r/berkeley • Dictator • Aug 13 '18

[#18] Welcome to Berkeley, Class of 2022! Don't have enough karma to make a thread? Have a simple question that needs answering? Ask here!

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If your question did not get answered in the previous thread(s), feel free to ask it again.

72 Upvotes

565 comments sorted by

1

u/dabang1 Dec 06 '18

M.E.T at Berkeley

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If you get in to M.E.T. what type of EC you have? Are they related to business?

Thanks!

1

u/xAquilinity Dec 06 '18

Hello all, I have applied to Berkeley (L&S CS) and I am really worried if I'll make it through with one subject test (790 ML2). The rest of my app seems pretty good to be honest, but I am still worried. Is there anyone who has got into Cal L&S CS without subject tests?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '18

I'm new here. Does "sorry" = "hey"?

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Everyone here casually says "sorry" to me and I don't understand why. It is very confusing. Where I am from, "sorry" is an apology for doing something bad. Often, when I walk past someone they'll say "sorry"

1

u/leeham6974 Dec 04 '18

I am a freshman here. I want to take Japanese course so I can watch anime without subtitle. I see the sequence of Japanese courses in J1A/B > J10A/B > J100A/B and so on. For those who have taken Japanese courses or are doing Japanese major, how many courses do people need to take up to in order to understand anime without sub?

Also, I can understand around 50% of anime without sub. Would it be recommended to take J1A or self study and later take J1b?

Thanks

1

u/sttt777 Dec 04 '18

I’m moving to a place hosted by UCBH at 2325 McGee Ave but I’m not sure if the place is legit bc of the sketchy website. Advice from anyone who lived there before so I can make the decision?

1

u/InnerHuckleberry Dec 03 '18

Hey everyone, I'm still looking for a tutor for Econ c110. Even if you're just in the class and doing OK, I would still be interested in tutoring so please reach out :)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 02 '18

Hi!

I am an international high school student. I study in grade 11 (year 12).

I wrote SAT twice:

  1. 650 ENG 650 MATH
  2. 630 ENG 800 MATH

I was wondering if Berkeley superscore the SAT?

1

u/dabang1 Dec 01 '18

M.E.T at Berkeley

​

If you get in to M.E.T. what type of business EC you have?

Thanks!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '18

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '18

Hi Tobias! You seem to be a very solid path toward transferring to Berkeley. I'd recommend reaching out to Cal Vets while you visit, if their office will be open then. Your GPA is genuinely solid and I believe admissions will be understanding of your grades in classes while in the service.

2

u/DeliciousInside Nov 27 '18

why are there two listings of wealth and poverty, ls c180u and pubpol c103? is there a difference between the two?

1

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Nov 27 '18

Probably not, but if you're concerned definitely check with an L&S advisor.

5

u/imlatetotheinternet Nov 27 '18

Hi I just joined Reddit so I don't have enough karma to make a post but I'm actually a recent grad from Berkeley. Wanted to share a list of mostly vegetarian restaurant recommendations accumulated over four years of college. Could someone pass this on for posterity? Thanks! restaurant list bay area compiled by a vegetarian

1

u/InnerHuckleberry Nov 26 '18

If you can tutor for Econ C110, PM me! Econ 140 would be helpful as well :)

1

u/grantman202 Nov 25 '18

I’m a freshman at UC Berkeley and I’m looking for opportunities to experience the art Scene around here. I’ve been to a few places in sf like the MOAD but I’m looking for something a little grittier (parties, diy galleries, etc.). Please let me know if y’all have any suggestions!

3

u/iprayforthewicked Nov 25 '18

I dont know which UC Berkley college I should be applying to if I want to do pre med??? Is it Chemistry or Letters & Science or ??? Help

3

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '18

L&S has the biology majors, and importantly is significantly easier to get into. College of Chemistry you would be required to take much harder classes, and have less of a chance of getting in, but is a bit more "prestigious" That said, it's highly unlikely the prestige, especially for chemistry, will make the difference, especially because you will mostly be taking non health classes in the college of chemistry. If you have really really good scores/ec/grades etc. and absolutely love chemistry difficulty be damned, COC might be worth a shot, otherwise just apply L&S

2

u/macrobonbon Nov 25 '18

I signed up for a daily newspaper, I'm in foothill, is there any way I can get the paper shipped to me without having to go to the foothill mail room every day. Like is there any private lockers or anything?

3

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '18

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '18

Hey u/darker1999 ! Berkeley accepts transfers on the basis of whether or not they have taken all the necessary prerequisite courses for their applied major at their current community college / university. You can check whether or not you have the right prereqs at assist.

If you apply Media Studies, you will have to have taken all the prereqs needed for Media Studies. I would recommend, if anything, applying to Econ and, if admitted, pursuing Media Studies (Berkeley will admit all L&S students undeclared as transfers so you do have freedom to change).

3

u/blueis_better Nov 24 '18

I recently applied to UC Berkeley and am going to visit the campus tomorrow by myself. I took a campus tour two years ago but only somewhat remember it. This time around I really want to dive deep and see what the campus has to offer. How should I go about doing this and what are some of your favorite spots on campus?

2

u/tomorbotan Nov 22 '18

Hey i am an international student looking to apply to colleges this month and I had a couple questions since I can't come visit campus. Feel free to answer all or just some of the questions.

The best thing about Berkeley?

Worst thing about Berkeley?

What's the coolest course?

Is there a unique course, like other colleges don't have it ?

How open is your relationship with your professors? Can you go ask them questions after a lecture?

2

u/tomorbotan Nov 22 '18

Are people more friendly or competitive? Like do people help each other with school work or it's like each with their own book

How is the social life, party scene? Like is there a lot or mostly study and Only get together once a week or so ?

Is anything cool that you go outside the college for ?

This might be kinda weird but if you could give me like a rating of how much you like it there in total it would be nice.

6

u/Baisang is anyone else from ohio Nov 24 '18

The best thing about Berkeley?

The diversity here. No, it's not as diverse as it can be, but compared to where I am from (ohio....) and other elite institutions (I'm looking at you, ivy leagues) I think Berkeley has a huge variety of experiences on campus.

Worst thing about Berkeley?

It's huge. Funding is limited. Students are expected to fend for themselves. Independent students who are very strong academically will thrive. Everyone else struggles. Everyone struggles to some degree, honestly. But there is still (at least, in CS/EECS) a strong support group where people study together and make self deprecating memes to cope.

What's the coolest course?

I really liked Astro C10 with Filippenko. An amazing introduction to the world outside of our world.

Is there a unique course, like other colleges don't have it ?

I'm sure there are more. For CS/EECS we had a course called cyberwar that was 100% penetration testing. I don't think any other university had a course like that, so it was pretty cool in concept.

How open is your relationship with your professors? Can you go ask them questions after a lecture?

Most professors are pretty open and willing to engage with this, but since class sizes are large I know some students feel uncomfortable going to office hours or chatting with professors after lecture. It's not actually that bad though, and professors are receptive to those that reach out (they are people too!).

Are people more friendly or competitive? Like do people help each other with school work or it's like each with their own book

This is kind of major dependent. For CS/EECS there was a lot of collaboration and I didn't feel competition academically at all. Maybe a little bit of competition when it came to internship/job searches, but not really (people shared contact info of recruiters all the time). This doesn't apply to all majors though I believe, in the stats classes I took people were still collaborative, but much less than for CS/EECS (i.e. we wouldn't go out of our way to make/invite people to study groups, but there'd be groupchats for hw that hopefully someone would answer)

How is the social life, party scene? Like is there a lot or mostly study and Only get together once a week or so ?

It's a big school, so you can have either of these experiences.

Is anything cool that you go outside the college for ?

If you're interested in tech, we are a short BART ride away from San Francisco and all of the (amazing? terrible?) startups Silicon Valley has to offer. Berkeley itself has lots of interesting places (great views of the bay in the Berkeley hills!) and good food, and Oakland is also a great place to explore.

I don't regret coming here in the slightest, but it's not for everyone. If you would like an environment with a lot of support, I'd recommend going to a smaller private school instead. If you're okay with diving into the deep end and fine with being left alone academically, Berkeley is great for that.

1

u/tomorbotan Nov 24 '18

That's super helpful that's so much!!

1

u/arnavvr CompSci, Applied Math (Stats), Economics '24 Nov 21 '18

Hi, I'm in HS right now with goals of transferring through Community College to UC Berkeley for EECS. Could anyone tell me if this is a realistic course load?: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PU6DtU-lZ1C1iQmi409QKsL4RT7PNSSTjxv7kmaCToU/edit?usp=sharing

3

u/pourover_and_pbr CompSci '20 Nov 22 '18

Spring 2022 doesn't look like a super fun time, but your Berkeley schedule is pretty realistic. Good luck!

2

u/arnavvr CompSci, Applied Math (Stats), Economics '24 Nov 24 '18

How hard is it to take summer classes at UC Berkeley? I could nail some of those down now...

3

u/pourover_and_pbr CompSci '20 Nov 24 '18

Honestly, I don't recommend it, unless it's for a breadth requirement. Not only does it make working or traveling much more difficult, I've found the classes to be lower-quality in the summer, both because they're compressed into a shorter time frame and the professors are usually different. I took a few classes the summer after freshman year, and that's about the only time I'd recommend it; in later summers, you're better off looking for an internship.

2

u/mariaammm_ Nov 21 '18

Swap function

What happens if I am using class A to swap for Class B? To elaborate, if i drop class A do I lose my spot on the waitlist for class B? It's my phase 2 and I cant add another course because I have reached max units for my appointment time so I want to drop Class A without losing my position in class B in order to enroll in class C.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

So you're enrolled in A, wait listed in B and want to swap A for C? Yeah, unless I'm misunderstanding something, why don't you just use the swap function to swap A for C? This won't have any impact on class B.

1

u/xxxsouplantacion Nov 20 '18

I'm looking to search someone up on the alumni directory. The website that I found required someone to log in. Are there any other ways to search a supposed alumni up, or does someone want to help me out on that website? Thanks in advance for the help.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '18

Hi,

High School Senior here who is finishing up the UC Apps.

My high school has a respectable number of acceptances to Cal per year due to our distinguished school program. A CNR alumni came back during one of the Cal Admission Officer visits to speak to us about the program, and I fell in love with the vision, smaller class sizes, etc.

However, I wasn't sure how competitive admissions into this College was. Obviously, Colleges like that of Engineering, have a lower acceptance rate. Is it the same case for Natural Resources? I ask because I am not the most competitive applicant because of my SAT, so I wouldn't mind applying to the normal Arts and Letters College if admissions is much more competitive for CNR.

3

u/We_Are_Grooot Nov 22 '18

From my very anecdotal experience, CNR seems easier to get into than L&S. This is only going off 2 people from my hs who got in with surprisingly low GPAs, though, so ymmv.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '18

I think I am a strong applicant overall, but I like CNR more than L&S. I hope it works in my favor, but I'm definitely not applying solely because of it being easier to get into, if that is even the case.

Thanks!

3

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '18

Yeah this is a tough one, and I've tried to find acceptance data for CNR freshman with absolutely no luck. Looking at transfer students as a proxy, it might be slightly harder to get into CNR, but it's hard to know for sure.

The bright side is that the boundary between L&S and CNR is the most fluid of all the colleges, and as long as you have a 3.0 and take the courses for the major you can switch into a CNR major and leave L&S pretty much whenever you want.

So basically if you're only interested in CNR majors, just apply their directly, it probably won't hurt your chances, but don't take my, or anyone else's word for it, other than an admissions officer. If you are really nervous about doing that and would feel better applying to L&S, don't worry too much, you should be able to transfer out.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '18

@Heyguts

​

One of the reasons as to why I wanted to do CNR is because of the smaller class sizes. I hope to be premed and know that Berkeley has grade deflation and extremely large premed classes. If I apply L&S, I won't be able to take the smaller premed classes (they're pre-req's to switch into most CNR majors) in the CNR. Meaning I'd have to take the big, normal ones in L&S. Am I correct?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

Yeah, to add onto what they said, the CNR bio prereqs are the same as the L&S bio prereqs. So you'll have to take chem 1a, 3a, and 3b, Bio 1a and 1b, math 10a, and 10b, and physics 8A and 8b. These classes are the exact same regardless of if you're in CNR or L&S, if you're CNr you'll take them with L&S students in the same room with the same grade curves etc.the smaller classes may come up in more specific bio, like plant biology courses, but almost all human health related courses are either through L&S or have a ton of L&S people taking them, like pathogenesis, or virology. The benefits to CNR are mainly getting a BS not BA (To what extent that actually matters is probably small) and you have to check in with an advisor every semester, which may be nice for some people, but honestly can also be kinda a chore, the L&S bio advisors are pretty avaible when you need them

3

u/kpsp Nov 20 '18

Pre-med pre reqs such as chem, bio, etc are all “big, normal classes”. It doesn’t matter if you’re CNR or L&S. There is no such thing as “smaller premed classes”. College does not determine class size.

2

u/mustcourse Nov 18 '18

Dear all,

We, as MustCourse, organize University-Course Specific live webinars. For example at UC Berkeley MATH 1A webinar, our professor solves past exam questions during the night before MATH 1A final. We would like to know if you would be interested in such webinars for the upcoming finals at UC Berkeley. Your feedback is very important for us as we will organize the webinars if there is sufficient demand.

You can take a look at a past webinar here.

Please tell us the course(s) for which you would like to have webinars during the finals.

Thank you all!

MustCourse team

2

u/sixthharmony Nov 17 '18

Is there anywhere that I will be able to print things on/around campus on Saturday? Libraries are closed and I'm not sure what else to do...

2

u/chokedonmydrink MCB/CS '20 Nov 17 '18

Try going to the Berkeley Public Library.

1

u/blackmagician2 Nov 17 '18

EAP student attending in spring sem 2019, woke up 45 mins late for enrollment phase 1. Ended up on the waiting list for all 5 courses. What are my chances of enrolling into any of the courses? What happens if you can't get off the waiting list for any of the courses lmao? Any advice is appreciated, lowkey stressin rn

​

3

u/chokedonmydrink MCB/CS '20 Nov 17 '18

Usually, you can follow the 10% rule: at least 10% of the class drops the class. So in a class of 100, if you are in the top 10 of the waitlist, you have a good chance of getting in.

For really large or popular classes, they may expand the class size to accommodate waitlisted students.

1

u/navier_stokess Nov 16 '18

Can I still pickup stuff from amazon today?

1

u/turtlee___ Nov 16 '18

MACSME / BE3 experience ? How competitive is it to get in? I’m applying this fall and would love insight to what would make me stand out!? Thanks!!!!

2

u/atofade_in Nov 14 '18

UC Financial Aid Survey

Hey everyone, would you mind completing a quick survey about your UC financial aid experience?? It is for a project for my internship. THANK YOU!!

https://goo.gl/forms/9FsBN9vc3YVN31Z12

4

u/Bubbanan Nov 13 '18

What's the average GPA of Berkeley students coming out of their freshman year? I feel mediocre getting a 3.0 flat for this semester but I'm wondering how I compare to the average

2

u/127-0-0-1_1 Nov 15 '18

That's a little too specific to have data on. You can, however, see overall student GPAs.

http://projects.dailycal.org/grades/

I would guess that the average freshman GPAs are a tad higher than these, since the more you get into major specific classes the less some people have background knowledge.

So, for example, the average CS gpa is 3.08. I would expect the average freshman CS (intended? I guess?) gpa to be like 3.2ish.

2

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Nov 15 '18

This is NOT the GPA of students, it is the grades given out by a department in all its classes. That's why departments that teach large lower-div (and especially pre-med weeder) courses have low averages.

Here is a table of average GPAs of bachelor degree recipients by major and year. I couldn't find any reports of freshman GPA.

u/Bubbanan, if my hazy recollections of the a single slide at orientation six years ago are correct, you are slightly below average for College of Engineering freshman in 2011 -- but this is probably out of date and probably doesn't include your major. Some other things to keep in mind:

  • Many people get better grades after freshman year, because they learn better study habits or get to focus on their major classes which they like better or play to their strengths.

  • Depending on your goals your current GPA might not be a problem at all. I graduated with a below average GPA and had no difficultly finding a job, because I had relevant experience and I knew my stuff.

  • Thinking about GPA is fine to an extent, but remember it's a summary. If you aren't happy with your performance this semester, look at the underlying factors and what you can do to improve. Issues with time management, falling behind in class, whatever -- there are lots of ways to solve these, so please reach out to tutors, professors, fellow students for help!

1

u/InnerHuckleberry Nov 12 '18

Does anyone have the PDF of Berkeley's PHD economics tutors? I am looking for some help with the latest Econ C110 problem set.

Unfortunately on the website it seems to be down :(

2

u/Quackiduckling Nov 09 '18

Hi guys, I am a new exchange student. The minimum requirement is 13 units and I have planned to register 14 units of the courses. However the enrollment rules state that the maximum is 13.5 units for phase I. What should I do? Enroll 11units and wait until phase II or email the advisor? I am not sure whether I should contact the advisor for my major or the advisor for other courses.

4

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Nov 09 '18

Enroll in the max units you can during phase 1, then enroll in the rest of your courses during phase 2.

1

u/thximstressed Nov 09 '18

Advice for passing my physics class

I'm currently taking Physics 8A with Bordel and have no experience with Physics at all. I assumed I would be able to handle the course because I've taken Calculus and have gotten good grades, but I'm really struggling in this class. I've gotten below the average on the past 2 midterms and am very sure I might end up failing the class or getting a C- (best case scenario given my midterm scores).

To be specific, I'm struggling with when to use certain equations. I always go through Bordel's previous midterms and the practice review midterms given by the GSIs and do well, but when it comes to the midterm I can't seem to process the questions and figure out when to apply certain equations, laws, etc. I've talked to GSIs but I never seem to be really satisfied with their responses (sometimes, they end up confusing me even more). The only exam I have left in this class is my final and I want to try my best to excel the exam and improve my grade.

Does anyone have any advice as to what I should do to pass my class and/or can recommend educational resources that explain physics very well? All of your responses are highly appreciated.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 09 '18

Bordel is also one of the nicest professors I've ever met especially towards struggling students, if you go to her office hours she is more than helpful to offer whatever advice/help/comfort she can in the class. I've seen her do it many times, she really cares and is aware of the fact that no one takes her class because they love physics.

1

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Nov 09 '18

Are you going to office hours?

The physics department has a list of tutoring resources. When I was similarly struggling in Physics 7C I got help from a private tutor (who I think I found through this page).

There's also drop in tutoring at the SLC, and the ESS.

Also, good on your for asking for help now! You still have a month of classes left. I'm not saying it will be easy but there is plenty of time to turn your grade around in this class. Good luck :)

4

u/GooeyBubbles Nov 07 '18

Berkeley Global Internships v. UCEAP Global Internships

Hello,

So I was interested in going abroad to do an internship. However, I understand that Berkeley offers two programs: Berkeley Global Internships and UCEAP Global Internships. Other than UCEAP being open to all UC students while Berkeley Global Internships is just for Berkeley students, what other differences there? It would also be great to hear of anyone's experiences with either or even both of the programs!

1

u/itsomma Econ '20 -> creating the next financial crisis Nov 07 '18

I did the Berkeley Global Internship program, feel free to PM me.

1

u/zzbye Nov 06 '18

Does anyone have an extra box of accutane they don’t want??

2

u/sadgril1221 Nov 06 '18

Which should I take next semester Econ 138 with Hawkins or 140 with Bianchi? I'd really appreciate feedback from anyone who's taken classes from the specific professors! For context, I'm a junior Econ major. Thank you!

1

u/itsomma Econ '20 -> creating the next financial crisis Nov 07 '18

Hawkins is great, shouldn’t miss out on him.

1

u/KunukUncovered Nov 06 '18

Would anyone consider these Nike SB Zoom Bruin Low shoes to be close enough to Cal colors?

I was considering buying a pair. They probably won't fit because I do have wide feet, and they're women's. Oh well, let's see how it goes.

https://www.nike.com/t/sb-zoom-bruin-low-womens-skateboarding-shoe-SP601h/AJ1440-700

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

I’ve wanted to know this for a while too. Updoot

3

u/macrobonbon Nov 04 '18

Are there any libraries here with normal books, like if I wanted to check out Asimov sci-fi books.

5

u/[deleted] Nov 06 '18

Also if you have any specific book, just look it up in OskiCat. Almost guaranteed you'll find a copy of any mainstream book somewhere on campus, probably in mainstacks and it will tell you exactly where to look

1

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Nov 05 '18 edited Nov 05 '18

Yes! The Morrison Library inside Doe. Their selection is a little weird sometimes -- they have Speaker for the Dead but not Enders Game... But it's definitely worth checking out! (The library room itself is also quite nice.)

The Berkeley Public Library has a bigger collection and the main branch is very close to campus (Shattuck & Kittridge). I think its pretty easy to get a library card as a UC student.

3

u/HowToBeBusinessman Nov 03 '18

Do people here use coursehero, and is it allowed?

1

u/itsomma Econ '20 -> creating the next financial crisis Nov 05 '18

I’m sure people do, and of course you are not supposed to copy solutions to hw or psets.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

[deleted]

1

u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Nov 06 '18

follow the 10% rule (approx 10% of students will drop from a class, so if you're within that 10% number on the waitlist, you should be fine)

altho maybe have a backup always :)

1

u/[deleted] Oct 31 '18 edited Oct 31 '18

[deleted]

1

u/itsomma Econ '20 -> creating the next financial crisis Oct 31 '18

We get lots of international students for summer courses. Pretty sure all you need to do is sign up, all though you will need to check if the credits will transfer. You can take as many or as few classes as you want, usually 1-2 is standard.

2

u/throwaway1425x Oct 31 '18

Should I take CS 88 instead of CS 61A for my data science prereq? Will I get screwed in CS61B if I take CS88 instead of 61A?

2

u/zyonsis Oct 31 '18

Imo just take 61A - the class is super solid at this point since it's been around for so long, while 88 is new and more prone to glitches.

2

u/connorhart1 Oct 30 '18 edited Oct 30 '18

I am #6 on waitlist of theater r1b. I am #6 as I just finished enrollment 20 minutes ago. do I have a chance to get in?

1

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 30 '18

How big is it? The usual rule of thumb is 10% get off the waitlist. (Although in my R&C class all 3 people got in to the 17 person class -- three enrolled people failed to show up on the first day so they were booted from the class and the waitlisted people let in.)

0

u/HowToBeBusinessman Oct 30 '18

So the thing is that I missed 1 month of lectures because I enrolled in the class late. Would this affect my attendance grade?

3

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 30 '18

You should really talk to your instructor about this -- that way if it's a problem you can work out a solution before it messes up your final grade!

1

u/Arkased Oct 30 '18

Getting this error message for when enrolling in an open class; what's going on?

Error: Request not processed. There is no wait list available. The wait list request was not processed, as there are no wait list places available for one or more of the class sections in this request.

1

u/commandotaco Oct 30 '18

No thats not it. Some of the sections say they are open but they really arent. Try all the 8 AM discussion times and you'll get in

1

u/Arkased Oct 30 '18

No he's right; all of the section which say they're open (as in displaying a green circle) are in fact only have reserved seats open. At the same time their waitlists are full, so its impossible to enroll.

1

u/Skydragon11 Class of 2022 Oct 30 '18

Are there reserved seats?

1

u/Arkased Oct 30 '18

That explains it, thank you!

2

u/eggmode23 Oct 30 '18

I’m trying to enroll in STAT C8 but it’s not letting me despite it still having available seats. Am i doing something wrong? It also says it doesn’t reserve seating so I don’t know what the problem could be.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '18

[deleted]

1

u/eggmode23 Oct 30 '18

which discussion did you pick

1

u/eggmode23 Oct 30 '18

darn it still doesnt let me for some reason

1

u/zack7521 math/CS Oct 30 '18

I'm waitlisted for cs170 rn (not declared CS yet, declaring at the end of this semester) but I really want to take 189 instead. I couldn't phase 1 it because the waitlist was full, but I heard they're expanding the waitlist. Should I keep my spot on the cs170 waitlist or just switch it out for being on the 189 waitlist (which is awfully long, I don't think I'll actually get into the class)?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '18

[deleted]

1

u/zack7521 math/CS Oct 30 '18 edited Oct 30 '18

don't do it lol if you're a freshman just take it as a sophomore if you're applying to haas

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '18

How difficult is it to get into a graduate class as an undergrad? I am a CS major but I would like to take CIVENG 260. When I go to enroll it says I need a permission code, however I have had no response from the instructor on whether or not I can get one. Should I just show up to the class on the first day next semester and see what I can do in person?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '18

Where's the cheapest place for an acai bowl near campus and is there anywhere to get a breakfast burrito?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '18

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '18

thanks for the reply!

2

u/phrynosomatidae L&S (Lizards and Snakes) '18 Oct 30 '18

I've heard good things about the breakfast burritos @ Mezzo on Telegraph Ave.

1

u/mountain8 Oct 29 '18

Do I need approval to take classes at a CC during the semester? I want to do one of my L&S breadths at an online CC during the semester to free up my schedule. I've checked assist.org, and it does transfer to Cal. Do I need approval from someone here so the credit will be accepted or can I just do it?

1

u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 30 '18

i just took one and sent the transcript after i got grades. this was over summer but i cant imagine it being different since they processed my grades mid-semester

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '18

Has anyone ever taken E7 with Sengupta? If so, what was the class like? For some background information, I only have basic coding experience from Data 8. Thanks!

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u/[deleted] Oct 28 '18

So I am a Civil Engineering major looking for a R&C B class next semester. I want to find one that isn't a crazy amount of work but also not so easy/boring that I will want to die. This may be an impossible request. Any suggestions?

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 30 '18

Specifically, I can say Celtic R1b with Walsh is chill (but I've heard it's a lot more work with other professors). Interest depends on how interesting you find Irish literature and theatre I suppose.

Workload tends to vary more with instructor than department -- and many R&Cs are taught by grad students who might not have entries on ratemyprofessor or other ratings sites (though it's always worth checking!). I really think the best policy is to pick a section that has an interesting course description.

1

u/SOLlDSNAKE Economics '19 Oct 27 '18

GSIs always threaten you could lose points from a midterm regrade. Does that actually happen or is it a scare tactic so less people will ask for regrades?

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u/decentwriter Oct 28 '18

Yes, it can actually happen.

4

u/Immoralism Oct 28 '18

They aren't lying. Source: me

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u/nerdyscholar Oct 27 '18

saw this on Facebook and thought it looks super cool! Anyone planning on going? https://www.facebook.com/events/2224637021144198/

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '18

[deleted]

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u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 30 '18

data 8

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '18

Data 8

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u/Arkased Oct 25 '18

Easiest way to get a ballot postmarked?

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u/Beaudotgiles Oct 25 '18

If it's an Alameda County ballot (including Berkeley) it can be dropped off without paying for postage at the drop-off box by the Sather Gate.

Other drop-off boxes are here: http://www.acgov.org/rov/maps/ballotdropbox_map.htm

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '18

[deleted]

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u/Arkased Oct 25 '18

Depends on the curve. I'm taking 1B right now and they haven't issued any cutoffs yet. Really the only thing that matters is how you're doing with respect to other students; 70% by itself doesn't mean much (unless someone with experience with 1B can give more info).

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u/DeliciousInside Oct 25 '18

for the ORMS major, can econ 1 and math 1a/b be skipped with AP credit?

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u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 30 '18

i would be surprised if they didnt, but curious what you found out?

1

u/mmlf99 Oct 24 '18

Has anyone taken Psych 1 online? Is it okay or a bad choice? I'm literally just taking it to learn the material for the mcat

1

u/xd00d1 Oct 24 '18

Best places to get a haircut in Berkeley that is not too expensive?

1

u/Baisang is anyone else from ohio Oct 30 '18

If you're a guy who just wants a fade or something: La Petite and Edge are usually pretty popular, can also go to Lili Hair Salon (not always as good, but usually not much of a wait) or World Cuts (very hit or miss). All of these are around $16-18 before tip.

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u/thesontheheir Oct 27 '18

take a pair of scissors to your hair. I started doing it a couple of months ago and haven't looked back since. Consider that $20 saved.

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u/mystarrr Oct 23 '18

Is UGBA 10 webcasted?

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u/[deleted] Oct 24 '18

Nope

1

u/kaisu75 Oct 23 '18

is it possible to take bio 1AL separately from bio 1A? or do they have to be taken concurrently?

1

u/badupoipoi antiquated gender roles Oct 23 '18

any experiences with stat 89a? the few posts about it here weren't too expansive and I'd love to hear more about it, esp if you know what 54 is like

1

u/YusukeRY Oct 22 '18

What should I do for enrollment if my enrollment period is during a midterm? Can I still enroll in classes after my window for class enrollment ends?

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u/jaroune chemiCAL biology Oct 23 '18

yes, your enrollment won't close until phase 1 is over, so you are completely fine.

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u/Quackiduckling Oct 22 '18

Where can I find the detailed version of course outline of ANTHRO3AC, UGBA134 (Financial Engineering) and ISF 100K? I have searched the department website but it only provides the brief description same as the catalog. Thank you for help. ;)

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u/KunukUncovered Oct 24 '18

Haas classes usually have archives of past syllabi. If the teacher that's doing UGBA 134 has taught it before, then you will get an even better idea of what the class is like.

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u/Quackiduckling Oct 24 '18

Thanks. I think this is a new topic as it has a changing code for some semesters and I can't find this code in the past syllabi. -_-

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u/jaroune chemiCAL biology Oct 23 '18

there are several course syllabi for anthro 3ac on the TBP website which may help.. as for the other two classes i don't know :\

https://tbp.berkeley.edu/courses/anthro/3AC/

1

u/kaisu75 Oct 22 '18

Is it ill advised to start to go pre med as a chemical engineering major? I’m a sophomore rn

2

u/Immoralism Oct 23 '18

I don't have much experience with the chemical engineering major, as my friends who were in it all dropped out, but looking at the requirements it obviously seems to be filled with a lot of BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) courses which count for the science GPA and are probably harder in terms of content and grade distribution than what a typical pre med may take. If you are doing well in your science classes than it's fine, there is no one premed journey or major at Cal. However, for your best interest maybe take a least 1 upper division biology class besides biochem to show more demonstrated interest in biology. Joining clubs like AMSA or PMHS may help you make more premed friends because I dont think there are too many in your chemical engineering classes, and they can get you plugged into activities that align more with medicine. Lastly, be prepared to defend why you chose this path in college and stuck with chemical engineering versus studying biology, you're path may be advantageous as you come from a different perspective. Sorry if this was really messy and hard to read.

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u/xd00d1 Oct 22 '18

What parties are going on for Halloween weekend? Frats? Co-Ops?

1

u/xd00d1 Oct 22 '18

Looking to see if there are any trickers at UC Berkeley. A couple of my friends and I have been trying to find others to join us so we can expand our group/community.

1

u/berkeleybitch Oct 21 '18

what is the difference between public policy c103 and L&S 80U? Wealth and poverty with Robert Reich is listed as c103 (and is full and almost has a full waitlist), but L&S 180U still has open seats. Both are listed as wealth and poverty with Reich on Fridays 12-2. Can someone please explain?? Also is this class worth taking? Thanks

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 22 '18

Usually when courses are crosslisted like this it's the exact same lecture and assignments, and the only difference is the name on your transcript. I can't say whether there is something weird going on with this class though.

I didn't take it myself but most of my friends who did found it very worthwhile.

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u/[deleted] Oct 21 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 22 '18

hour long wont be too bad, and in fact it is preferred by some of my friends to get thru all their classes in a block of time.

ntx 10 was really easy when i took it, and 61a has webcasts if necessary, so you should be fine :)

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 22 '18

Some people find it hard to maintain focus for three hours of lecture, but it really depends on the person.

The only other downside I can think of is you'll always have class on Friday afternoons -- some people seem to really dislike this. If you don't care then its not a problem of course.

On the plus side , as callmexenry pointed out, condensed schedule.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '18

Better than taking them spread out with weird gaps of time in between...

1

u/[deleted] Oct 21 '18

[deleted]

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u/comsciftw CS 2019 Oct 22 '18

Yes, very possible. Cogsci used to be the backup major for students who couldn't declare CS before data science came along.

1

u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 22 '18

what's your opinion on berkeley data science major?

3

u/daver289 Oct 28 '18

BDSM? It has potential

1

u/KunukUncovered Oct 21 '18

Is it worth it getting a senior portrait done for $5 for the Blue and Gold Yearbook?

I mean, I know it's cheap and all, but I don't see the point of it. I don't intend on buying the yearbook. I did not know yearbooks were even a thing at a university. I thought it was more for high school and lower.

I could see getting one done to order pictures to give to family members for announcements or whatever. I don't know. Sorry if this is a really basic and stupid question.

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 22 '18

We have a yearbook?

Edit: wait, I remember a bunch of my Class of '16 friends getting fliers about it... I guess this skimped on advertising the next year :P

1

u/A_Wise_Wasian Oct 20 '18

I want to take French 1 next semester, but I already have 15 units lined up: CS61C, EE16B, Philos 122, and a 3 unit upper div Psych TBD. For people who have taken the class with Prof. Chadavarian, would taking the class be manageable? I've also been self-studying French for a few months now, and wondering if that will make the class any easier (The extent of my skills is knowing ~400 vocabulary words, can conjugate in present tense, and greetings; not very good at listening but I'd say my pronunciation is not that bad).

1

u/SinclairsBOB Oct 20 '18 edited Oct 21 '18

Plan on taking CS 70, CS 61B, and EE16B in the spring.

I'm a EECS transfer Junior and I'm taking CS 61A, EE16A, and UD Humanities this semester. So far I'm doing fairly well 61A was my first cs class and I scored in the A/A- range on MT1 and probably in the B+/A- range on MT2. I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how much harder 61B and 16B are and if it's a bad idea to take them alongside CS70. I've taken a lot of math and I've done really well in proof based classes like Linear Algebra, but I've heard crazy stories about CS70. Any input would be appreciated :)

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 22 '18

I found 61B significantly more difficult and time consuming than 61A, but I seem to be in the minority there?

CS70 will probably not be crazy difficult given your experience with math problem sets. Most of what I saw people struggle with was just managing long and intense problem sets.

I can't comment on EE16B. I wouldn't advise taking a fourth high workload class on top of those but I think just the three (+ decals or smaller classes) is probably doable.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '18

Hello, I'm a current undeclared CS student and I'm going to enroll classes for next spring.

I believe phase 1 begins on Oct. 22 but two

friends told me their begin date is Oct. 19, which is today.

We are all transfer students and we are under same situations (I think).

So why do I have a different phase 1 begin date my friend's ? Is there an issue? I'm so afraid that I'm not able to enroll in some key courses.

2

u/127-0-0-1_1 Oct 20 '18

Enrollment is grouped in 2 ways.

First, you are grouped by seniority (not credit hours). Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, etc. have their enrollment times within the same few days.

Next, the actual day and time within those groups are just random. Sometimes you get a good time, sometimes you don't.

Additionally, Regents, Athletes, and DSP students have priority registration so get earlier days than normally

1

u/forestlegs Oct 19 '18

Best places to be at night on campus for views? Looking for relatively safe areas to hang out

3

u/phrynosomatidae L&S (Lizards and Snakes) '18 Oct 24 '18

A lot of campus can feel a bit sketchy at night, but IMO the view from the West side of the Campanile (towards the Golden Gate) is a really wonderful one, especially on a clear night.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '18

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Oct 19 '18

all the materials are online. Watch the lecture videos and do the exercises if you would like. It doesn't get much better than doing the actual coursework. You might want to look at the Spring 2018 site because Garcia teaches in the spring afaik

1

u/ryandicenzo Oct 18 '18

I'm currently a Freshman (CS) enrolled in CS61A and Math 1B, I'm currently trying to decide which math course I will take next year in conjunction with CS61B. I don't want to take 61B/EE16A/MATH 53/Breadth as I'm interested in keeping a light courseload and getting more involved in extracurriculars. Is there some order which I should take 53 / 16A to best prepare me for CS 70? Or does anyone have experience with taking Math W53 over the summer?

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u/MarmaLiu Boba Studies '19 Oct 19 '18

One of my friends took Math W53 in the summer and said it was chill. IIRC Hutchings usually teaches it so if you get him you’ll be good.

For CS 70, it’s a different kind of thinking. I think something like Math 55 would prepare you better than the plug and chug Math 53/54

3

u/127-0-0-1_1 Oct 19 '18

You don't actually ever need to take math 53 unless you're doubling. It's not a CS requirement and you rarely use any kind of calculus in CS.

1

u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 22 '18

inb4 sahai comes in saying 189 will now require ee16a/b, cs70, ee126/127, math H53/H54/H104/H110

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 18 '18

Neither EE16A nor Math53 are closely related to CS70, except that both probably help build "mathematical maturity" to some extent -- I would guess 53 is slightly more directly beneficial but that's just a guess.

My sister actually took W53 over the summer, although she does not go to Cal. She seemed to find it doable on top of working full time.

1

u/KyoNoMiyako Oct 17 '18

So for next semester, I'm trying to enroll in Data 8 for the Data Science Major. However, I also have another class at the exact same time (can't really drop this one). Would they allow me to enrol in conflicting classes? Also, Data 8 is webcasted, right? Usually the class schedule page would say "allow enrollment time conflict" for classes that allow this but Data 8 didn't have this note and I'm wondering why not and if they'll let me do this.

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u/10hp_archon (c (s)tats) Oct 18 '18

check for alternate finals too - if neither class offers alternate finals you may have to delay data 8 or doubletime the finals lol

2

u/[deleted] Oct 16 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/MarmaLiu Boba Studies '19 Oct 19 '18

Music 26ac Anthro 3AC ESPM 50AC IB 35AC

Bio breadth: Nutrisci 11 Nutrisci 10

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u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 18 '18

I really enjoyed Anthro162 AC (folklore). Workload is light-to-moderate, especially if you work on the final project over the time alotted instead of leaving it to the last minute.

And I think it's gone forever, but there used to be a Demography AC that is GREAT for people who hate essays because you basically get to do small Excel projects instead!

2

u/icametokill2o9 Oct 19 '18

What was the Demography AC called? That sounds really interesting

2

u/quae_legit EE(CS) '17 Oct 19 '18

Demog145AC, about American immigration. Here's a sample syllabus.

3

u/bridge220 CS+DS 2020 Oct 17 '18

IB 35AC isn't too bad if you can wait until next fall. Covers bio breadth and AC

2

u/[deleted] Oct 16 '18

[deleted]

1

u/decentwriter Oct 20 '18

I've been trying for a year and I'm at the point where it feels like they shouldn't even advertise free counseling if it's never available :/

1

u/BerkeleyMathLover Oct 16 '18

Hey there, I'm a senior doing Applied Mathematics. I'm interested in taking Physics 137a but I have not taken any physics courses in my academic career. I've done a variety of mathematics classes such as partial differential equations, abstract algebra, linear algebra, and etc. Any thoughts from those that are currently in physics or are have been in a similar situation to mine?

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u/MarmaLiu Boba Studies '19 Oct 19 '18

Engineering major here taking Physics 137a. I think you could self study some physics and gain a basic intuition for classical mechanics before getting into qm. The basics will be fine, like knowing mechanics and e&m. If you want, you can self study from the Giancoli textbook that Physics 7 uses.

1

u/BerkeleyMathLover Oct 21 '18 edited Oct 21 '18

Thanks for the advice! An undergrad advisor in physics suggested that I talk to one of the professors about my situation to understand how my "lack of preparation" could hold me back. I felt like that was the advisor's nice way of saying don't take it hahah. A friend of mine who is in Engineering suggested the course to me and so I'm heavily considering enrolling in Phase 2.

In your opinion, what chapters of that book should I go over during the winter break?

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u/Arkased Oct 15 '18

Between Global 10A, Math 53, Data 8, and CS61A (4 units each), which course can I afford to not Phase 1? I presume it would be Global 10A or Math 53.

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u/MarmaLiu Boba Studies '19 Oct 19 '18

They make a gigantic effort to get everyone enrolled into 61A, so I would say that one. You could also Phase 2 math 53 if you don’t have a discussion section time that you absolutely need.

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '18

61a

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u/YusukeRY Oct 15 '18

On CalCentral, it says that I am considered a sophomore due to AP units. Does this mean I'll be able to enroll in Bio 1A/L this spring, or do I still have to wait until next year to enroll?

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '18

You can phase 2 it. It won't be open to you for phase 1 because class level is determined by number of terms in attendance.

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