should i skip Math 16A if i get a 5 on CALC BC exam???

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

<p>i am a pre-business major and i already sent in my course schedule for the Fall Extension Program (i am technically a spring admit). i signed up for Math 16A since most pre-business students take that course and it should be fairly easy. Haas advisors told me its better not to take math 1A or 1B since these courses can potentially be GPA killers. </p>

<p>i took the AP Calc BC exam last week and i am fairly confident I will get a 5.
If i do end up with a 5, Haas will give me credit for the calculus prerequisite. however, if i really want, i can also choose to take Math 16A even if i do get a 5.</p>

<p>is it worth taking Math 16A to pad my GPA? or should i just not take any math course if i receive a 5 on the ap exam?</p>

2

<p>did Haas advisors really tell you that math 1a/1b are GPA killers? Hmmm... I am a pre-med and and I got a 5 on BC Calc last year. Maybe I should just take 16A/16b if what I hear about math 1a/1b are true.</p>

3

<p>do NOT take math 16A/B if you're pre-med -- start with 1B and see how difficult it is. you can drop down to 1A if necessary.</p>

<p>for haas, if you got a 5 on the BC exam, don't take a math class. i used AP exams/community college work while in HS to satisfy a lot of the Haas prereqs and breadth reqs. i think it looks more impressive than getting A's in easy berkeley classes anyway.</p>

4

<p>yes</p>

<p>unless you have further interest in mathematics/statistics, then take Math 1B, not 16a/b/1A</p>

5

<p>byul, why do you say that premeds should not take the 16 series? From what other on the boards say, the 16 series is better for premeds because it does not deflate your GPA</p>

6

<p>well, I think that 16B is too easy for those who got 5's on the BC exam; 1B should be more interesting. ive heard of students who took the 16 series after BC and didn't get A's because they felt unmotivated by the course material...sometimes grade padding backfires...</p>

<p>moreover, i would imagine that med schools would look more favorably upon those who take harder classes in comparison to those who don't -- assuming that one can get A's in both, of course.</p>

7

<p>for med schools i would agree that course difficulty > GPA thats why premeds should take the Math 1A/1B series.</p>

<p>however to get into Haas school of business GPA is a very significant factor, thus the advisors reccomended me to take Math 16A instead of Math 1A.</p>

8

<p>Do extension course grades affect your Berkeley gpa?</p>

9

<p>tambone: yes</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
for med schools i would agree that course difficulty > GPA thats why premeds should take the Math 1A/1B series.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't agree with this. GPA matters a lot more than course difficulty for med school admissions.</p>

<p>However, someone else was right in saying that taking easy courses could potentially lead to less motivation and backfire.</p>

11

<p>if you get a 5 on Calc BC, you don't need to take a math class for Haas; you're exempt from the requirement</p>

<p>if not, it's fine to take 16A/B; i don't think anyone at Haas will really care anyway.</p>

12

<p>besides, for medical school, they won't really care that 16 series are less in depth than 1 series. After all, they just require 2 semesters of calculus. right?</p>

13

<p>don't take it if you don't need it. as for premed... uh i heard the 16 series are terribly easy for the math-competent, and i see no need in taking the 1 series if you can get away with the easy route. it gets a bit more difficult when you start to get into 53/54. god, i wish it would end.</p>