<p>As a freshman, I am having an extremely difficult decision in deciding whether to PNP my non-prereqs for my CS major.</p>
<p>Specifically, I am wondering about my history class. Right now, it seems I can probably achieve a ~B+ in my History 7a class with absurd amounts of work for essays/midterms. Otherwise it's a pretty chill class so taking it graded shouldn't signifiacntly affect my performance in other classes.</p>
<p>And even then I'm not sure about the grade because I feel like my GSI was grading me harsher than she would have because she thought I was a sophomore. Do GSIs give slack to freshman in these liberal art classes filled with upper-class man? This is just speculation of course.</p>
<p>Anyway, the root of my dilemma is I don't know what GPA I am capable of so I can't tell whether my predicted grade in history will ultimately be a boost or a detriment. Though I was probably deluded when I told myself I'd graduate with a 3.6+, I still want to make that my goal. It's just that I have no idea what how hard my future semesters are, but otherwise it seems obtainable based on the difficulty of this semester.</p>
<p>I just took the midterm and hopefully, if it comes back to me before the deadline, I can make the decision.</p>
<p>Bump!
All I want to know is if I should make my cut-off for pass/fail at B+, A-, or something else.</p>
<p>Is your eventual goal medical school or top-14 law school?</p>
<p>If not, then obsessing over the possibility of a B+ in a non-major course seems a bit excessive.</p>
<p>Well I want to keep my options open, but it’s unlikely. Grad school for just CS in general is not however. I have no idea what the expectations after graduation is. Also, I should probably build a strong foundation for my GPA while my classes are relatively easy. Is the average for upper div classes lower?</p>
<p>I’m going to start by saying I’m a freshman too, so my knowledge is extremely limited, but two of my professors both mentioned (independently of each other) that if we switch to P/NP because we get freaked out, and end up with an A, it would be pretty annoying, so why bother if you think it’s a chill class? That B+ may just end up an A-, you have half a semester left. I would think one B+ in a non-major course at cal is no biggie (especially since CS isn’t capped) - and it does NOT mean you can’t get a 3.6+. Maybe you did better than you thought on the midterm, don’t be defeatist already!</p>
<p>I think the cutoff for a p/np is B or lower. So B+ is okay if you can guarentee that, but if you can’t it maybe better to have a p.</p>
<p>However, I made the mistake of p/np CS61a one semester because I freaked out about my scores. Apparently, there is such a thing as a curve. I ended up getting an A in the class, but only have a P on my transcript. So… be careful! Don’t question yourself too much!</p>
<p>Starry when did you take CS61A? I thought Brian Harvey and the current professor both used a straightforward grading scale?</p>
<p>I’m considering p/nping CS61A atm too since I’m not 100% certain that I’ll major in CS so I don’t want it to drag down my grade. Having no exp in cs prior to the class so I feel like a p/np then taking it in the future if I do decide to major in CS will be a better route. What do you think? Will I be able to retake CS61A or will they count ‘Pass’ as the major req?</p>
<p>Thanks Starry!</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I guess I’ll be taking history for a grade unless I bombed the midterm.</p>
<p>MisterB7K, prereqs have to be taken for a grade. And next semester, Hilfinger is going to be teaching 61A. He’ll destroy your grades and social life if you take his class I heard.</p>
<p>But I’m not 100% sure I’m into CS at the moment. I don’t want to get a C- or lower than end up majoring in something else. I think I’ll have a decision by next year so if they make me take CS61A again (fall 2012), I’m fine with it. I’m just worried they might forbid me to major in CS for n/p CS61A!</p>
<p>The problem wasn’t the grades that I got. I took it around sophomore year where I was use to business classes where if you make a mistake, you’re screwed. So I was actually doing well, but felt like I wasn’t because of that mentality. It was a straightforward grading system… I was just dumb and afraid of getting an A-/B+. Also, I was taking that class for fun at the time, so I didn’t think I’d need it for anything.</p>
<p>If you p/np cs61a, they will ask your professor for your grade and calculate that into admissions into the CS major. But they will still let you in if you p/np and say “I was a freshman, I wasn’t sure at that time”. However, all your other classes must be for grade.</p>
<p>But honestly, the grading kinda gets harder after cs61b. (61b is easier because most people experienced in cs get to skip it. So you should decide soon whether you want to pursue CS.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the heads up Starry. With that I think I’ll decide to P/NP based on my grade on the next midterm >_<. I’m fine with a B, but I’m just worried it’ll go lower than that.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the advise! Similarly, I was thinking of trying Haas, so a C would bring down my GPA so drastically :(! </p>
<p>Thanks again!!!</p>