i know a couple of people who still got rejected with a 3.4 technical gpa.</p>

5

<p>Shoot, that seems harsh. I didn’t even consider getting rejected. Is it common for such incidences to occur…? 3.4 is by no means a subpar GPA, right?</p>

6

<p>Depending on you grades from this spring semester, you should definitely plan for a backup major.</p>

7

<p>At the of each spring semester, the CS department set a cutoff gpa for transfer and LS admission. Those that don’t the make the cutoff gpa but fall within 0.2 of the cutoff are “eligible” for a minor in CS.</p>

9

<p>I had the same perspective as Leftist. In any case, what other classes should I take? :(</p>

10

<p>i talked to an advisor about this. they said as long as you make satisfactory progress which is a 2.0 you will be admitted. she, however, was an L&S advisor not the CS advisor.</p>