<p>I just found out that my friend (who had below a 1800 SAT) got into all the UC's even Berkeley, which really surprised me. But she goes to a not so great school.</p>
<p>This worries me because I go to one of the best schools in California and I have gotten good SAT scores, but I'm not in the very top of my very competitive high school. I have heard from lots of people that people with really good scores and gpa are getting rejected and more mediocre people are getting in. I wanted to know where you got in and what your scores, gpa and high school level (really high ranking and competitive, or pretty poor etc) are?
Thanks</p>
<p>Colleges look at applications on a holistic basis. Your friend got in because her entire application was strong. The weak GPA/SAT folks who got in were strong in other areas, such as recs, essays, ECs, etc., and likewise the strong GPA/SAT folks who were denied were probably weaker in those areas - they weren't rejected just for the sake of admitting more "mediocre people."</p>
<p>In any case, asking others for their stats won't ease your worrying.</p>
<p>Well, I know a lot of more qualified people, with everything, ecs, essays, volunteering, who live just as close to ucb, so i dont think thats it.
But her mom is a single mom, do you think that may make a difference?</p>
<p>I'm still a junior, so no need to be rude...
I was just getting worried because the people like me who are seniors are getting rejected, so I wonder whats going to happen to me next year</p>
<p>Ngstar -- generally, a stellar GPA + good test scores will get you into UC's. That said, your concerns are entirely justified, and the admissions officers at Berkeley have made some very questionable decisions in my opinion. I don't buy that it is in general true that someone's application reveals to the admissions officer their entire soul and passion; this is only true for the minority who're great at marketing themselves through applications. If you felt a decision questionable, fair enough.</p>
<p>I'd advise, however, that when you ask for advice on these threads, you not doubt the so-called "less qualified" student's qualification. A) That gets people touchy, B) The student with the lower scores may indeed have had a secret something, however unlikely that sounds to you. </p>
<p>But my short answer is that this is not the norm in UC Berkeley's admissions process. Generally, people with lower scores and grades get in over others with higher ones because of differences in the majors they're applying to (e.g. Engineering is a tougher College to make it into at Berkeley). Your concern is also legitimate, in that if you go to a tougher school, they're not going to make it much easier on your GPA! I'll say, however, that if you make a 2300+ SAT with a well above 4.0 weighted GPA, you should have great chances at all UC's. UCLA has grown somewhat more ambiguous with its process, I hear (at least since the time I applied), but I believe acceptances to Berkeley are actually somewhat predictable, though of course not 100% so.</p>
<p>i got into UGA with a ~3.4 and a 1310, a friend of mine got waitlisted with a 3.5 and a 1290. I assume his essays or rigor were dick. Not always the #s</p>
<p>No one knows what was on that girl's application except her and UC Berkeley. Do not assume you know anything about her grades, test scores, or other personal information that may have been disclosed. Essays, extra-curriculars, socioeconomic status, first generation college, health problems, and learning disabilities are some things taken into consideration during holistic review. They may have just LIKED her and felt she was a perfect fit for the campus. Once the admissions cycle is finished, you can look at the admitted freshman profiles to see what your chances may be next year. Good luck.</p>