I’m currently wait-listed at UC Berkeley and accepted to the engineering school at Texas A&M, but in case I do get accepted off the wait-list, I want to know which to choose. I would only have one week to decide then and I don’t think that’s enough time so I’d like some feedback now.
The requirements are somewhat different for entering computer science at both schools.
UC Berkeley
3.3 GPA in 3 computer science pre-requisite courses.
Can only retake course for which you score below a C-. If retaken, both grades are used in calculation.
If GPA isn’t attained, I believe the chance is slim unless you have a good reason.
But, UCB has one of the best programs and easy access to internships and jobs because its location in Silicon Valley. https://eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate/cs-ba/faq
Texas A&M
3.5 GPA in all courses taken.
Can take extra courses to bring GPA up if current courses hold your GPA down.
If GPA isn’t attained, there is still somewhat of a chance to get it by a holistic application process. https://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/entry-to-a-major/index.html
The whole thing is about whether or not I should take the higher risk. But, if I succeed at UC Berkeley, there’s a bigger reward. Correct me if I am wrong on any information above and please provide any insight to either program.
I’m a Texas resident so I’m considered in-state for Texas A&M, but OOS for UC Berkeley.
UCB is just amazing place for computer science, if you think you can make the cut by working super hard. If you can’t make the cut , you can still major in data science.
@arenal07 how hard is it to make the cut? What is the difference between data science and computer science? What percentage of people actually make it? Data has shown that 40-50% in each of the three classes has gotten a B+, but not everyone in those classes are L&S comp sci. So does anyone really know the true numbers? Are there classes that prelude the 3 pre-requisites that can help me succeed in the 3 pre-requisites?
Assuming that money is not an issue, the CS program at Berkeley is obviously right there at or near the top in rankings so yes it is amazing. If you clear waitlist, yes you do need to average a B+ in basically your first 3 CS classes. About 50% of the L&S CS students who try pass the gauntlet and declare.
Questions - 1) how many CS classes especially AP CS A have you taken? 2) how high have you gotten in math and how good are your grades/scores? 3) don’t know anything about TAMU’s program, but does everyone have to go thru the gauntlet and/or are there direct admits?
@ProfessorPlum168 I have taken computer science 1 and 2, but not AP CS A. I have gotten all As in every math class and CS class, and I am currently in the second semester of calc BC and computer science 2. I got a perfect score on both the math section of the SAT and SAT math II. Are there classes that prelude the 3 pre-requisites that can help me succeed in the 3 pre-requisites?
TAMU also has a gauntlet and their’s is a 3.5 in ALL CLASSES and I talked the TAMU’s expert, who said about 50% make it there as well. But if you don’t make it, you can still apply and they’ll review you holistically based on ECs, GPA and essays written. Their cut off isn’t as absolute as UCB, and there are no direct admits.
Well, if I break down the 3 starting classes at Berkeley, it would go something like this:
CS61A- Computer concepts class, it’s like AP CS A on super steroids. It’s the ultimate weeder class. 36% of people get some sort of an A, but over 50% get at least a B+. It really helps to have a solid foundation in computer science. Not sure what your 2 compsci classes would cover but it may help.
CS61B - this is where having lots of programming experience will help more, since much of the class is projects. You will be writing lots and lots of code in this class (Java). Depending on who the professor is, this is the one class that more people do well in grade wise, maily because more of the scoring tends to be project based as opposed to so much being tied to having a good or bad day on an exam.
CS70 - it’s an applied discrete math and probability class. By the time you take this class, most everyone taking the class will be close to passing the gauntlet. Everyone else would have been weeded out by now. Mathematical maturity is key here, since a lot of the problem sets are based on figuring out things and having lots and lots of practice at problem sets is key. Having a background in AIME or Math Olympiads will definitely help. But also going thru classes like Linear Algebra and Multivariate Calculus will help, anything dealing with trying to figure out complex mathematical problems. I won’t lie, this is a really difficult class but in the other hand, this class is curved like no other. Having a 50% score on exams might be good enough for some sort of A in this class.
You can look at the websites CS61A.org, CS61B.org and CS70.org to get an idea of what you might get yourself into.
Actually, AP CS A is like a less difficult subset of CS 61B, not CS 61A. Students with prior AP CS A course work in high school may do better in CS 61B due to having greater prior knowledge of the material than in CS 61A.
There’s a lot of truth to that. The CS documentation will say that getting a 3+ on AP CS A is evidence that you are ready for CS61A but in reality it’s way way harder and different since there’s not really a whole lot of programming in this class.
I would say that in order to get an A grade, 10-15 hours a week above and beyond your lecturer/discussion/lab schedule, and double that before midterms and finals.
My coworker elder son just graduated from Cal EECS. His younger son is currently attending EECS as well. Identical stat. Near perfect GPA and SAT. Elder struggled on those classes and if he was not a direct admit, could not make the cut. But graduated and now works at Linkedin. Younger son cruised on those classes, all A’s.
It’s only computer science GPA count. Don’t go to UCB with the fear if you will be able to make cut or not. but go with the confidence and be ready to work hard. The environment, the clubs and surrounding silicon valley, you can’t beat this anywhere in USA. I won’t suggest you to go to UCB for any other major, but for computer science there is no second thought.
assuming that you sent in everything that was requested of you for the waitlist, there’s not a whole lot more to do. Make sure you SIR to TAMU and then hope that things come thru. You don’t want to be stuck with no schools.