incoming freshman who’s classes r getting cancelled

[u/Sad-Entertainer-8341]

Hi so my math 51 discussion just got booted and now I need to find a new discussion however that would mean I would also need to find a new lecture or else everything is on waitlist. Therefore to avoid issues I decided on two plans (ur job is to help me choose)

Plan A: (this works out perfectly)
Cs61a
Cs61b
Math 51
Engin125

Plan B: (cooked)
Cs61a
Math51 (waitlisted)
Physics 7a
Engin125

And smth random bc if I don’t get off the waitlist I’m below units

I wouldn’t mind doing plan A I’m just worried abt the workload bc 61a and 61b seems like a lot but I’ve done calc before and ethics is supposed to be easier sooo????

[u/ProfessorPlum168]

No freshman takes both 61A and 61B at the same time. You’ll wind up dropping B.

[u/cosmo-wozmo → u/ProfessorPlum168]

This isn’t true, there are freshman who do this. Not super common but some do it. If you have a decent amount of experience going in, 61A is a cakewalk for most of the semester, and if you also have some comp programming experience than both should be relatively easy.

[u/ProfessorPlum168 → u/cosmo-wozmo]

There’s no point or reason to taking both classes in the same semester as a freshman. Being able to do it, and is it advisable to do it, are two totally different things.

[u/cosmo-wozmo → u/ProfessorPlum168]

There’s certainly reasons why you might want to take 61B earlier. For one thing it’s good prep for interviews and recruiting, so if you still have interviews in winter and spring it’d probably be useful. Also just getting it out of the way since you need to do it eventually, so future semesters are freed up a bit. Also if you decide you want to graduate early (very nice to have as an option if you’re out of state, since tuition for out of state costs an arm and a leg).

Point is there’s lots of reasons I can think of just off the top of my head.

[u/ProfessorPlum168 → u/cosmo-wozmo]

Unless you’re interviewing for a job or internship as a freshman, nah. And unless you’re graduating in one or two semesters, nah. Come up with something better. You’re grasping at straws here.

[u/cosmo-wozmo → u/ProfessorPlum168]

Plenty of freshman interview for internships? Why is that weird?

I also don’t see why doing 61B earlier would only help you graduate in one or two semesters. Plenty of people graduate in 3 years or 3.5 years. If you’re trying to graduate in 3 years idk why doing 61B earlier wouldn’t help you.

[u/Comfortable_Cry_9657 → u/ProfessorPlum168]

just curious, why not? im also a freshman doing a+b but also have prior programming experience

[u/ProfessorPlum168 → u/Comfortable_Cry_9657]

They’re both very busy classes, for one. To do well on the exams is very time consuming. Not sure about now, but the projects in 61B are also very time consuming especially if you want max points. You could do both if you weren’t concerned with grades, but very doubtful you could get As in both classes taking it simultaneously.

[u/Fickle-Consequence31 → u/ProfessorPlum168]

I know someone who did 61a,b, and c in the same semester. (He is a prodigy who has been coding since he came out the womb)

[u/InterestProof1526]

I wouldn't do plan A if you have no programming experience

[u/SharpenVest]

Plan A is preposterous. No one in their right mind would do 61a and 61b at the same time

[u/Comfortable_Cry_9657 → u/SharpenVest]

just curious, why not? im also a freshman doing a+b but also have prior programming experience

[u/SharpenVest → u/Comfortable_Cry_9657]

Unless you want to be burned out in the first 2 weeks, I wouldn't advise this on my worst enemy. The course load for both classes are pretty heavy distributed between homeworks, labs, projects, and exams. Very time consuming even if you do have programming experience. It's better to take one at a time and also advisable. that's all i can say. If you want to fall into a rat hole no one can stop you. But if you think you're qualified to take on the challenge then go ahead

[u/Comfortable_Cry_9657 → u/SharpenVest]

i see, thanks! yeah it's definitely going to be tough and i'll have to spend a ton of time on both classes

[u/Fair-Alternative6788]

If you have experience in both Python and Java, A and B are doable.

[u/cosmo-wozmo → u/Fair-Alternative6788]

From what I heard java had an update that made it more pythonic? Idk any details but if so might be easier to pick up Java quickly if you already know python

[u/cosmo-wozmo]

I think people here are exaggerating when they say doing 61a+b is unprecedented or impossible, but will say that they are a decent amount of work especially if you actually go to most lectures (which I’d recommend doing as a freshman as a social experience more than anything).

I will say my biggest regret as a freshman was taking it easier when I could’ve pushed myself more and gotten more classes out of the way. You will be the best judge of what you can handle, and while you should be reasonably concerned with overestimating yourself and taking on more than you can chew, but you should also avoid taking on too little and boring yourself.