My son got admitted to UC Berkeley (L&S, applied math) via the Fall Program for Freshman pathway (FPF) . Will this set him back from 1) declaring his major (as we hear it may restrict him from choosing any major related classes while in FPF. He is interested in applied math - this program should not become a hurdle for him to even declaring his major in applied math later! 2) will this then hinder the chances of doing minor / double major etc?
Most students spend the first year or so fulfilling gen ed/breadth requirements, unless they come in with a lot of DE credit. Regardless, most students don’t really get started on their major in the first semester anyway, so I don’t think that should be a huge concern.
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How advanced is he in math courses at the time of high school graduation?
The most advanced FPF math courses are Math 51 and 52 (single variable calculus): Your Math and Statistics Courses | Berkeley Fall Program for First Semester
FPF students can take one main campus lower division course of 3+ units, but have lower registration priority (can only do so in the adjustment period, which is after the phase 1 and phase 2 course selection periods): Main Campus | Berkeley Fall Program for First Semester
Eligible main campus math courses more advanced than 52 that are suitable for math majors would be 53 (multivariable calculus), H53 (honors multivariable calculus), 54 (linear algebra and differential equations), H54 (honors linear algebra and differential equations), and 55 (discrete math).
UCB math placement based on high school exams (AP, IB, A-level) is given at High School Exam Credits | Department of Mathematics .
Other FPF course offerings are listed at Course Offerings | Berkeley Fall Program for First Semester . Note the absence of lab science, computer science, and foreign language courses, although reading and composition courses and many social science introductory courses are available. ESPM 50AC, which could potentially cover any of a few different L&S breadth requirements, is offered in FPF.
UCB L&S requirement (including reading and composition) fulfillment by high school exams (AP, IB, A-level) is listed at High School Exam Scores | L&S Advising
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Thanks. He is pretty advanced in math and was hoping to take 54 (linear Alg) / 55 (discrete math) in first sem, - which he is not sure if he will get a chance to take it now as he wont get first dibs at it we hear? and might have to be on waitlist till all the normal pathways had a chance at it? ( while most of his cohort (the motivated bunch) will be taking anyway we assume? ) .
To anwer the question - yes He’s got AP credits from Calculus BC and is also done with the MVC requirement as well (via CC credits) . So he is ready to take 54 along with some breadth-- but taking just breadth in first sem? (not sure if he will like the possibility of curbing from taking math courses).
Anycase - while most forums (reddit , here etc) say it is not entirely “impossible”, the uncertaintly is a big show stopper in selecting Cal. (as he has filtered out Cal over his other CSE & applied math choices in other schools and this came in as surprise in last minute - overlooked!)
Besides - Worst case- can you let us know the alternatives that would let him stay on or ahead of the track even if denied a math course in first sem?, as he is a motivated kid?
Thanks.
The math and applied math majors are designed to be completed even if a student has to start in 51 and 52 (single variable calculus) in the first year, so he will not be “behind” if he has to wait until second semester to take 54 and 55 (he will still be “ahead”).
https://classes.berkeley.edu/search/class?search=math&f[0]=term%3A7699&f[1]=course_level%3Alow&f[2]=subject_area%3A5370 suggests that for fall 2024, two lectures of Math 54 were full, but one lecture of Math 55 had open seats.
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Well, no incoming students get first dibs. Continuing students have already completed Phase 1 registration and will complete Phase 2 registration in July. Incoming students only get their registration opportunity in August, so you are already dealing with full or nearly full classes by then. There may be less competition for high level math classes as there is generally less demand, so he may have a shot even with the FPF disadvantage. But all incoming students have to deal with this issue to some degree. Registration for the first semester is brutal for all - if anything FPF may have an easier time getting most of the classes they want because they have a separate registration for FPF classes. Although that doesn’t help with the math classes he wants, of course.
I’m pretty sure we have at least one FPF parent on here, although I can’t recall who it is. You may be able to search the main UC Berkeley thread and find them to ask them directly about their experience.
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Thanks . I found a thread in that forum an reached out to the FPF parent. This helps!
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Also another question : Does AP Calculus BC (score of 5) satisfy requirement for:
1)Both MATH 1A (Now called MATH 51) and MATH 1B (now MATH 52)? or
2)Only MATH 1A ?
Thanks
https://registrar.berkeley.edu/enrollment/ describes the registration periods.
https://registrar.berkeley.edu/calendars/enrollment-calendar/ has the registration schedule. For fall 2025, the relevant dates:
- June 13: Continuing student Phase 1 ends (maximum 13.5 units)
- July 15: New transfer student Phase 1 begins (maximum 17.5 units)
- July 17: New frosh (non-FPF) student Phase 1 begins (maximum 17.5 units)
- July 21 to August 17: Phase 2 (maximum 17.5 units)
- August 18: Adjustment period begins (FPF students may register for main campus courses; L&S students may register up to 20.5 units)
- August 27: First day of instruction
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High School Exam Credits | Department of Mathematics has the math department recommendation.
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@ucbalumnus thank you for the links, and especially providing the collated info about the Fall 2025 registration schedule! Helps a lot.
Also, if you go to the online schedule classes, you can click on the classes you are interested in and see what the current enrollment is, so you can monitor whether it is filling up.
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I was interacting with other berkeley parents on another thread. What I gathered is that there are several variables impacting how soon you declare major and graduate.
- skipping a semester to do internships
- limiting to 12 units per semester as some stem courses can be upto 20+ hours of time commitment per course
- staying all 4 years to explore more courses/areas as cal has a lot of interesting courses
So look at FPF in conjunction with some of these factors to see if it is the best option for you.
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UCB L&S requires a minimum of 13 units per semester.
There are also limitations if a student goes beyond 8 semesters. See Unit Ceiling and Semester Limit | L&S Advising for the L&S policy, although it is not clear from there whether the FPF semester or courses taken then count against these limits.
Note that the policies of the UCB CoE on these matters are different. Other divisions may also differ.
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The degree need a cluster of three upper division courses with several interesting options. I would presume some clusters have harder to enroll classes than others impacting graduation time.
Looks like math majors can use Math 56 (linear algebra) in place of Math 54 (linear algebra and differential equations).
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My son is a junior at Berkeley, Molecular and Cell Biology major who chose to do FPF his first semester. He had great professors and met many cool students. I know lots of people get anxious when FPF is required. It honestly hasn’t hindered my son at all. For instance, many MCB students take Chem 1A their first semester and he took it 2nd semester. There are lots of ways to make a four year plan. He could have graduated a semester early if he had wanted to and had planned ahead for that (he came in with 27 IB/AP/DE units). He considered a minor and that would have been doable if he had chosen it. I urge your student to reach out to FPF with specific questions. Make a 4 year plan (and understand it will change). Take time to understand the breadth requirements. My only regret with FPF is that my son took Astronomy and at the time I didn’t know about the GOAT Astronomy Prof Filippenko on main campus, he should have waited for that one. He totally loved FPF IB 33- The Age of Dinosaurs with Bonnie Rauscher. Three of my son’s nine roommates were in FPF, it was no big deal. He’s active in an academic club in his major, and is doing research that he loves in a very cool lab. FPF didn’t slow him down and did help him adjust his first semester.
Yes, Cal is TOTALLY worth it with FPF! Go Bears!
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Thank you all for your inputs.
Just wanted to come back here to update that my son chose Cal !
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