<p>TL;DR I think I am mostly interested in being a CS major, but I messed up for my first semester (P/NPing 61A). </p>
<p>Optional background reading:
I started at Berkeley this fall, and was very unsure of what I wanted... The thing is that throughout high school, I wanted to become a doctor but around the time of my Phase I for fall classes, I was already beginning to rethink things. But anyways, my Phase I happened, and based on my interests then (neuroscience, cog sci, CS, and applied math) the advisor person at CalSo advised me to do Chem 1A/L and CS61A for Phase I. </p>
<p>For Phase II I added two courses for breadth, and those are going fine. However, I am really not doing well in my other (more) core classes, which have gotten so bad that my only option was to P/NP both of them. </p>
<p>I have no interest in being a doctor anymore. I have not experienced a Berkeley math class yet, so I cannot say whether I really would like to pursue applied math. Cog Sci, I haven't taken a class in that either. Neuroscience I don't want to do because it was more of the cog-sci-y type of stuff that interested me. Plus I really hate the system of separated lab and actual class and refuse to take more of those. </p>
<p>Right now I'm mostly drawn towards CS. In CS I am interested in either artificial intelligence or graphics, both which are kind of why I'm interested in applied math. </p>
<p>Actual questions:
1) If I retake CS61A (very likely atm), would it be possible to take CS70 concurrently? Technically I do have the knowledge from CS61A... Not sure what they mean by "sophomore maturity" for math though. Like I've gone up to Multivariable Calc.</p>
<p>2) Is there anything I can do this summer besides taking classes? Ideally something that won't cost money, but will give me good experience for work... I can probably get a rec letter from my work study but not sure about regular classes. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yes, you can take CS70. “Sophomore maturity” means you’ll be writing lots of proofs, as it’s a high-ish level math class. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, but expect it to be very different from any math you’ve taken before.</p></li>
<li><p>You could try for an internship, but that’s hard to get after freshman year with only 61A. If you take summer classes you might not want a job, some of them (like CS61BL) will eat up all your time, so having other things going might be a bad idea. You could also try to get a research position, but that might be tricky since you haven’t finished the lower divs yet.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks.
So are there certain internships that don’t really look at gpa/grades but more of experience? Like I hear a bunch of people talking about “getting internships” but with my grade struggles I am really unsure.</p>
<p>It is entirely possible to fail your semester even if you ace the midterms thanks to the final. Conversely, it is entirely possible to salvage the semester by one great performance in the final, that’s college. Before you say you will most likely fail CS61A, I want to ask if you know why you’re failing. if you’re interested in going with CS major, then planning to fail 61A is a terrible start and is a bad indication for several future classes to come. Is it simply because you didn’t study enough? Just don’t say you’ve failed when there’s still a large portion of the grade that has yet to be determined.</p>
<p>I’m not quite sure what you meant by you refuse to take separated lab and lecture. The current 61A has, if not at least several future CS classes will have separated lab and lecture. It’s like you do a semester-long project of your choice while the lecture covers something different and you’re tested on lecture. So if you happen to hate that system, I’m afraid to deliver you the news that it will be like that for years to come.</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of internships. Not because of the internship itself, but because some people get some offers, but most people have none, especially in freshman year unless you can sell yourself that why you’re better than everyone else and capable of doing the work. I’ve graduated now and have a real job and all that, and I would like to give you a more realistic recommendation that if you happen to not work on any job, use your freshman summer for that.
So jobs like serving in a restaurant or being a delivery guy or working at a front desk – whatever job that requires communication and dealing with all kinds of people is an excellent job b/c communicating w/ others is something that everyone has to do in the future and it’s good to have a head start. I know it’s not the kind of jobs that the parents would be most proud of and something no one would like to do when you’re getting a UCB degree, but I cannot emphasize enough how these jobs actually help you to get your first real job b/c you already have a good sense how jobs work and you learn how to communicate.</p>
<p>Overall, don’t fret. It would really help to know why you’re failing, but so far I can tell you no one needs to be smart to do well. Just study and memorize and invest plenty of time in the subject and that’s good enough to get at least a B+ in any UCB class by anyone. For anyone out there who complains about how difficult UCB is, I have yet to see anyone who puts plenty of time into studying to the point that you understand every homework and every lecture and still don’t do well.</p>
<p>
I studied a lot, to the point where I literally had no life. For the first midterm, I totally messed up life-wise because I hadn’t been sleeping much, so my brain wasn’t working. I spent too long on the cheat sheet. I failed, to put it nicely… I think I got like 2 standard deviations under the average. For the second midterm, I knew I needed to do well. I started studying earlier. I disappeared for pretty much an entire two weeks socially. But I got to the midterm. I freaked out. I didn’t even get questions that were easier right. I got a worse score than the first one. I have to get a perfect score on the final to even have the slightest chance of getting a B+. I have been staying up to date with lectures, and the homework, labs, and projects make sense to me, though. This is what I mean by failing, and what happened to make the situation happen. </p>
<p>
Oh, I realize now that I should’ve been more specific… That actually sounds cool for the future CS classes. What I meant by that is that I do not ever want to take another Chem class, and I’ll probably hate Bio even more. Some people might be able to balance those with CS classes, but I don’t think I have that ability. </p>
<p>I actually have a work-study job at the moment… </p>
<p>Ok, I just have no mercy for those who don’t study enough but blame everything but themselves for unsatisfactory performance. Obviously there’s no need to tell ‘sleep well next time’ since you know better, although 2 standard deviation below average is beyond disappointing. As for freaking out for the midterm, I had that issue myself that plagued me throughout college and never really got it fixed. It seems the only way to address is study and understand every material so that nothing comes as a surprise. If certain material isn’t clear even though i reread it several times, then immediately address it by going to OH or ask and get it resolved asap and move on. I was too unmotivated to do that kind preparation for every exam, but for the few exams that I cared enough and studied everything, it was impossible to not do well either.</p>
<p>I’m guessing each midterm is around 20% and the other 60% of the grade is made up of hw, labs, project, and the final exam. The game is far from over so just do what you do. You’re certainly in better condition than those who lost the motivation to do any more CS and nothing is making sense anymore. It will come down to the final exam so the game’s not over yet. </p>
<p>I don’t see any reason that you would fail if you play it out well for the next month. If you still happen to not do well after your better preparation, then we can talk from there.</p>
<p>I’m past the grade option change so I can only do P/NP. </p>
<p>Ok then, that should reduce a lot of stress. I wish I had the balls to convert at least one of the classes (f**k you, Chem 4A) I was struggling in my freshman year to P/NP if I can go back.</p>