Terrible first semester as a CS major

<p>So I'm likely to receive a C in cs61a and a B- in math 1a. Obviously, this would cause my GPA to fall below the 3.0 cutoff in order to declare next year. What are the chances that I'll pull through? Should I switch majors? Anyone else on this boat...? :/</p>

<p>Well… I don’t think you should give up. Are there circumstances for which your grades are this way? </p>

<p>I’m kind of in the same boat, but my situation is probably different because I came into Berkeley with credits for math 1A and 1B so those don’t count in my GPA and I also P/NPed CS61A, and will retake it next semester with hopefully better results because if not… perhaps it’s time to consider something else. </p>

<p>Also, talk to a TA? I know it’s break, but I think they are still working on grading…</p>

<p>I would stick with CS for at least another semester. In general, most students find 61B easier than 61A. Also, you’ve completed your first semester and being away from home is no longer new and novel. </p>

<p>You might think about other majors and maybe pick one class toward that. So I recommend 61B, Math 1B, and some class that satisfies another major’s requirement. I don’t know what other classes you’ve taken and what you completed in HS, so it’s hard to propose a complete schedule.</p>

<p>As quidditchcat mentioned, it would be helpful to reflect on why your grades are lower than you wanted. </p>

<p>Old timer here, don’t get discouraged and give up. If it takes you an extra semester to become a CS major, I’d say keep at it. Your first semester is always going to be tough and a lot of people end up getting smacked around for lack of a better term. Do. Not. Let. Yourself. Get. Discouraged. Like. I. Did.</p>

<p>Sometimes you have to embrace the suck.
I’m just kidding. You don’t need to declare your major right away after first semester, so don’t worry about that.
I want you to be really objective of yourself and assess if you did poorly because you didn’t give enough effort when you could have or if this was your honest effort. In other words, as for considering majors, my response is ‘it depends’.</p>

<p>Of course, there’s nothing for important than having the interest and passion to pursue CS.</p>