<p>I was just rejected as a Media Studies transfer at Berkeley, which I believe is due to struggling academically (3.5 gpa) my first year at CC.</p>
<p>However, during that time I struggled with physical and verbal abuse from my father. He would kick me out of the house, take my computer away so I couldn't finish homework, hit me etc. I managed to get out through the help of my CC psychologist, as well as medication, and I was able to save enough money to live on my own. I did not mention this on my application because I found it inappropriate and I feel terrible talking about my father, when I love and care about him so much.</p>
<p>Since living away from him my grades greatly improved despite working full-time to stay financially afloat.</p>
<p>In my original application I mentioned that I struggled being an independent student, but I did not mention my father. It hurt me more than I like to admit, but do you think this is grounds for appeal? Going to Berkeley was my goal through this entire debacle and tough two years.</p>
<p>I would have written one of my essays based on this information! I really think you should appeal. Good luck to you, and I’m amazed by your strength! I hope Cal sees that!</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies.
I felt uncomfortable mentioning this information in my original essays because I liked to keep it private. I’ve come to learn that being honest is best.</p>
<p>yeah I know it’s hard. I had to write about my eating disorder in my essays because it effed up my GPA for a whole year and a half and NOW i have to find all of my paper work from my treatment center for my appeal. I know it sucks to bring up painful things from the past but unfortunately it looks like you have to do it. Hopefully you will get in, you deserve a fresh start :)</p>
<p>I was just rejected from UCB and plan to appeal as well. I think you definitely have a good case. In fact, I have a very similar situation with an abusive father who would threaten to throw me out of the house, push me, yell in my face, etc. However, that’s not the basis of my appeal, as I am an older student (27) and have not lived with my parents for quite a while. That said, I do think that is part of the reason it has taken me so long to figure out what I want and what I’m capable of.</p>
<p>I was rejected as a Sociology major with a 3.8, IGETC and pre-reqs done (except for one that is not offered at my CC, or any nearby). As I said, I am older, so I had no ECs other than working full time. This is my SECOND rejection from UCB, and to put it lightly, I am devastated!</p>
<p>My basis for appeal is that I have been making lifestyle changes and saving money in order to cut down my retail job to only 2 days per week in order to volunteer with underprivileged youth (social work is my ultimate goal with my major). In the past two months, I have been able to restructure my life and volunteer with two nonprofit organizations with the knowledge that my income would drop by about 300%. Since my GPA is high and my pre-reqs are done, I figured they rejected me due to a lack of demonstrated interest in my major. Hopefully this sacrifice will prove otherwise!</p>
<p>If you want to chat anymore about the appeals process, I’d be happy to!</p>
<p>Considering your circumstances, you do have a significant claim for appeal. I understand that it’s definitely not an easy topic to bring up to a bunch of strangers, but writing out a detailed timeline, as well as providing document evidence for your visitations to the school psychologist and prescriptions, will help to solidify your claim. Domestic violence is unfortunately a commonly-occurring problem, and I’m sure many people in the initial application as well as appeals process will try to exploit it. Because of this, it is best to be as objective as possible about your case by providing what document evidence you have (I’d wager to say a lot of people will vie for the “appeal to sympathy” approach using little/no tangible evidence).</p>
<p>Good luck w/ your appeal, and I hope to see you in fall (I’m Media Studies as well).</p>
<p>Who said anyone was fabricating stories? I can only speak for myself, but I assume that most of us know we will need to supplement our appeals with paperwork that backs up our claims?</p>
<p>If we call Cal admissions, they wont tell us the reasons for our rejection unlike UCLA right? I don’t know if it would
be worth it for me to appeal. I was thinking maybe they didn’t get my January update on time because my Spring semester started late (Feb 2). Maybe they weren’t able to receive my update about the pre req class that I was able to petition for. Idk I’m a Media Studies major as well</p>
<p>As far as I’ve heard, UCB isn’t as forthcoming as UCLA has been with their reasons for admissions decisions. I considered trying to call, but I’m too scared I’m going to **** someone off :(</p>
<p>when you call Berkeley, all the admissions advisers are allowed to do is basically tell you to read the FAQ’s online and follow what it says there about the appeal process (basically nothing).</p>
<p>I have been trying to contact the UCLA admissions, simply for a reason so I can better write my Cal appeal. I keep calling them when they’re closed though! </p>
<p>@Dango I didn’t think I should include documented evidence, but it does seem like it would make my situation sound less like a sob story and more like a situation that I took steps to move away from. Thanks for the suggestion! </p>
<p>I’ve keep on contacting my UCB TAP counselor about this, but she has been very little help throughout the entire process. Grrrr.</p>
<p>Do you think it would be weird getting a letter of recommendation from my CC psychologist as one of the professor recommendations (she is part of the faculty)?</p>
<p>@Dango See that’s the thing. I don’t know if I should appeal. That is why I’m trying to find out what the ave admit gpa is for Media Studies. If my gpa (3.78) is equal to or more than the ave admit gpa for my major then I might consider applying because that will give me the impression that maybe they just missed my January update or something. If MS ave admit gpa is WAY above my gpa, then why waste my time appealing. If that is the case, then the reason for my rejection would be crystal clear.</p>
<p>Due to the high volume of applicants this year and for legal (privacy) matters, Admissions is not allowed to say why a particular student was rejected from Cal. Can you imagine how many students would try to protest on the phone right then? :/</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone is appealing! The Admissions Committee wants to see what obstacles you have faced and have successfully passed, it’s okay to be personal, they want you to be. I wrote one of my personal statements on how I dealt with my depression and eating disorder and how that has encouraged me to study Psychology more, to help people that are/were like me. They want to bring something new to the table, never be ashamed of it, it could actually help you!</p>
<p>If you haven’t already done so, why don’t you give admissions a call and ask them if they received your latest update? I doubt you need to go through the appeal process just to ask them that. While you’re at it, you might as well ask them for basic stats on Media Studies transfers. Good luck and let us know what they told you.</p>
I’m a Media Studies major as well</p>