Perpetual

Hello,

I am used to taking 20 units per semester at junior college so I do not really mind having a relatively high workload. However, since junior college is probably incomparable to Berkeley's academics, I would like to hear the input of current students.

I would like to take physics 7B so I don't have to worry about physics after this summer and also an additional course to boost my total unit count up to 6 to become eligible for financial aid.

Is this first course sounding like a bad idea already? Would bio 1A be a better choice?

I would like my additional course to be towards my interests of MCB w/ biochemistry focus.

I would just get advice at CalSo, but it seems as though the courses for session C will begin to fill by that time.

Can anyone provide a link to the generalized graduation requirements of my intended major, or the requirements of the school? Google provided me with only dead ends.

Thanks for the help.

ucbalumnus

Since a summer session is about half as long as a regular semester, you should be able to handle half the course load.

Note, however, that lab courses can be more work than non-lab courses, even with the same number of credit units.

Note also (on Welcome to ASSIST ) that some community college courses articulate to Berkeley courses of differing numbers of credit units (e.g. a 5 unit community college course may articulate to a 4 unit Berkeley course). Check to see how many Berkeley units your typical 20 unit course loads at community college were equivalent to.

If you intend Molecular and Cell Biology in the College of Letters and Science, look here:

Office of Undergraduate Advising: Summary of Degree Requirements
MCB Major Requirements - At a Glance

If you are also a pre-med, look here:

https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/MedPrep.stm

Perpetual

Thanks for the reply.

I just signed up for 8B physics and am 18 on the waiting list.

Is there a reasonable shot, given the context of the course, that I will get a spot before class begins on June 20?

Should I begin to seek alternatives immediately?

Also, since I will be billed for wait-listed classes, I imagine that the quantity of units I am wait-listed for will contribute towards the 6 unit minimum for financial aid. Is this correct?

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experience with a new and appreciative Cal student.

ucbalumnus

As of now, one of the Physics 8B lectures is full, but the other has 12 spaces open (though 11 of the open lab spaces are in W 4-6pm).

There are three Physics 7B lectures. One is full, one at (TuTh 8-9:30am) has 46 spaces open, and one has 9 spaces open (with most of the open lab spaces at Tu 8-10am or Th 8-10am). There is also a Physics H7B (honors course) with 21 open spaces (out of 25 total).

Physics 7B can substitute for Physics 8B, according to the MCB handbook. However, this is generally considered to be the "harder" physics course for physics and engineering majors, and requires Math 53 (multivariable calculus) as at least a co-requisite.

bbb360

No, I'd say the workload is about the same. Or less. Or at least it was like that for my classes. I recommend taking AC and R&C requirements.