Any Chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I am an African American junior who lives in VA. I am really worried about my chances of getting into a university such as this one so I would appreciate the insight of students who have been accepted. Here are my stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>3.7 GPA</li>
<li>No SATs at the moment (will be taking them June 3rd)</li>
<li>I Co-Founded a not-for profit organization called Teens 4 Peace, which encourages adolescents in promoting human rights in the internatioanal community</li>
<li>Under Teens 4 Peace I was able to help organize a huge rally in order to stop the genocide occuring in Darfur, Sudan. It was a huge success, mostly becuase it was organized in Washington D.C.'s popular Dupont Circle</li>
<li>I am a regular Volunteer at the Amnesty International Headquarts in DC</li>
<li>I was an intern at INOVA Fairfax Hospital's Blood Bank</li>
<li>I Volunteered for Time Kaine's Campaign for Governor during the summer of 2005</li>
<li>I am a regular volunteer at my public library</li>
<li>I attended the Boston Area Darfur Activism Conference at Harvard University last Winter</li>
<li>I am taking a french literature course at George Mason University (dual-enrollment)</li>
<li>I will be teaching English at a Sudanese public school this summer when I go visit my famly there</li>
<li>I will also be shaddowing Sudan's Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs</li>
<li>I am the president of my local Sudanese Youth Group</li>
<li>I am the president of my school's French Honor Society</li>
<li>I am a member of Model United Nations</li>
<li>I am the president of my school's Young Democrats chapter</li>
</ul>

<p>My workload for this year has included
- AP Biology
- AP French Language
- AP Government
- Debate
- AP English Language & Composition
- Precalculus Honors</p>

<p>Please read my stats and candidly evaluate my chances! Thank you!</p>

<ul>
<li>Arwa</li>
</ul>

2

<p>An out of state student applying to Cal is always a reach (3% on average per class), so you're chances will always be low, despite your good stats. The GPA could be a little higher (3.8 is the average for Cal acceptees), if you score fairly high on the SATs and write good essays when applying you could have a fairly decent chance of getting to Cal given the out-of-state factor, especially if they play the race card (the proportion of African-Americans being accepted to Cal is slowly rising, but is still fairly low). Don't be worried, if anything you might have a higher than average chance to get into Cal for an out-of-state student, since it's always a bit of a wash for the echelon of out-of-state students admitted.</p>

3

<p>Strykur..the admissions website says that the average GPA for Fall 2005 is 4.25. I am not sure whther the 3.8 GPA you posted above is a weighted or unweighted stat that you found.</p>

4

<p>Considering your Sudanese background, and what looks like a deep involvement with regard to the genocide in Darfur, I think you have a damn good chance of getting in. Your essays will be key. It goes without saying that you should HEAVILY focus on your background, why the genocide concerns you more than Jane Smith applying to Berkeley, etc. This is all pending on your SATs of course...If you get say a 2250+ and write some KILLER essays I'd say you have a shot at HYPS type level. Good luck</p>