Berkeley Hopeful with 3.54

Transfer Students
1

<p>Good morning, geniuses,</p>

<p>I migrated to the California from the Philippines in Sep'02 and couldn't enrol to a CC right away because non-resident tuition is too damn expensive (students have to be CA residents for a year+ before they can pay normal tuition). Since I arrived here in September 2, 2002, which is usually the third or fourth week of class for most CCC's, I couldn't enrol in Fall'03 as a CA resident so I chose not to enrol and waited for Spring '04. I took the placement test, was placed in calculus and english1.</p>

<p>Here's my (unofficial) transcript:</p>

<p>SPRING 04
Calc1 - A
Music - A
Anthro - A
English1 - A
Statistics - A</p>

<p>SUMMER 04
Chem1A (general chem) - A
US Hist - A</p>

<p>FALL 04
Bio 1 - B
Chem 1B (general chem) - B
Chem 3A (organic chem) - C
English2 - A</p>

<p>and now, SPRING 05
Bio 2
Chem 3B (Org chem 2)
Calc2
US Hist 2</p>

<p>So before this academic year started, I had 26 units, all UC-transferable. I decided to take my chances and apply for Fall '05, but that meant that I had to take both Org Chem 1 and General Chem 2 in one semester (which my CC doesn't actually allow, but I begged and pleaded, and they let me). The thing is, I got really, really sick towards the end of last semester and ended up missing a lot of labs for all my science classes, hence the B in both biology and genchem, and the C in orgchem. I am now kinda thinking that maybe I had bitten off more than I can chew (I only got a 2.88 last semester!), but I have also done/been doing community service (tutoring at learning center), and I was working 18 hours a week. I so badly want to get into MCB/Biochem at Berkeley, but I don't know how good my chances are now. </p>

<p>My question/s are the following: In light of my less-than-stellar GPA, would Berkeley admissions be nice enough to give me props for the fact that I will have finished 60 units in only three semesters (plus one summer)? And would they look favorably on my suicidal-heroic effort of taking Organic Chem AND General Chem AND Biology AND a very rigorous English class all in one semester? Would they consider me foolish (and therefore not admit me) or would they think, wow, this kid is foolish but has spunk (and therefore admit me)? I know I would have had a much better shot with a higher GPA, especially with an impacted major like MCB, but I think I deserve some recognition for my efforts; I'm just not sure how much recognition Berkeley would give. </p>

<p>BTW, I'm doing so much better in my classes now. I'm getting an A in all my classes right now, which I'm feeling pretty happy about. My Ochem history is not very strong (even if I had not gotten sick last year, I would probably scrape just a B in that class, whereas the bio class and general chem class were definitely A-able, had I not been sick), so my Ochem A right now is especially sweet. It's just a little sad because no matter how wonderfully I do this semester, Berkeley won't get to factor that into their decision.</p>

<p>Anyway, any brutally honest comments/suggestions/tips will be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot! :)</p>

2

<p>hmm, im not sure about this, but couldnt u explain your reason for the bad grades as part of the personal statement? Cuz its made up of 3 parts and eseentially lets u explain why you got poor grades/etc?</p>

3

<p>Yes I did offer an explanation on the addendum. but not on the personal statement. I had a 4.0 up to when I submitted my application at the end of November, then I received my fall grades early January.</p>

4

<p>i am not sure what impact will chem has on your app since it's your major class.</p>

5

<p>The UC system is mostly quantative. This is not like a private college where adcoms will discuss your issues. The computer kicks out answers in most applicants. You will be competing on the basis of your GPA. Look up the average transfer GPA for your major. If you're boarderline they'll read the app, if not they won't.</p>

6

<p>You know, I heard about this myth too. If I have 4.0 GPA to reach for a 3.5 average major, does that mean they will take me without even reading my essays?</p>

7

<p>berkeley with a 3.54 is tough...but your classes were tough...I gotta give you that</p>

<p>and I don't think the UC system is quantative...infact in berkeley's website for transfer students they say that the essay is EXTREMELY is important...</p>

8

<p>I would really like to think that Berkeley is not quantitive; from what I've been told by a Berkeley representative who visited my CC last year, your personal statement is just as crucial as your GPA.</p>

<p>Just last year, one of my Calc1 classmates was admitted to MCB with a <3.5 (from what I remember, it was a 3.3ish). I know for a fact that a considerable number of transfers get into Integrative Bio (not Molec/Cell Bio) at Berkeley with 3.2-3.3, but my acquaintance is so far the only person I know who has been successful in transferring to MCB with a "low" GPA. I remember her saying that she did not have a lot of ECs either, but that her personal statement was quite a piece of work. </p>

<p>Anyway... I don't know. I guess we'll just see. I don't recall ever seeing a GPA range for MCB transferees, but the middle 50% of all Berkeley transferees have 3.5-3.9 (last I checked).</p>

<p>Sigh... oh well.</p>

9

<p>Blackdream, I don't think that Berkeley has a "4.0 guarantee." I heard that a friend of a friend who had a 4.0 transfer GPA wasn't admitted to Haas. But of course that's Haas and I don't know how competetive Haas is. </p>

<p>Come to think of it, I'm not even sure if Haas accepts transfers. So really I wouldn't know. <em>sheepish grin</em> At any rate, I would want to believe that when Berkeley admissions person sees a 4.0 on your application, he/she will not say, "Why should we let this kid in," but rather say, "Why the hell not?"</p>

<p>Now I really miss seeing my 4.0. :(</p>

10

<p>i picked UCB as my safety school, as a consequences, I applied their intergrative bio major (38% admit rate)</p>

<p>Haas is 8% i think. but i want to play safe on this one.</p>

11

<p>Haas is completely different ballgame...</p>