<p>Just wondering... how often do students get offered an augmented review? I consider myself borderline, because while my test scores/ECs/essay should (I think...) be great and above average, my UC GPA is really low. I have an upward trend, so that gives me a sliver of hope that I might be asked for an augmented review, which will probably help a lot since my senior grades are all As (as of now) and my recs should be good. Also, what kind of students would usually be considered "borderline" enough for augmented review?</p>
<p>there are several classes of students asked for a supplement and the questions covered reflect that. </p>
<p>Anyone that mentions a disability or other personal challenge will receive a supplement asking about needs and other items - not much correlation to admission as it is automatic to 100% of those that appear to fit from their application.</p>
<p>Anyone who mentions some special talent or accomplishment that is uncommon and of significant scale - generally something like regional or national first place award, had a novel published, that kind of thing. It does not include national merit awards or regents or others that many students will have. If you were the person who won the national spelling bee, for example. The type of thing that would result in having quite a few news stories written about you. The supplement asks mostly about the talent, but if it is validated to be a rare and significant achievement, the odds become quite good for an admissions offer. </p>
<p>The third and most discussed here is the borderline supplement. As the admissions committee reader goes through your application and file, they end up rating you on a single digit scale, with the lowest few representing definite no decisions, the top few representing definite yes, and a small zone in the middle where they will be picking some number to say yes out of this group. It is to help them in this process, where they may be offering positions to x% in the borderline group, that they ask additional information about your senior year and some free form entries to respond. Your goal if you get one of these is to put yourself in the best possible light. </p>
<p>You will self-report your senior year HS grads to date and you will be given ONE link that you pass on to one person you choose as a reference. That person clicks on the link, fills out the form there, and submits the reference in that way. No paper references mailed and no ability to pick more than one. Also, they don’t take the standard reference that your teachers or counselor may have already prepared, they ask Cal specific questions which the reference will need to answer online.</p>
<p>I received the talent supplement and got in with a 4.0 UC GPA and a 1950 SAT…you just gotta make yourself stand out and give them a good reason to accept you. </p>
<p>Usually ~10% get the augmented supplement…most of them get it because of disabilities/ underprivileged environment…a select few get the borderline and talent supplement.</p>
<p>If you do get it, make sure you answer it well and give it a lot of thought! Best of luck :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help guys! Just wondering fl1p, what was your talent that got you noticed?</p>
<p>I’ve been doing Taekwondo for 13 yrs., I was the Junior National Champion in the Philippines, I won local, regional, and national tournaments here in the US, I coached and taught both children and adult in sparring, I trained with collegiate/national players, I trained with the Cal coach before, I had the UC Davis coach write me a great recommendation letter. </p>
<p>That and coupled with leadership positions in the Filipino Club (president, vice president, public relations) which raised $7500 for a charity.</p>
<p>And I tied in my Taekwondo experience with my academic and extracurricular skills too in order to make it more cohesive. </p>
<p>I think that’s what got them to decide to send me an augmented review and ultimately accept me :)</p>