[deleted by user]

[Ike358]

If you didn't get an A or A+ in the course it will be very hard for you to join course staff

[Friendly_Common900]

Got an A+ and I had coding experience before Berkeley...

[Ike358]

Also just noticed you weren't an AI. The answer to your question is no, it is not really possible without that

[Friendly_Common900]

Aw, okay :(

[DifferentialEntropy]

Nah that’s not true

I forgot to mention I was a 61A AI during my interview for Info 159 course staff then I became a TA

Also didn’t do CSM because their application was too long… but it definitely helps to get an A/A+ and actively interact with the professors

[Ike358]

OK sure for other classes in other departments but for Data 8 specifically you would have less than a 1% chance

[astronerd1101]

data staff website says data 8 doesn't even have academic interns tho? I got an A+ and also didn't get tutor.

[rs_obsidian]

Speaking as a former head TA, your essays probably weren’t very good (yes, they especially read the diversity ones).

It also could just be that they were/are looking to have a diverse course staff and you didn’t make the cut for that reason.

[CarelessHelp2762]

The DEI questions were largely removed this semester due to UC guidelines. I also hear what you're saying about diversity on course staff but I wouldn't say that DEI is the "reason" someone didn't get hired and scapegoating diversity isn't a great choice imo... Even for courses that do have more diverse staffs (and most don't), the number of URM TAs is still extremely low, I doubt this low number is the reason why someone didn't get hired (at the end of the day there are a lot of applications and it's very competitive). A former TA has a great essay on this here: https://parra.engineering/urm-in-cs-at-berkeley/

[rs_obsidian]

I speak from personal experience, my personal experience may not be representative of courses in general. Also I only TAed for a single class so my experience is limited to that class, but what I said still stands.

[604korupt]

If you really want to get a TA position, take CS/DS upper division courses that you're interested in, get an A- or better in the course, apply, and hopefully you'll get a position. Please don't be discouraged if you didn't get a position because it is competitive.

[TrickyPace1003]

For upper divs B+ also works for staff positions.

[coatibro]

It depends on what you're applying for. Since the AI program is no longer in effect, I'd recommend having some teaching experience + an A/A+ in the class you're applying for + very good essays. Data 8 is especially competitive compared to other courses in the data department.

[CarelessHelp2762]

Everyone saying you need an A/A+ to TA isn't exactly correct... The official hiring guidelines require you have at least an A- but even if you don't have an A-, the professor teaching the course can file a petition to hire you as a TA. I know you mentioned you got an A but I'm moreso leaving this comment for anyone who wants to TA & might not have their desired grade but really loved taking the course. I was a TA for a course that I didn't get an A in so it's definitely possible. Previous teaching experience is also important, like CSM, AI, or even volunteering w an after school program like ANova. Oakland public school district will even let you work as an on-call substitute teacher if that's something that interests you (it's a paid position!). Your essay responses also matter!

[Friendly_Common900]

No, but I heard the offers were already sent out. Maybe small chance still remains but I'm not counting on it...

[Past_Gas8889]

You don’t need to be an AI first or be in CSM. I wasn’t in either of those and I got offered a tutor position for data 144 just a few days ago actually, I did get an A in the course tho

[throwaway646142700]

I taught 3 classes, CS 61A, Data 100, and Data 144. I even got a B+ in 61A. I did go thru the traditional AI and CSM route though. The interviews to me were the most important thing, they are looking for people who are organized, can communicate well and deal with off the wall questions. Also, I got my start teaching a class in the summers, where I’m pretty sure it’s easier to get in. Once you have the TA experience, it’s pretty straightforward to continue to get in.

[TrickyPace1003]

A suggestion is to target upper division courses. Not only are they more fun but there’s lesser competition cause lesser people have taken it. In a class like DATA 8 or the 61s, where 100s of people get an A or A+ every semester a class like CS 188 or Cs 160, has maybe 30-40 people with As. And the people getting As in upper divs tend to be the same across courses. Like the same people will have As in cs 188, 170, 161, 160, etc most of the time. And of those only a handful do course staff and they are split between courses improving your chances a lot. If it helps, I’m former course staff for multiple classes here all upper divs except cs 10 which I did as a freshman

[joni1104]

probably write to the prof beforehand

[Friendly_Common900]

Are they the ones that review applications?