<p>I had a question about UC Berkeley admissions. (Note: My username is misleading, I'm not out of state)</p>
<p>I have received all A's except for a C/C+ in AP Calculus BC and a B/B in AP Physics, both taken my junior year. Here's the kicker: I received a 5 on the AP test for Calculus BC.</p>
<p>How will UC Berkeley look at this? My UC GPA (grades 10/11, weighted) is 4.27, significantly brought down by my calculus grade. In fact, with a 4.27 I'm not even in the top 10% of my class, which is a bummer.</p>
<p>I am planning to call out the discrepancy between my AP test score and grade in the additional comments section, will UC Berkeley acknowledge this and the negative influence on my GPA?</p>
<p>Make note of it in the additional comments section, as you intended. Unless you were on the verge of death or something, there’s no excuse for a bad grade in the eyes of the admission officer; however, making note of the discrepancy will increase the likelihood that they’ll forgive it. I’d be more worried about the fact that you aren’t even in the top ten percent of your class, which poses the question of whether you’re even a qualified applicant. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, at this point in the application cycle, you can’t do anything else to up your chances in the game except write spectacular essays and maintain grades. If you get in, you get in. If you don’t, you don’t. Don’t stress too much, and remember to live your final year to the fullest after the submission of apps.</p>
<p>I am likewise worried about being outside of the top ten percent in my class. Unfortunately, while I decided to take AP Calculus BC and AP Physics my junior year, many students took classes such as honors physics and AP Statistics, notoriously easy classes on campus. My class difficulty is above many of those in the top ten percent. I also go to a very strong high school.</p>
<p>My school reports deciles, and I am in the 2nd decile. I received a letter from UC saying the I have been identified as top 15 percent in my class, though, so I am somewhere between top 10-15.</p>
<p>I have taken the SAT once and received 760/730/650 = 2140, and took it again in October (waiting for results).</p>
<p>Hmm, top 15 might be good enough, though everyone in my school that got in was atleast top 10. However, if you have good extracurriculars and excellent essays, you may be able to pull it off. I’m assuming you are instate, which will further bolster your essays. Your SATs look good - I scored a 2170 and got in.</p>
<p>What UC reports as your class rank is actually a comparison of your UC GPA with benchmark UC GPAs set by previous classes at your high school. This is used for determining Eligibility in Local Context. The rank may differ from your high school’s notion of class rank, which may have a different GPA calculation, and is based on your class rather than previous classes.</p>
<p>Class rank is “not considered” in the admissions process, although your standing relative to other students at your school can indirectly have an effect like class rank does due to the consideration of your academic achievements relative to what is available in your high school.</p>
<p>Just saying, your class rank isnt everything. If you are at a strong high school that sends a lot of students to berkeley and other like schools, then being in the top 25% is good enough in my experience. I believe i was ranked somewhere in the top 20% and got into cal engineering with a regents scholarship. I also had a lower GPA and SAT score than you. Though I would say i had some good essays and nice ECs. And in case you are wondering, Im and asian Indian male.</p>
<p>Yes, my school sends many kids to Berkeley and other top schools each year, thanks for the reply! </p>
<p>So I received my October SAT scores today: CR: 800, Math: 770, Writing: 720 – 2290 total.</p>
<p>Would someone be willing to chance me for L&S?</p>
<p>UC GPA (weighted, uncapped): 4.27
10th/11th unweighted: 3.72
(Most of the damage to my GPA was done by C/C+ in Calc BC. I received a 5 on the AP test, not sure if this somehow lessens the damage.)</p>
<p>AP Chem: 4
AP Stats: 4
AP Calc BC: 5
AP Physics B: 3
AP US History: 4</p>
<p>Math II: 800; Chem: 730</p>
<p>Extracurriculars - I’ll just list the major two</p>
<p>Debate - 3 years (11th grade - Junior Captain, 12th grade - Senior Captain); semi-finalist at national qualifier tournament
Tennis - 3 years varsity at my high school. Also played regional USTA tournaments and achieved a ranking of top 225 in the southwest</p>