Screw Haas, or still try? Choosing classes for sophomore year

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>So i'm wondering whether I should even bother trying to get classes to satisfy the Haas req anymore, as my chances are probably extremely dim. I came in during fall of 2009 and have not done so well with my classes</p>

<p>Fall I only took 13 units, 2 of which were decals. I originally had 16 units but I dropped college writing (6 units) because my teacher was terrible. I decided to take it in spring 2010, which is now, and I enjoyed the class.</p>

<p>I took
UGBA 10 -3 Units - C+
Astro C10 - 4 units - B+
Math 16A - 3 units - B
2 Decals - 3 units - P</p>

<p>I ended up with a 2.91 GPA for fall.</p>

<p>Now i'm taking 16 units
COLWRIT R1A - 6 Units - I predict either a B+ or an A if I do well with my portfolio.
MCB C61 - 3 Units - P/NP... I don't think i'm bad enough to not pass.
L&S 160B - 3 Units - P/NP... Probably pass.
STAT 21 -4 Units - I predict a B</p>

<p>I'm gradually improved on my learning skills and motivation. I probably would have been able to get a high B in UGBA if I took it this semester, too late though. I didn't do so well at the starting of this semester either, but something near the end hit me and I've been able to focus a lot more and enjoy my classes a lot more. Additionally, I started drinking coffee a week ago and it's really helped me since I've had sleep complications for nearly my whole life.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm also not part of any clubs or extra activities. I'm planning to get an internship over the summer if I can, but yeah, other than that, I don't have much other than my classes.</p>

<p>And don't flame please, maybe constructive criticism and your honest opinions, but no need to be hostile. I realize to many of you I may look like a slacker, maybe I am, but I have always focused on the wrong things, or well, at least not my education. I just lacked the motivation for my education.</p>

<p>So what are the honest chances of me getting in? I've been looking through classes that I did to satisfy all the requirements for Haas and it seems unfeasible within the upcoming 2 semesters as I can not find any breadths/prereqs I want to take. More specifically, I need Arts and Lit, Historial studies, and international studies breadths for L&S. On top of those I need the literature writing req for haas and American cultures req for berkeley.</p>

<p>I can't really find anything I'm interested in other than international studies, which I want to satisfy by taking chinese 1AY, Chinese 1B, then Chinese 10A. Only Chinese 10A satisfies it but I need the previous 2 for prereqs. Because I only have 2 semesters left, that's pretty much impossible to do.</p>

<p>A little history of me:
I went to a bad high school. It was easy and I outshone the 98% of latinos there. I might have excelled compared to the whole school and vs some of my friends (pretty much all the people who took AP or "smart" classes in my school were all friends) in some classes, but in general, compared to my friends, I was meh ok. I took the easy way out and didn't have much extra curriculars, but my GPA was high and my scores were high compared to others. I think what compelled the readers was my essay, since my background was unique (Chinese raised in Mexico).</p>

2

<p>just apply, no one knows what happens with haas, people were telling me some guy with straight Bs and no extra curriculars got in.</p>

<p>the essay is probably a huge part in determining who’s in and if your internship is an exceptional one from a reputable place then who knows.</p>

3

<p>If I want to just apply I have to take my prereqs already though.</p>

4

<p>Forget the international studies for now, 3 classes is way too much to just satisfy one breadth for Haas. You don’t have to have every single breadth completed by the time you apply, you can say in your application that you’ll do a different class for that breadth spring of sophomore year. Try to do the english/writing classes and some of the other easier to do breadths before applying. If you have a good essay and some experience/internships you still have a shot.</p>

5

<p>Well the problem is that exactly… 1st and 2nd semester is Chinese 1AY-1B, which satisfy nothing. 3rd semester would be Chinese 10A which satisfies international. I’m talking about my sophomore semesters.</p>

<p>Meaning by the time I apply, I only have 1 semester of it.</p>

6

<p>Er… actually, if you take the Y series in Chinese, you have to take the heritage series, which does NOT fulfill the international requirement. Trust me, I also tried your thing but found out in time xD (am taking Chinese 10BX right now, so I know) </p>

<p>You can still try applying, but I would suggest taking Econ 100a and stats 21 next year (dif semester hopefully) and try to solidify your Econ major backup. :)</p>

<p>And it doesn’t matter if your internship is exceptional from a reputable place. You just need to know what you’re doing. For instance: I know that I want to working in _____ business, and I have blank blank blank hopes and dreams, and I have taken step 1, have skill 1, and am passion in blank ways… Use your sophomore to fill that part up.</p>

<p>You can have just 2-3 activities, but you just need to be super involved etc</p>

<p>feel free to pm me if you have any pressing questions ^___^</p>

7

<p>What do you mean you found out in time? Did you find out it didn’t satisfy so you decided to take something else to satisfy the req?</p>

<p>I already took stats 21 this year… Econ100a not yet.</p>

<p>And good point about the internship and activities. too bad I don’t know what I want to do…</p>

<p>Sigh, don’t know… if I did choose to try to apply to house next semester that means I have to:
take lit writing requirement (not even needed for econ)
take unwanted classes to satisfy my breadths</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>I could not apply and always have the thought in my mind what if…
Don’t need to take lit writing req
Don’t need to force my schedule to only be breadths.</p>

8

<p>Well, those breadth classes will raise your GPA, no doubt, hence being a good thing overall. Hopefully in time for you trying to find a sophomore internship.</p>

<p>Yeah, I took something else. But I did ask about it when I was a freshie. And I’m taking it now, so I’m doubly sure ^_^</p>

<p>Take the 100 series, I would suggest. So at least you can declare Econ as your backup. Anyways, choose an easy lit req, that’ll boost your GPA too ^_^</p>

<p>A and 2 pre-reqs and 3 breadth in 2 semesters seems doable :S</p>

9

<p>I talked to an L&S Adviser today. he told me that I should just cut my losses and go into econ instead. He said my 2.9 GPA is too low compared to the 3.7 average and that my C+ is bad compared to what they look for is like a B+ in UGBA.</p>

10

<p>i know a person who got 3 Cs and practically no extra curricular activities and still got in.</p>

11

<p>But then really, how many people get into Haas with 3 C’s and no EC? A couple maybe?</p>

12

<p>I agree with the L&S adviser. Screw it. The C+ in UGBA worries me. Not only are your chances slim, but I’m questioning how well you’d do in Haas even if you got in, and whether it’s what you really want to do anyway. Sometimes it’s okay to accept you tried something, you weren’t cut out for it. Go for something else.</p>