<p>Sadly, your son's GC is wrong. Rank is definitely looked at. (Person X with 3.9 GPA and a 20/240 rank isn't going to look as good as person Y with 3.8 and 2/240 rank).</p>
<p>Not sure if this is accurate but it's a link to '06 UCLA common data set that indicates rank is not considered . Page 9 C7</p>
<p>Ditto on Berkley's Page 6 C7</p>
<p>and UC Davis Page 8 C7
<a href="http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/commondataset/cds20062007.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/commondataset/cds20062007.pdf</a></p>
<p>I've spoken with an adcom from Berkeley; he said GPA, course load, and placement in student body are all considered. It only makes sense, considering that the University of California's goal is to accept the top 12.5%.</p>
<p>And they determine ELC based on that.</p>
<p>Regarding the common data sets, it's possible that by "rank," they mean not strictly the number of your class, but the percentile. How else would Berkeley end up with 99% of its class in the top 10% of their high school classes? (Or better yet, how else can it report such a statistic?)</p>
<p>It's also possible that it's considered before the admissions process. I believe students get a paper at the end of their junior year asking them whether they'd like to release their academic info to UCs, so that the UCs can determine ELC eligibility, etc.</p>
<p>I do notice they report the "top 10%" thing, but they post race as well, and I know they can't use that . I wondered if they could only use rank of those who are reported by their schools for "ELC". I think that happens before the admissions process,</p>
<p>According to this
<a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/general_info/uc_reviews/freshman_app.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/general_info/uc_reviews/freshman_app.html</a>
the freshman selection criteria, I don't see rank anywhere</p>
<p>what if my school doesnt rank....and only posts top 10% at the END of SENIOR year</p>
<p>I don't find that Berkeley couldn't use rank as a consideration, when at the same time 99% of its students are in the top 10% of their high school class. Doesn't make sense otherwise.</p>
<p>if they didn't look at rank, would my chances be beter?</p>
<p>I don't think so, because your GPA is still weak for the top UCs.</p>
<p>Hey Dmission I just went through the whole UC application and results process with the same GPA you have and if u want to get into UCD, UCI, and UCSD heres my take. Even with colleges gettin tougher everywhere, gettin into UCD and UCI shouldnt be a prob for you. I was even offered honors at UCI and UCSB with the same GPA, average EC's and an easier course schedule than you(I didnt take as many AP's). I'll be attending UCSD in the fall; I cant guarantee UCSD for you though cuz admissions there are starting to get really tough. I think I was lucky to be accepted as I have several friends with higher GPA's who were rejected, and even a couple who were accepted by UCLA but rejected by UCSD. My SAT score was a lot higher, 2210, so I suggest you really study and try to get up to around 2100 at least then I think you have a fairly decent shot at UCSD.</p>
<p>thanks for the info.
yeah, i'll try and improve my SAT.. i bought a princeton review book
however, I'd mainly like to attend UCD and UCI... do you think the shots are pretty good for those? or should i am for a higher sat still? i mean either way i'll go for a higher one, but is a higher SAT as neccessary for those two?</p>
<p>The fact that they don't look at rank pretty much leaves you in a similar, yet slightly better position. I think they look at UC GPA (instead of rank but still similar) which in turn causes them to have 99% in the top 10%. It is more of correlation not causation. So therefore, if you (by some miracle) have a 4.5 UC GPA and are ranked only in the top 25% I think they look at your UC GPA. However, most kids with a 4.5 UC are ranked in the upper echelons of their class. A 3.92 UC is going to make UCB and UCLA a reach for you while the others would be solid matches and safeties (for the less competitive ones)</p>