I plan on majoring in Computer Science, currently a high school senior.
Here’s what I’ve done so far: Chemistry (3), Psychology (5), Statistics (5), Statistics (5), European History (3).
I’ll be taking Literature for sure to attempt to bypass the english requirement, but I’m lost on whether I should take Microeconomics and Calculus BC. It says that Calculus BC satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning requirement, but I’ve already taken Stats which is said to satisfy the same exact thing. As for microeconomics, there’s nothing listed so I guess it’s just for general credits. How important is it that I stack up just plain extra credits? Is registering for classes a tough thing (I heard that the more general ap credits you have, the higher priority you have in registering)?
Thanks!
Taking Calculus BC is certainly worth it b/c you get to skip both Math 1A and 1B if you get a 5.
Stacking up other plain extra credits is nearly meaningless because it doesn’t mean you get to skip classes. It does help a little bit when it comes to priority in registering, but it’s not worth the sacrifice to study and take the exam just so you get 2~3 units of ghost credits.
Bottom line: certainly take the Calculus BC exam and do well on it, but microeconomics is optional and it’s okay if you don’t want to take it.
If you get a 4 in both microeconomics and macroeconomics, the economics department considers that as equivalent to Economics 1 for economics majors. So, if you have an interest in taking upper division economics courses (even if you are not interested in an economics major), that may allow you to skip Economics 1 before taking them. Your 5 in psychology is considered equivalent to Psychology 1 for the psychology major, so it can fulfill that prerequisite for upper division psychology courses if you choose to take them.
A 5 in calculus BC will cover Math 1A and 1B for the CS major. However, there is some differential equations material in Math 1B that is often not in high school AP calculus or other college calculus courses that you should self-study before taking Math 54.
Additional units from AP credit can raise your class standing, although registration priorities for many Berkeley classes have other criteria for priority (e.g. division (L&S, CoE, etc.), major or undeclared, class level (which is based on semester attended rather than units completed), whether you are a new student, etc.). So extra inapplicable units (which microeconomics would be if you did not also have macroeconomics) may not be as useful as at other schools which give priority just based on class standing.