My S is a 2nd year at Cal, and he’s fairly happy with his campus life. He applied to Haas, but will likely not get accepted. He’s had three very good internships at financial institutions, but his GPA is 3.16 and he got a C in Stats W21 and a C+ in Math 16B (calc). University policy does not allow him to retake either class. The backup majors most mentioned for students that want to go into business are Economics, Political Economy and Environmental Economics and Policy. All three are impacted majors. Econ requires a 3.0 GPA in a group of pre-req classes including Stats and Calc, EEP requires a 2.7 GPA in a related group of pre-req clases including Stats and Calc. He currently doesn’t meet both majors’ GPA requirements because of the grades above. Poly Econ requires a B- in IAS 45, but he’s number 26 on the waitlist for the class and likely won’t get in for the Spring semester.
Looking pragmatically at his situation, he may not get into Haas, Econ, EEP or Poly Econ, and in the college of L&S he must declare a major by his 5th semester. Are there other majors for students that want to go into business that I’m missing? If he doesn’t get into any of these four majors, is his best option to transfer to a different University where he can study his intended field of study? These decisions will come down to him, but as his parent, I would like to provide him with informed advice.
I see a line that it is allowed to repeat one course. (https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/prospective)
In fact, when discussed well with the adviser, then re-taking more than one course seems allowed too.
You haven’t mentioned the grades for other per-requsitie courses such as Econ 1, a second math class, and Econ 100A equivalent. Is it possible to get the necessary minimum GPA if he can improve the grade on Stat W21?
It won’t have to all be in the next spring semester, but also utilize the upcoming summer session as the last chance.
Cal allows students to repeat courses only if they receive a D or F in the course. No dice if they receive a C.
For current Econ pre-reqs,
AP Micro 5 and AP Macro 5, so tested out of Econ 1 and 2, but AP tests don’t apply to the pre-req GPA
Math 16A - B
Stats 21W - C
Math 16B - C+
UBGA 101B - B
Current Econ pre-req GPA 2.53. Econ will count the Stats grade for one of four different upper division Stats courses instead of W21, so he’s taking Stats 131A in Spring to try to improve the Stats grade. Econ will also count Econ 1 or 2 grades instead of AP test scores for the pre-reqs, so he’s also taking Econ 2 in Spring. It’s possible he will get the pre-req GPA he needs to declare Econ, but it’s also possible he won’t. EEP requires some different pre-req courses than he’s taken, so I’m not sure he can even get the courses in by the 5th semester.
I think it comes down to how determined is he to get into Haas/Econ by taking Stats 131A and Econ 2.
Econ 2 is particularly a tough pill to swallow considering he took the AP classes but have to take it just to get the good grade.
Can you elaborate what are other courses required for EEP? From the application form (https://nature.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/eepforls.pdf), it seems to be the same prerequisite courses to declare for Econ major. In fact, considering it asks you put the AP score and its respective grade, it’s possible that the high school grade may count and there is no need to take Econ 2.
I think asking the EEP advisers the above questions would be a good start, especially regarding if the AP Econ grade from high school counts towards the GPA requirement. If it does so, and if your S is good with going for EEP, then he can save a class by not taking Econ 2 assuming he meets the 2.7 GPA.
If your S does want to go for Econ though, then yes, I think taking Econ 2 and Stat 131A would be the best thing to do.
If it doesn’t work out, then taking Econ 100A/101A during the summer, in case UGBA 101B is not accepted, should cover the EEP application just before the 5th semester.
I’m pretty sure you always have the option of taking a class in lieu of an AP credit. For example, Berkeley highly encourages kids who don’t feel they are up to snuff with Calculus to take Math 1A and/or 1B even if they got credit via AP. I don’t think there’s any way possible that the school would factor any outside classes into any GPA determination.
Agree with what @ProfessorPlum168 said above. I tested out of Math 16b but took it anyway. Also, depends what part of business is your son interested in. If it’s finance: he may major in Math, if marketing: he may major in Media Studies or something like Communications