I have a really urgent question ! My major is economics.I’m taking 5 classes right now including macro-econ and Cal2( the only class I think I may get a C). I have As in Cal 1 and Micro-econ. In my conditional contract, it says that:
3.0 or higher GPA for each term.
No grade lower than a C for any individual course.
ENGL 124: Advanced Composition: Critical Reasoning and Writing (grade of B or higher)
MATH 280: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (for major preparation)
It seems like English is the only class that I can’t get a C in. However, to make sure that I’m on track and and allow to get a C in Cal 2 I emailed my admission advisor:
Dear blank,
I have a couple questions to ask you. My major is pre-economics under the college of letters and science. Currently, I am taking 5 classes : Business 121, Chinese 120, Econ 120, English 124, and Math 280. I am afraid that I may get a C in math 280. How crucial is that if I get a C in that class? The conditional contract did not indicate what grade I need for that class.
And this is what she emailed me back :
Dear …!
I copied this off the Economics web site:
Non-transfer students must have an average gpa of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses taken at Berkeley, and an average gpa of 3.0 in any prerequisite courses taken at another institution. Transfer students must have an average gpa of 3.0 in the prerequisite transfer courses, and an average gpa of 2.7 in prerequisite courses taken at Berkeley.
So, as I read this, Calculus is a prerequisite course, and you must have a B in the class if you wish to declare Econ by the end of fall term. If you are not going to receive a B in the class, you should consider not sending your SIR.
Which is so confusing !!! My major prerequisites include cal 1, cal 2, macro econ and micro econ. I have As in Micro (3 units ) and Cal 1 ( 5 units). So even if I get a C in cal 2 ( 4 units class ) and a B in macro ( 3 units ), my average gpa is still above 3.0 for my major.
Please someone help me with this !!! I’m getting paranoid right now
Wow, that is FRIGGEN intense. That last line! Usually they are kind of on the vague side. You really need to write back and get clarification on that last line.
My instinct is they usually let ppl in, however this is a very impacted major. Can you pull a B- out if it all?
Pretty much what your advisor said is spot on. If you cannot get a B in your class, you might want to consider other options - such as Environmental Economics or Political Economy.
You know, the actual wording is you need an AVERAGE of 3.0 in your major pre-reqs. The word average negates applying it to a single course. A single course phrasing would be along the lines of all requisites must be a 3.0 or higher.
What is the average of all your pre-reqs combined?
I still can’t get over that last line of “you should consider not sending in your SIR.”
@ocnative, the advisor flat out told him not to SIR, and didn’t even really know the protocol, had to look it up. So other options for major aren’t available based on that comment.
.
@boy561, Ok,I just found info from 2012 CC.
First, 3.0’is based on the average of the five (?) pre-reqs.
Second, someone else wrote this:
“If you have more than 2.7 but less than 3.0, you can get into EEP with the same prereqs and you can still do a fair amount of economics in your degree that way.
Also, it’s possible to apply to the major after having taken both Econ 100A and 100B (assuming you’re still within 5 semesters) and have both count towards the 3.0, which might relieve the grade pressure a little as you have 5 (rather than 4) more classes to help raise your GPA.”
So, like @ocnative said, you should as a pre- be able to get somewhere. So you can SIR and be OK, based on this.
Well, no advisor is going to tell you to send your SIR and change your major before the semester starts. But if you do not have a 3.0 in your prereqs, it’s best not to apply to the Econ major. Again, EEP is an option and so is Poli Econ if you still want to attend Berkeley but don’t meet the requirements for Econ. The prereqs will only get harder…
Thank you you guys 
! It is still very confusing at this point. Anw, I’m going to visit the campus on Tuesday. I will come to the admission department and the economics department to clarify everything. I think they would able to give me a clearer picture. thx
That’s the best course, @boy561. Good luck. And report back.
And right @ocnative, I kind of worded it wrong. Don’t just SIR if you’re under 3.0 without some verification that you can do it as a pre- and get into the other major in the dept.