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<p>The counterargument is that the OP presumably came to Berkeley to learn. If s/he likes math and is good at it (rather likely for those who got a 5 on the AP Calculus BC test), then it may be an opportunity to learn more math ([Math</a> 53 and/or 54, which the Math department allows](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html]Math”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html)), or relearn calculus with more theory (Math H1B), just because of intellectual curiosity, even if Haas allows him/her to go back to 16B (which would seem ridiculous as it is repeating a course at probably a lower level of rigor than s/he had before in high school – why attend a university to do that?).</p>
<p>Taking the more advanced math in this case may also help if s/he later decides to major or minor in something that requires more math than Math 16B.</p>