<p>Hello everyone. I'm a cultural anthro major at santa rosa junior college and i'm wondering if anyone knows how difficult it is to get into the anthro programs at ucla and berkeley. I have a 3.5, which will go up to a 3.6 at the end of this semester, but I have no ECs, only tons of volunteer work. Any info would help</p>
<p>Can we see a detailed list of your stats?</p>
<p>The average GPA of applicants who are accepted to UCLA as anthro majors is right around a 3.5. You definitely are in the ballpark.</p>
<p>Well, I don't have access to my online transcript right now, but I'll give you a rundown, bad stuff first (and there's a lot of it)
-I've been at school for seven semesters (3 1/2 years)
-I have 53 units
-I need two more classes to finish the IGETC (english and stats)
-My first year was a disaster, I worked constantly to support myself, I didn't want to be in school anyway, and one of my best friends died.
- I have at least five Ws.
-I got one F in my first year in a class that is supposedly non-transferable (but you have to list these anyway)
-I made a D the next year in beginning algebra
-I made a B in my first Anthro class (before I decided to major in it)
-I also made Cs in theater and intro to Phil. (both in my first year)
-I retook Algebra and made a B, went on to intermediate and also made a B
-I've made A's in almost everything else (in the last two years I've earned two Bs, both in math)</p>
<p>Ok, other than academic statistics, can you give us some info on your EC's, work experience, and community service?</p>
<p>Well, let's see....
I was involved with Meals on Wheels from the ages of 4-19. I started off stuffing envelopes and helping with fundraisers. By the time I could drive I was delivering meals and helping plan fundraisers, charming potential donors into donating, and finding volunteers.</p>
<p>In my junior year I volunteered at a rec center for at risk youth. I was an assistant teacher in a horticulture class. god know's why those kids needed to learn horticulture.....</p>
<p>I did Americorps the first year I lived in CA (when I made all of the awful grades)</p>
<p>I spent a semester in south america doing volunteer work. We helped restore a children's museum. We did manual labor at an eco-tourism lodge, we painted and helped restore an old church, we built three houses with habitat for humanity.</p>
<p>I currently tutor my friend's 7-year-old son, Anakin. I don't know if that counts, but I put it on the app anyway</p>
<p>To be honest, most of your extracurriculars sound like application fluff.</p>
<p>But anyways, you've got a shot at UCLA but slim to none at CAL (Don't apply and save some money is my advice).</p>
<p>IwannIvy is ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY WRONG. You CERTAINLY have a shot at CAL and should ABSOLUTELY apply. And your extracurriculars are NOT "application fluff." That's ridiculous. If your ECs are application fluff then every EC is application fluff.</p>
<p>The idea that you should save 55 dollars by not applying to a school you are in the ballpark for is INSANE--Iwannaivy is delirious.</p>
<p>I agree that my adding the tutoring is fluff. as for the rest, it's funny that you should say that they're application fluff, because I continued to do them even after I dropped out of high school and knew I couldn't get into college.
I didn't add my work experience because I was pressed for time. I moved out of my parents house at 16 (i'm 22) and worked full time to support myself until two years ago when my dad agreed to help me out again.</p>
<p>gabew42,</p>
<p>If you tell him he's a shot at CAL, you'll be responsible for his dissapointment come April and May. The average stats to get into CAL are just notably higher than they are for UCLA (hence they do not even consider a student for an alternate major like all the other UCs do...)</p>
<p>I would consider his extracurriculars fluff because they are generally not concentrated in one area--it comes across as application padding.</p>
<p>squarepeg, </p>
<p>It's admirable you continued your extracurriculars even after dropping out of high school (but your involvement can not stand even be compared to the average CAL student).</p>
<p>IwannaIvy,</p>
<p>First, your approach is negative and misleading. You also took the liberty to interpret what I said in an incorrect way. Being "in the ballpark" for Cal is what was discussed, not being a lock. </p>
<p>Please back up what you are reporting about "the average stats to get into Cal" being notably higher because myself and many other members of the board disagree. There is quite a bit of variance depending on the major and other factors. And even looking at the overall picture of a higher overall GPA for admits to Berkeley compared to UCLA reveals less than the difference you seem to be stating.</p>
<p>It seems that you have made many logical mistakes when it comes to comparing Cal and UCLA, turning a complex comparison into an erroneous dichotomy, and are similarly providing negative, misleading advice to numerous members of the board.</p>
<p>I implore you to provide backing for your arguments.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input everyone. Even the negative stuff helps. Gabew, thanks for encouraging me. I really need it because my friends and family don't care whether or not I even go to college, let alone get into a good one.
By the way, Iwanna, I'm a "she". It's interesting that you assumed I was a male. I love moments like that. I can't wait to study gender when I'm an anthropologist.....</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you tell him he's a shot at CAL, you'll be responsible for his dissapointment come April and May.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, the only thing that will be responsible for her disappointment will be the small envelope.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The average stats to get into CAL are just notably higher than they are for UCLA (hence they do not even consider a student for an alternate major like all the other UCs do...)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I smell a made-up statistic. Care to back that up? </p>
<p>
[quote]
It's admirable you continued your extracurriculars even after dropping out of high school (but your involvement can not stand even be compared to the average CAL student).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If she has shown an upward trend (UCs love upward trends) then she has more than a good shot of getting into Cal. With a completed IGETC, and all of her wonderful volunteer work (Americorps is fluff? Since when?) she has a good shot at Cal.</p>
<p>By the way, UCLA doesn't consider the alternate major unless you are part of the TAP program.</p>
<p>"By the way, UCLA doesn't consider the alternate major unless you are part of the TAP program."</p>
<p>Duhhh...</p>
<p>"The average stats to get into CAL are just notably higher than they are for UCLA (hence they do not even consider a student for an alternate major like all the other UCs do...)"-Iwannaivy--UCLA's consideration of the alternate does not count given it is part of a specific program.</p>