Any students from out of state?

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

<p>Hi, I have really been interested in Berkeley and really am trying to get in. I had a few questions:</p>

<p>1) If you're from out of state, how do you deal with the extra 18k?<br>
2) I don't really like extracurricular activities, but I am in my schools GSA, C.U.R.E.(Environmentalist group), and the Spanish Club. I also speak Turkish and Romany, and I got a 100 on my Spanish regents. Being that languages are my only real strong suit, would it be helpful to put emphasis on them on my application? I plan on applying to the College of Letters and Sciences.
3) What can you really do to distinguish yourself, especially as an out of state applicant? I talked to a women in the office of admissions and she said that there isn't necessarily a preferential treatment towards people from California so much as it is simply that less people from out of state apply. Is this true? </p>

<p>Thanks~!</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
1) If you're from out of state, how do you deal with the extra 18k?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I surmise either you go to the bank and cough up the dough, or you take out major loans, or you win some huge scholarship independent of the university.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) I don't really like extracurricular activities, but I am in my schools GSA, C.U.R.E.(Environmentalist group), and the Spanish Club. I also speak Turkish and Romany, and I got a 100 on my Spanish regents. Being that languages are my only real strong suit, would it be helpful to put emphasis on them on my application? I plan on applying to the College of Letters and Sciences.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes yes yes. Showing a strong interest/passion is crucial.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Is this true?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Fewer people apply OOS, but that pool is very self-selective. Despite that, the acceptance rate is lower than in-state. I'd say it's definitely more selective OOS.</p>

3

<ol>
<li><p>i'd rather pay an extra 18k and go to a private. you can maybe get a job or get loan, scholarship.</p></li>
<li><p>although they may or may not be impressed, if you are good with languages then, of course you should emphasize them. nobody really emphasizes their weakpoints...</p></li>
<li><p>i think oos is more competitive but not sure by how much</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>OOS is much more self-selecting. Avg. SAT is usually at least 100-150 points higher, GPAs are almost always near max, etc.</p>

5

<p>agree with kyledavid: definitely show your passion in languagues, not only for UC, but other colleges to which you apply.</p>

<p>But, finaid at the UC's is not good, and IMO, a private college/uni offers better value than paying OOS prices at a UC.</p>

6

<p>privates cost more than UCB OOS.
I pay around 35k a year (that's without financial aid). My roommate last year (in-state) paid 25k a year and he didn't get financial aid either. That's only 10k more. Privates such as NYU and CMU cost over 50k a year.</p>