<p>Major: Communications
GPA: 3.11
Pre Reqs: Completed for Berkeley, minus 1 that was not offered at my CCC
IGETC certified by the end of Spring
Work: 40 hrs a week</p>
<p>The Mass Communications major at Berkeley is under the undergraduate studies in the Transfer Flyer with an admission rate of 38%, which is considerably higher than other areas of study.</p>
<p>I've already accepted the fact that I won't make it into UCLA (the comm. major needs at least a 3.5 to even be looked at), but I would like to get into UCB. </p>
<p>If I am rejected (most likely), would my grades from my Spring semester be acknowledged as new and compelling information if I pulled off a 4.0? It seems very possible that I will be able to complete this. </p>
<p>Also, I was named Employee of the year at work and during my Fall 2007 semester my grandmother passed away. If I let Berkeley in on my successes would this be compelling information? </p>
<p>I just don't want to play this pity card with my grandmother; it cause a lot of family strain; my family was left out of the will and we paid for the funeral and what not and it just wasn't a fun time. I just feel like I'm selling out my family with a typical "sob story" to get me into college.</p>
<p>I don't know what to do.
I know that this may be a complete waste of time, thinking so far ahead before admissions have even been posted, but I don't know. I just feel like I am worthy of admission and I have good reason for it.</p>
<p>I know it seems like shady ground using your grandmother's death to help you get into college, but I think you should do it. A death of a family member is definitely grounds for reconsidering a person's performance, and is a legitimate explanation for poor performance. Also, having something positive come out of that negativity does not seem wrong to me.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, I don't think the UC's will look too much into a death in the familiar, considering they might not think your grandma's death would have been detrimental to your academic success (unless you can prove very well otherwise). You can also throw out the Employee of the month accolade, since the UC's probably won't about that.</p>
<h1>2 Are you being completely honest with yourself? Sure a 4.0 is always possible but if you trotted along with a 3.11 these 1 + years at your community college what makes you think that you will actually pull it off? I would focus on schools you have a good chance to get in and look ahead to that first. I have a friend at UCB, and she says that the Comm major is capped at Berkeley so a 3.11 and playing the guilt card wouldn't work I assume. Also, I'm wondering why you didn't mention this before-hand in your initial application as there is a section for this?</h1>
<p>"If I am rejected (most likely), would my grades from my Spring semester be acknowledged as new and compelling information if I pulled off a 4.0? It seems very possible that I will be able to complete this."</p>
<p>It would be considered new and compelling information, but it shouldn't change the UC decisions. Think of it like this, spring semester grades aren't factored into admission decisions for other applicants, so would it be fair if you were the only exception to this?</p>
<p>"To be completely honest, I don't think the UC's will look too much into a death in the familiar, considering they might not think your grandma's death would have been detrimental to your academic success (unless you can prove very well otherwise)."</p>
<p>Yes, they do care. As a case in point, I helped my friend draft an admissions appeal to UCSD that explains his performance due to the death of a family member. The school required a certificate of death. He was offered admission for winter quarter. This was for freshman admission, I doubt the process is any different for transfer appeals.</p>
<p>In any case, base your appeal letter entirely on this only if it is truthful, otherwise it's just unethical.</p>
<p>I didn't "trot" along with a 3.11. I worked 40 hours a week and busted my ass from 7-10 Monday through Thursday on classes and in addition took an online class that messed up my GPA during my first two semesters.</p>
<p>This semester, my classes are cake classes, since I took all my prereqs and IGETC courses prior to this Spring. I currently have A's in each course and we're at the the midterm part of the semester.</p>
<p>I was sort of offended by your reply, RCHANG. I was trying to avoid "playing the guilt card," but obviously, you just think I'm some skeez trying to force my way into a school I don't belong to. It caused a ton of family problems and I had to miss classes to take my brothers/sister to practices and what not while my mother was working and my dad was out of town at the funeral, taking care of everything in Michigan. This happened towards the end of the semester right before finals, and I didn't see a space on the update to adequately explain why I didn't have A's in my math or English class, when I was capable of that. 250 words just doesn't suffice for an explanation.</p>
<p>Tastybeef- They asked for a copy of the death certificate? Wow. I mean, I can get it, but I didn't know they go to that extent.</p>
<p>killer22, I don't think RCHANG meant offense with his comment. My guess is his wording was influenced by your own wording ("I just don't want to play this pity card").</p>
<p>if you tell the UCs that you are trying to pull off a 4.0 in the spring semester, i dont think it counts because they want to see it already done.</p>
<p>Now, on the grandfather scenario, I would use it but i dont think its going to play that big of a factor.It might help you gain a few points in your favor but is it going to outdo those with 3.5 +? maybe not.</p>
<p>ufortunately some people on this forum will look down on you if you don't have a 4.0 and don't study 40 hours per week. Don't let that bother you. Do what you have to do, and let the school know what happened. But I agree that it will still be difficult to get into UCB.</p>
<p>"Tastybeef- They asked for a copy of the death certificate? Wow. I mean, I can get it, but I didn't know they go to that extent."</p>
<p>Yes, UCSD asked for a photocopy of the death certificate. It's understandable on the school's part, because it's a process of verification - just like transcripts and test scores.</p>
<p>Based on your reply to RCHANG, it seems that this unfortunate event has deterred you from your studies. You should definitely look into appealing if you get rejected.</p>
<p>"ive held the view that the UC relationships with students are pretty platonic."</p>
<p>Platonic. Interesting choice of words there. I'd be delighted to meet someone who thinks the relationships are beyond platonic...</p>