Anyone get in with a 3.75 UW GPA or lower?

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

<p>In state, male, bi-racial half white half asian, good public school in nor-cal, applying to College of Letters and Sciences</p>

<p>My UW GPA is lower than Cal's average, because I had a less than perfect sophomore year (a couple of Cs and Bs). In contrast, my junior year was 4.0 uw both semesters, and 4.5 weighted both semesters. My overall UW gpa is 3.75. Upward trend is good right? </p>

<p>My UC GPA comes out to 4.04 or 4.07<a href="I'm%20not%20really%20sure">/u</a> which is still below Cal's average, but not as much so, as Cal's was 4.14 this year. </p>

<p>My question is: Did you or anyone else you know get in with less than Cal's average GPA?</p>

<p>Can high test scores, essays, ECs and an otherwise outstanding app make up for it? I scored 2250 on my SAT I and over 700 on both of my SAT IIs, and still hope to go to Cal.</p>

2

<p>i think you definitely have a good chance of getting in. i got in with a 3.6.</p>

3

<p>That’s encouraging, thanks a lot. I’d like as many stories/opinions I could get, so please post!</p>

4

<p>Here’s the admissions stats for last year: <a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/pdf/ucb_chart.pdf[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/pdf/ucb_chart.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Edited to add: I missed the sentence where you said your UC GPA in your post. Your UC GPA is the only one that matters, and it’s high. I got in with a 3.83 UC GPA. (My unweighted GPA happened to be 3.83, too.)</p>

5

<p>I’m not sure what your weighted GPA was but although my unweighted was around 3.8, my weighted was only about 4.2 (or even lower) at my HS. I can also assure you there are other aspects to the application process and I’ve heard people with outstanding GPA not make it into Cal. I’m sure you’re a tad stressed over your marks but all I can tell you is that you’ve got a good chance considering you have great SAT I and II scores. I on the other hand didn’t have the high scores you got on the SAT’s. Don’t feel like you’re not up to par with the “average” Cal student because everyone excels in different ways. I hope that helps somewhat in answering your question.</p>

6

<p>It does, I just want to hear everyone’s experience with the admission process and how each of you was unique. </p>

<p>I underlined my UC GPA so no one else would miss it =D</p>

7

<p>3.14159265</p>

8

<p>I think your SAT score is competitive enough. Just make sure to write some strong essays :)</p>

9

<p>Yeah, I think the essay was what really saved me cause besides the GPA, I don’t think anything else was up to par.</p>

10

<p>Well that’s a good story to hear, anyone else?</p>

11

<p>what’s your major? that’s a big factor into admission as well. I must say though, in my experience and the experiences of other Cal Admits from my school, that the essay is roughly equal in weight as GPA/SAT’s/Choice of Major.</p>

12

<p>Well all applicants applying into the College of Letters and Sciences are viewed equally regardless of major, or so I’ve read. I haven’t decided my Major yet.</p>

13

<p>Yah a lot of people do, just think about it…not possible that everybody can be above the average or else it would be the minimum.</p>

14

<p>oh yeah shoulda been more specific: if you were looking into engineering, it’s way tougher. letters and sciences, you’re looking pretty good. especially since you have major improvements in your GPA. While it woulda been nice to have great grades all the way through, that you improved reflects well. keep ya’ head up.</p>

15

<p>That’s good to hear… yeah, I’m doing an internship this fall, and I already am pretty confident that my ECs are solid. Just gotta write two stellar essays.</p>

16

<p>I got in with a much lower UW GPA then that</p>

17

<p>That’s cool, what was your UC GPA and test scores? Did you have something special about you?</p>

18

<p>I’ll just tell you it was low GPA. SAT: 2150, ACT: 33, SAT II: 800, 670. IB Diploma candidate. I wrote about my decision to do IB and how it was a unique school experience. I then talked about my community service I’ve done. I am also low income and in the extra info section described my parents’ divorce and how it affected me and my schoolwork. I still have no idea how I got in</p>

19

<p>It sounds pretty reasonable that you got in, congratz.</p>