Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hello,
I was wondering if the classes I am taking next year reflect my desire to major in mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley. I have a great desire to attend UC Berkeley. I always have. </p>

<p>I am currently a sophomore, and I live in California.

  • = weighted
    Planned Junior year schedule:
  1. AP Physics B* (prerequisite for C)
  2. AP Statistics*
  3. Honors Precalculus*
  4. Honors English*
  5. CP US History
  6. Band
  7. Marching Band
    My goal is, as always, an unweighted GPA of 4.0.
    I haven’t taken any tests yet, but I plan on taking:
    -SAT I, goal is to score around 2200
    -SAT II Physics and Math II, goal is to score in the high 700s
    -AP tests for Physics and Stats</p>

<p>And here’s my planned senior year schedule:

  1. AP Physics C*
  2. AP Calculus AB* (prerequisite for BC)
  3. (Open slot for math/science?)
  4. CP English (other option is AP, which is ridiculously difficult)
  5. Econ/Govt
  6. Band
  7. Marching band </p>

<p>Do my classes look good for ME? Or is there another major which I would be better suited for?
Thanks</p>

2

<p>Well, I don’t think classes alone necessarily determine if a certain major is right for you. It’s your own desire that reflects your desire to major in something.</p>

<p>AP Physics B/C and Calc AB/BC are definitely recommended for those going into engineering. How about taking AP Chem also? Other than that, I see you’re a well-round student. Good luck! :)</p>

3

<p>Thank you for the feedback.
I have seen many people take AP Chemistry that ended up getting accepted to UCB for ME, but is that a better choice than physics?</p>

4

<p>For Berkeley engineering specifically, you need a 5 on AP physics C mechanics to be exempt from Physics 7A (AP physics C E&M gives no exemption). On the other hand, that is a key prerequisite for other physics and ME courses, so many would hesitate skipping that course. But you need just a 3 on AP chemistry to be exempt from Chemistry 1A, which is not as important a prerequisite for other courses in ME, so it would be relatively safe to skip with AP credit.</p>

<p>Berkeley Physics 7A is normally taken after completing Math 1A (calculus 1, which AP calculus AB approximates). Taking AP physics C concurrently with AP calculus AB may not be as effective at learning the material.</p>

<p>Since you will have had AP physics B, you will have had the “high school physics” that is listed as a prerequisite (along with Math 1A or AP calculus AB) for Berkeley Physics 7A.</p>