Question regd extra AP tests:
Example in the page https://engineering.berkeley.edu/2016-17-undergraduate-guide/2016-17-exams-ap-ib-level-and-transfer-credit-information ,
AP Economics (Macro or Micro) - Score 3 or higher - UCB Units 2.7
Are this extra UCB Units useful in any way ? Are they useful for Honors program ?
@california32146
AP Econ is useless unless you have both micro and macro.
Pretty sure having more units that aren’t from CC does nothing. On the other hand, it maybe maybe gives you a slightly earlier registration time, but I doubt it. Most of the time you eventually waive your AP units by senior year so that you don’t go over the unit cap. Like I have 90 units as a freshman and the cap is 120, and although I’m listed as Junior level, I still have a freshman registration time.
If you have both micro and macro, you test out of Econ 1, which, if you’re in L&S gets rid of your social and behavioral science breadth requirement (also a maybe). But is quite helpful if you’re an econ major.
Yeah, generally useless.
Honors programs are specific to major. There’s not an overall honors program. And it’s mostly specific really hard classes that you take and probably a thesis.
Someone should probably fact check me on the breadth requirement, early registration, and honors program (at least you can tell that all of those things are not big deals here). Sorry, just finished finals.
I thought that having a bunch of credits from AP and CC would help with being able to register early. In my kid’s case he’ll have 40 units of CCC credits and close to 40 AP units coming into school this fall. I would have thought that he would be able to register with the juniors for the spring semester once his transfer credits are reviewed. Someone please enlighten me on this.
As far as those seemingly useless AP credits, it could possibly come in handy around graduation time if you need those 2 or 3 extra credits. Might come in handy rather than taking a useless time-consuming elective. The cash savings might be worth something.
The CC credits help with your registration time, but the AP credits seem to have no impact.
But you’re right. Up to a point, AP credits make you have to worry less about having enough units, and you can be fine taking less units per semester. 16 AP credits is about what you need, then you can take the minimum number of 13 units for 8 semesters (instead of the suggested 15) and still get the 120 units needed to graduate.
On second thought, I agree that more units is better because it allows you to graduate earlier if desired. I met someone who’s graduating in 2.5 years, as a junior.
@Walter924 @ProfessorPlum168 Thank you very much
Hey guys, We had some problems at home that impacted my grades through the last marking period and I am in slight danger of falling to C- (hope not a D) in Calc BC. If I get my act together, I can get a C but, C- seems like a most likely outcome. Am I going to have problems with admission getting rescinded? I am not sure if below C includes C- or just Ds. What is my best course of action here? Talk to admissions proactively (before final grade) or wait until the final grade and then reach out to them?
C- is fine, but you also have to maintain a 3.0 uw GPA for this final semester as well (omit all the + and -). Hopefully you have at least 1 A to balance out that C.
I don’t think you need to do anything unless you actually do get a D.
@CantbelieveNJ
Yeah, it’s fine. I know someone who got 2 Cs their final semester of high school and is still at Berkeley.
As long as you keep the 3.0 GPA like ProfessorPlum said
How Important is in depth knowledge of UNIX or Linux for a freshman? will it be disadvantage not know it?
Thanks, @ProfessorPlum168 and @doneinamonth . In the unlikely scenario of him getting a D, what is the remedy? Is it better to reach out to the admissions office or to the College of Letters and Science? Is there a protocol that has the best chance to succeed?
sorry @ProfessorPlum168 you already answered the question. I did not read your answer properly.
@doneinamonth Assuming you’re a computer science major, the only thing that I know is that they use a lot of C and python (pretty sure). Since those are both in C, I’m going with it would be useful, and if you take CS 61A, you might be at a disadvantage if you don’t have prior coding knowledge. But I’m asking a friend so I might have to update my answer later.
@doneinamonth my kid took a Data Structures course and a C++ course in CC which articulated to the CS61B class at Berkeley. In both classes, my kid used an Ubuntu VM for all his programming assignments, so the assumption is that there probably will be a fair amount of Linux usage.
If you’re really a novice with programming languages and/or Linux, I think they recommend that you take CS47 first, but don’t quote me on this.
@ProfessorPlum168 , Thank you, I have very rudimentary level programming experience. I took Java through code academy and have dabbled with some Python. This will give me chance to enroll in a CC for the summer.
Does anyone know if decals are for the entire semester (like week by week or every 2 weeks, etc.) I’m deciding if the l&s10 from “On the Same Page” decal for 1 unit is worth it as it seems to be fairly low time commitment
@tondiafra Decals are usually every week, one weekday, usually at night, like from 6:30-8:30 pm for the whole semester. But they usually start a few weeks into the semester which gives you time to figure out your schedule before you add in a decal, and some end a bit early. They’re pass/no pass, so they don’t require that much effort, but it’s still work and time.
What do you define as “worth it”? They’re usually a way to get your units up to 13, or if you’re really interested in the subject. Sometimes they involve volunteering, which is an extra time commitment. On the Same Page is run by administration I believe, and is about a cultural object, so make sure that you’re interested enough to be able to write a paper. It’s probably closer to a seminar class than a decal.
Would anyone mind giving some tips on what you would recommend a transfer do in order to get the most out of Berkeley in their first semester? I’m communing my first semester in order to save money and try to do my best to secure a position in the Econ department due to the GPA requirement. Also plan on looking for some clubs to try to socialize since I will be commuting. Finally what is your recommendation for the best libraries to get some studying in that will consistently have a spot?
@BlueDog457 There’s a transfer decal which I’ve heard is sort of useless, but you can get some units if you need them and meet other transfers. There’s an Undergraduate Economics club since you’re economics, but other than that, it depends on other factors including what you care about and identify as.
Can’t really help you with the transfer tips, and other people will likely give you a vague inspirational answer that isn’t really that particular to Berkeley, because it requires some thought. Probably something along the lines of get started and get involved soon. For the 3.0 thing, be worried, at least a bit. About 2/7 of the Econ transfer students that I know had to switch into Environmental Econ or Political Econ, so check berkeleytime.com for grade distributions, and there’s some teachers for the main classes who are said to be easier or better than others (mentioned a page or three ago).
The best libraries are well kept secrets but I feel like no one’s going to read through 158 pages, so, the philosophy library in Moses is Bobby’s favorite (he’s also, probably, an econ transfer student) and I have to say it’s really pretty and hidden. Still not filled even during dead week. There’s a lot of libraries on campus, including the chem library in hildebrand and the math library in evans, and if you don’t mind the sounds of singing the Hargrove music library, the bio library in VLSB (with a great really old cookbook section, jellied meat anyone?), and probably 5-10 others which I haven’t studied in. As long as you avoid Doe/Moffitt/Main Stacks and sort of the South East Asian Library (although that one’s quiet and sort of pretty the rest of the year) during Dead week, finding seats is easy. Everyone’s got a preference. I just sit in whatever library is nearest to whatever classes I have next. Although Doe is gorgeous and Moffitt is the right amount of noise and recently remodeled (also a great place to print things if you forgot to earlier because of its long hours).
Can anyone tell me their experiences with Film R1A? Should I take it? Or, what are the best (in terms of being easy and/or interesting) R&C courses to take?
So I’m gonna take Biology 1B with Bruce Baldwin, David Ackerly, and Ellen Simms; Comparative Literature R1A with Keith Budner, and Mathematics 1A with Alexander Paulin…am I gonna regret life after taking these courses? Btw these are all 4 unit classes and I am probably gonna take one more class that is maybe 1 unit to fulfill maybe one of my L&S breadth requirements or something. Should I switch my schedule around and take easier classes?