Help me work through my schedule, plz

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

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>Sorry if I ramble. Partly it’s to help me elucidate my own thoughts, partly to help you give me better advice :slight_smile: Just scroll down to the bottom to see the completed schedule in bold.</p>

<p>Freshman 2008. Can’t attend CalSo.</p>

<li>According to the Orienteering site, I haven’t fulfilled the requirements for College Writing. Does this mean that it is extremely advisable for me to take College Writing R1A (6 units) this fall semester?</li>
</ol>

<p>To fulfil the second half of the R&C requirement, I’m thinking of doing Rhetoric or perhaps R44 Western Civilization (is that a good course?), although for obvious reasons (pre-requisites) that will have to come in the next semesters.</p>

<p>It is available MWF 8-10A, MWF 10-12P, MW 3-6P, MWF 12-2P, MW 2-5P, MW 3-6P, MWF 2-4P, TuTh 9-12P, TuTh 2-5P, TuTh 3-6P, MW 3-6P. Very convenient.</p>

<li>My interests. I’d probably want to major in Economics. </li>
</ol>

<p>Now taking Econ 1 should be a priority but I’ve heard people complain it’s hard and to postpone it until the next semester. Is this a good plan?</p>

<p>It’s available MW 12-1P (lecture) and (still open) classes MW 8-9A, MW 2-3P, MW 4-5P, TuTh 8-9A, TuTh 8-9A, TuTh 5-6P.</p>

<p>(Hmmm, why do the classes later in the day fill up the slowest?)</p>

<li><p>For some reason very few (well, none that I’ve seen) people on this forum talk about [url=&lt;a href=“http://ls-major.berkeley.edu/minorlist.html]minoring[/url”&gt;http://ls-major.berkeley.edu/minorlist.html]minoring[/url</a>]. **Is minoring in general a good idea? ** I am currently thinking of doing this in [url=&lt;a href=“http://philosophy.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/overview#minor]Philosophy[/url”&gt;http://philosophy.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/overview#minor]Philosophy[/url</a>] or Planetary Science.</p></li>
<li><p>Math will be essential for pretty much all the things I’m thinking of doing, so I’ll probably take Math 1B in the first semester. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Why 1B? Not to be arrogant, but 1A would be a walk in the park since we did a lot of calculus in my high school, including things like integration by parts and by substitution, solving first and second order differential equations, using reduction formulae, etc. i.e. some of the stuff in Math 53. Can someone please give an example or two of the kinds of problem we’ll have to solve in 1B?</p>

<p>Lectures at TuTh 11-1230P and MWF 3-4P; (still open) classes at MWF 12-1P, MWF 4-5P, MF 11-1P, MWF 3-4P, MWF 8-9A, MWF 9-10A, MWF 10-11A, MWF 5-6P, MWF 2-3P, MWF 1-2P.</p>

<li>Let’s stand back and see what we’ve got. We’ve got two certains:</li>
</ol>

<p>College Writing R1A (6)
Math 1A (4)</p>

<p>Would this be a good idea for Phase I?</p>

<p>On the other hand if I do decide to do Econ 1 in the first semester, then I suppose I should replace it with Maths since the competition for the former is much higher?</p>

<p>To make it 10.5, I’ll perhaps add PE (1/2). Can someone tell me what it involves / give a linkie?</p>

<li>Now on to Phase II.</li>
</ol>

<p>An L&S Discovery course or seminar? How many units of these is the maximum you should take for one semester? I’m thinking of doing one particular seminar that is 2 units (assuming I get on there).</p>

<p>That takes me to 12.5, whereas the minumum is 13.5, i.e. not very convenient. Many would counsel to stop at 13.5 in the first term. On the other hand, I doubt Math 1B and the seminar will be taxing, so perhaps it would be a good idea to add Chem 1 to the mix? I can always drop it, can’t I?</p>

<p>Lectures at MWF 9-10A, MWF 11-12P, MWF 1-2P. On the other hand classes look problematic, they are either Currently Full or simply Not Open. Will I have problems getting in?</p>

<p>Perhaps it’s a good idea to shift Chemistry into Phase I and remove Maths out into Phase II.</p>

<li>In conclusion then, my schedule would be:</li>
</ol>

<p>**College Writing R1A (6)
Chem 1A (4)
PE (0.5)</p>

<p>Math 1B (4)
Seminar (2)**</p>

<p>Total = 16.5 (standard post-1st semester workload)</p>

<p>BTW can you lot tell me the relative competitiveness to get into each of the above courses? For instance if getting onto College Writing is a doodle then I’ll move the Math and the seminar into Phase I, and the R1A into Phase 2?</p>

<p>Thanks and sorry for taking so long.</p>

2

<p>How this schedule? Anyone?</p>

<p>College Writing R1A (6)
Chem 1A (4)
PE (0.5)</p>

<p>Math 1B (4)
Seminar (2)</p>

3

<ol>
<li>It is imperative that you pass the entry level writing requirement your first semester. If you can get out of R1A with that, even better. </li>
<li>CWR1A will be a lot of work, as will Math 1B. Econ can wait until second semester.</li>
<li>My personal opinion is that a minor in philosophy or planetary science will do very little for you, in terms of tangible benefits. If you have the interest in it, feel free to explore that, though. </li>
<li>Math</a> 1B - UC Berkeley Department of Mathematics if this helps</li>
<li>University</a> of California Physical Education Program</li>
<li>L&S Discovery courses are real classes in which you have to do a significant amount of work. This is unlike seminars, for which you just mostly have to attend and participate. </li>
<li>I'd drop PE and the Seminar just to clear some time to study for the other classes, all of which are going to take up a lot of your time. (Unless you are a truly brilliant mathematician/scientist.)</li>
</ol>

4

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>"It is imperative that you pass the entry level writing requirement your first semester. If you can get out of R1A with that, even better"</p>

<p>I've done some more research, and found a Berkeley</a> Campus Examination that takes care of the Entry Level Writing requirement.</p>

<p>The problem is I think that the results will only be available in late September/early October, i.e. I'd already have had to enrol for CWR1A. Or could I then quit and enrol in another class? Hmmm...</p>

<p>"3. My personal opinion is that a minor in philosophy or planetary science will do very little for you, in terms of tangible benefits. If you have the interest in it, feel free to explore that, though."</p>

<p>Considering that there's 120 units in a degree, wouldn't it be quite possible to actually inadvertantly fulfil some minors?</p>

<p>"4. Math 1B - UC Berkeley Department of Mathematics if this helps"</p>

<p>Not really, but thanks anyway :)</p>

<p>"6. L&S Discovery courses are real classes in which you have to do a significant amount of work. This is unlike seminars, for which you just mostly have to attend and participate. "</p>

<p>It's a seminar I have in mind, not L&SD.</p>

<p>"7. I'd drop PE and the Seminar just to clear some time to study for the other classes, all of which are going to take up a lot of your time."</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, I'll think on it.</p>

5

<p>"The problem is I think that the results will only be available in late September/early October, i.e. I'd already have had to enrol for CWR1A. Or could I then quit and enrol in another class? Hmmm..."</p>

<p>Just read [url=<a href="http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/pyyac/freshman/subjecta.html%5Dthis%5B/url"&gt;http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/pyyac/freshman/subjecta.html]this[/url&lt;/a&gt;] which answers the question, never mind.</p>

6

<p>So basically I won't sign up for CWR1A since I don't want to do it and hope to pass that exam.</p>

<p>Instead perhaps I'll take Phil 6 instead, which would cut down my load to a more manageable 14.5 units.</p>

7

<p>"3. Can I retake the Analytical Writing Placement Examination?</p>

<p>No. You can only take the exam once. "</p>

<p>Did you not take the AWPE in May?</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Did you not take the AWPE in May?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No.</p>

<p>As I understand it I'll just do it on [url=<a href="http://writing.berkeley.edu/newsite/awpexam.htm%5DCampus%5B/url"&gt;http://writing.berkeley.edu/newsite/awpexam.htm]Campus[/url&lt;/a&gt;] and hope to pass.</p>

9

<p>"Each essay is scored independently by two readers, who measure it against the scoring guide. Papers whose scores are two points apart are read a third time, as are those scored 3/4. Papers whose composite scores are 8 and higher satisfy the Entry Level Writing requirement; papers whose composite scores are 6 and below do not."</p>

<p>Hmm...what if you get 7?</p>

10

<p>Papers whose scores are two points apart are read a third time, as are those scored 3/4.</p>

11

<p>OK lol good I'm not being tasted on reading comprehension here.</p>