<p>So, I'm an entering freshman. I wanted to test out of Math 1A initially, but since I had no AP credit to show for, I have to take it anyway. So I was thinking of simultaneously signing up for Math 1A and Math 1B. Is this even possible?
Also, I've read quite a few posts around here and people seem to project Math 1B as one of toughest lower division math classes. Will it really kill me if I take both of them simultaneously?</p>
<p>The difficulty of math here, in my opinion, is all based on the professor/GSI, not the material. If you do your research and pick a professor correctly, math should not be that big of a problem. </p>
<p>By that token, I would say that Math 1B is generally harder in the fall. I would recommend taking it in the spring.</p>
<p>Thanks, but I don’t think that’d be possible since I plan to take Physics 7B in the Spring.
I have Reshetikhin for Math 1B and Simic for Math 1A. (The only ones available and which fitted my schedule) You have any experience with either?</p>
<p>Well, here are some sample final exams of Math 1A and 1B:</p>
<p>[Choosing</a> an Appropriate First Math Course — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/new-students/choosing-an-appropriate-first-math-course.html]Choosing”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/new-students/choosing-an-appropriate-first-math-course.html)</p>
<p>Your intended major?</p>
<p>Thank you ucbalumnus! I’m an intended EECS major. 
I checked the course material for both and I feel Math 1A should be a breeze, as long as I get the assignments done on time, since I’d taken pretty hardcore calculus in High School and I pretty much slaughtered differentiation and integration. So conceptually, the only new stuff I’d be learning is in the latter part of Math 1B (Series, second order differential eq’s et al). I’m only concerned about whether I’ll have the time for the homework and stuff with the following schedule:
Math 1A
Math 1B
Physics 7A
CS 61A
ASAMST R2A</p>
<p>If you have no AP credit, do you have any college, IB, or A-level credit for calculus? (If not, did you learn calculus in high school but not take any AP or other test for college credit?)</p>
<p>Community college: use [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) to determine equivalency
IB: HL Math with score of 5, 6, or 7 = Math 1A and 1B
A-level: Math H1 = Math 1A; Math H2, H3, Pure Math, or Further Math = Math 1A and 1B</p>
<p>See the handbook here starting at page 9:
<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising%20handbbk%2011-12.pdf[/url]”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising%20handbbk%2011-12.pdf</a></p>
<p>As far as the course list, five courses including two “lab” courses (Physics 7A and CS 61A) is a fairly have course load. Math 1A would still take some time doing homework, etc. even if you know the material already (and don’t assume it is an easy A, since the grading curve will be skewed by other students who are sandbagging it for pre-med or other purposes). The R&C course may or may not be difficult for you, depending on how well you handle humanities-type stuff.</p>
<p>I learnt intensive calculus in High School but didn’t take the AP exams so I’m kinda chill about 1A. It’s the combined workload of 1A and 1B that worries me slightly.
As far as the workload goes, I don’t know. In what respect are lab courses tough? I’m prepared to slog but roughly how many hours am I looking at with that course load?</p>
<p>Physics 7A labs are just a worksheet that you’re required to complete during the class period. Virtually everyone who completes the worksheet is given full credit. That hardly constitutes being a “lab course” like chemistry or computer science. Lab is effectively another discussion in this case, as there is nothing you do outside of class. CS61A is a completely different story, of course.</p>
<p>And the minimal lab work, coupled with the fact that only one fairly short homework assignment is assigned per week, means that Physics 7A is probably less work than a math course (which can have multiple assignments per week).</p>
<p>Anyways, 20 units is a bit much, but it’s doable because the classes aren’t that difficult (except for 61A). Expect a lot of overlaps of midterm days (even potentially 2-3 on the same day). And if you want all A’s you’ll be working quite a bit more than most people you will meet. Don’t expect to have free time.</p>
<p>I don’t expect to have free time anyway. 20 units is slightly intimidating, I admit. But I have this feeling that with these I courses, I might just pull it off.
As for midterms, are they held in Lecture sections?
Also, can anyone elaborate on how the lab in CS 61A works? In other words, what can I ‘generally’ expect in a lab?</p>
<p>Yeah, I bet you can do it. And you can always drop a class if it becomes too difficult. </p>
<p>Some midterms are held during lecture (this is usually the case for math), and others are held during certain evenings (usually the case for physics).</p>
<p>Thanks!
Which brings me to another point, till when can you drop a class roughly?</p>
<p>I think it’s roughly a month into the semester for regular courses, but some courses, like physics, have an early drop deadline.</p>
<p>Oh, so basically I can drop a course upto the first midterm. Sounds good. Will have enough time to judge the comfort of the schedule. Thanks! :)</p>