<p>“Couple that with the fact that Harvard undergrads have full access to the MIT course catalog through cross-reg (and vice versa). Berkeley undergrads have no such comparable option.”</p>
<p>Well, so the point here was that while those at the highest level of math have it as swell at Berkeley really as anywhere, at the stage of developing foundations, there’s a disadvantage. Some students like me sidestepped this because we were ahead coming into math, but not every student is. This is why my point that you can’t just substitute a grad program for an undergrad program is so important here. Berkeley has a good course offering for math undergrads, but not the most vast one out there for sure. </p>
<p>I understand the humanities departments sidestep it, supposedly…I am far from an expert on the selection process there, but I definitely know something about it for the math and engineering realm, and have fairly logical reasons that maintaining some GPA integrity [better than many of the humanities, etc majors do] is a plus…at least get students to work for their A’s. Perhaps the humanities departments which are really too easy [not all probably] could be served by not being so easy – I think you already wanted this, and I agree [they don’t have to become BRUTAL, but A’s and B’s should mean something…no need to give out horrible grades necessarily]. I think the only way to really sidestep requiring GPA to be a consideration in courses is not to force everyone to take grad courses [simply not practical in most cases], but to have stellar, detailed professor recommendations be a focus. I.e., have professors write about how a student was in their classes. This is, however, considerably tougher if classes are larger. </p>
<p>“Speaking of which, why DON’T Berkeley have something comparable with Stanford?”</p>
<p>You mean grading policy and stuff? I dunno, ask Sakky probably, he probably has his conjectures given he’s posted a lot on the topic. I’m interested to know as well. I think the school would benefit a ton from refinements.</p>