Admission by examination at UCB

No, just admits to UC Berkeley. And in any case, you need to stop being so butthurt. You thought that simply meeting the requirements will get you in, when it’s clearly stated on the UC websites that most applicants have a much higher GPA and test scores. No matter how good your test scores may have been, your gpa is simply just too low, especially when compared to other students.

Much higher than 35? 800 subject tests? Really. That’s most impressive.

@ethellou Lol, you only got 800 in one subject test. In my high school alone, about 3 people got perfect on the SAT II Math Level II in my graduating year (400 seniors) and only I got in UCB (so, 2 of the 3 perfect scores did not get in)… The other person who got in did not have perfect Math II but she had good scores >750 in both subject tests(which made her overall SAT subject score better than yours since both of her SAT Subjects combined were higher than yours) and >2200 SAT and good GPA.

I am OOS and I assume you would be as well since you should have been able to get in with your scores if you were in state.

Only two people in my school got in - me and this other girl that I described.

Again, if 425 is ridiculously low, make it 470. Saying it’s 425 is duplicitous.

You still need to understand that the minimum eligibility requirements for consideration for competitive admission are not the same as the minimum requirements for automatic admission. Competitive admission may result in a much higher threshold for admission than the minimum eligibility requirements.

425 might not be low for an applicant who otherwise has an outstanding record, but (due to being home schooled or otherwise having a non-traditional high school background) may be missing one of the a-g requirements. But an applicant who brings a 425 and a mediocre record in a traditional high school background should not expect good chances of admission.

Again, if 425 isn’t realistic, the minimum for consideration should be changed. I had a 459 and gave it a shot. If 470 is really what they’re looking for, they should say so. Even I, with my measly 459, could read the writing on that wall. And again, again, the website says NOTHING about homeschooling.

It never said that admission was only by the test scores; it just said that the test scores would qualify one to apply into the competitive admission process (where all of your credentials would be considered). In addition, the minimum threshold for eligibility to apply is for any UC in the system. A student who meets the minimum eligibility to apply would have a greater chance of admission to UCM than UCB, so the minimum eligibility is set to allow for potential admits to UCM to be eligible, even if they would not be admitted to UCB.

Thank you for not saying anything about homeschooling. How low do you think they went this year? 425? 430? 460?

@ethellou So, what did you think the 425 meant? Did you think that the 425 meant that everyone who got over 425 are automatically in?

Did you honestly think that admissions by exam means that everyone scored over 425 would be accepted?

Even if admissions by exam were true, note that you read this on the general UC website, that means 425 is the least you have to achieve, which would probably only get you in UCM, while you got 459, even if admissions by exam were true, the best you would have got in would be UCSD/ UCSC, there is no way you would have got in to UCB/ UCLA. Yet you are complaining about how you did not get accepted to UCB/ UCLA when your scores are merely around their average.

This is how UC applications are reviewed. Note that GPA is at the top of the list.

Admission staff assess students’ academic achievements in light of the opportunities available to them and their demonstrated capacity to contribute to the intellectual life at UC. The 14 factors we consider are:
• Academic grade point average in all completed “a-g” courses, including additional points for completed UC- designated honors courses
• Scores on the ACT with Writing or SAT with Writing
• Number of, content of and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum “a-g” requirements
• Number of and performance in approved honors courses, Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses and transferable college courses
• Identification by UC as ranking in the top 9 percent of the student’s high school class (eligible in the local context, or ELC)
• Quality of a student’s senior-year program, as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned
• Quality of the academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in the student’s high school
• Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas
• Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic eld of study
• Recent, marked improvement in academic performance, as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress
•Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular eld, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as signi cant community service or signi cant participation
in student government; or other signi cant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student’s promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus
• Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of a student’s high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs
• Academic accomplishments in light of a student’s life experiences and special circumstances, including but not limited to: disabilities, low family income, rst generation
to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, di cult personal and family situations or circumstances, refugee status or veteran status.
• Location of a student’s secondary school and residence

That’s great. They should delete this page http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination/

where they say that a UC score of 425 is ‘high.’

If 425 is ‘high’, what is 459?

What have you been smoking? I’m not just referring to Berkeley and UCLA. SD, SB, and Irvine as well. And my 35 is well above the average at Berkeley and UCLA. You should look at the numbers. Berkeley AVERAGE ACT is 30 and the middle 50 percent range is 27-33. At UCLA numbers are 28 and 25-33, according to prepscholar.com. The Berkeley website shows average Admitted in-state at 31 and out of State at 33. UCLA’s site shows a middle 50% range of 28-34 with enrollment at 26-32.

EVERYTHING < 35.

The referenced link you posted says as a non-resident the minimum UC score is 425 which makes an applicant eligible to have their application “considered”. No where does it say that a UC score of 425 is “high”.
As everyone posting keeps on stating, meeting the minimum does not guarantee an acceptance only that your application will be considered and reviewed based on the 14 areas of criteria. Just let it go and embrace the opportunities at one of the other schools that wants you.

Did you read the page? It says high scores will be considered. 425 is the minimum ‘high’ score. And yes 35 is a ‘high’ score.

From the website:

If you don’t meet UC’s minimum requirements, you may be considered for admission to UC if you earn high scores on the ACT with Writing or SAT and two SAT Subject Tests.

To qualify by examination, you must achieve a minimum UC Score total — calculated according to the instructions below — of 410 (425 for nonresidents). In addition, you must earn a minimum UC Score of 63 on each component of the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test and on each SAT Subject Test

425 is the minimum ‘high’ score.

Yes I read the page:

::To qualify by examination, you must achieve a minimum UC Score total — calculated according to the instructions below — of 410 (425 for nonresidents)::

It says MINIMUM. Yes, your ACT is a high score but did you see the 14 areas of criteria used for review. GPA top of the list, the # of a-g courses take above the minimum along with your academic performance in these courses, HS course rigor etc… You just do not get it, that the UC’s reviewed your application and found it lacking in comparison to the other applicants, be it grades, GPA, essays and/or EC’s. High test scores do not make up for deficiencies in other areas and the UC’s just felt you were not a good “fit” based on their criteria.

All I want to know is whether anybody is admitted this way. If not, take it down and take it down NOW.

Probably none with your profile (traditional high school in the US, mediocre GPA).

Probably some with other profiles indicating high academic achievement.

@ethellou

If you just want to vent your bitterness and frustration, that’s sufficient. People have had enough. This thread has had no additional info/data since the end of the first page. You can’t make people to agree with you or even to sympathize with you by saying the same thing over and over.

If you want UC to change or delete the posting in question, this is not the place to achieve that. I suggest you to contact someone having the authority.

Just to answer your last question: I think my D got in EECS this way (UC doesn’t say whether they use this to an applicant or not). She didn’t fulfill A-G requirements, but her UC test score was somewhere around 480. BTW, I don’t remember her GPA, but the lowest grade she’s ever got in her life was B+ (two classes in highschool and two classes at UCB as undergrad).