berkeley -- reach, match, or safety for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
21

<h2>Given that you are ELC with a 3.86 uw gpa, that shows your high school is not that competitive.</h2>

<p>Actually, the opposite is usually true. Uncompetitive high schools tend to get a good number of perfect 4.0s, because of the grade inflation needed to keep half the school from flunking out. It’s the COMPETITIVE schools that have low GPA stats.</p>

22

<p>Most people do not have 600-range SATs. All of the middle 50% stats are like that for each section of the SAT but usually people do better one or two and worse on the other, which brings it down for that single section. People going from my school had SATs between 2170-2260. Spring had from 1900-2100ish. And the people that had 1800s on the SAT got in for ECs or sports. My roommate was ASB President and had a whole bunch of leadership. The other went to a disadvantaged high school, was top of the class, and took a buttload of classes at CC.
All we’re saying is to make sure you write a decent essay because your stats are nothing special (but still good).</p>

23

<p>amarkov,
Perhaps I based my comments on my small sampling.</p>

<p>Our high school is ranked within top 100 by US News. Well known to be highly competitive. Many top colleges come to give admission talks. Here are some stats:

  • This year the ELC cut off is 4.5 UC gpa.
  • About 10% of students have 4.0 uw gpa.
  • About 25% of the senior class are National Merit Commended or Semi-finalist.
  • About 80% go on to a 4 year college, about half of those go to top colleges.</p>

<p>Friend teaches at a non-competitive high school. As you said, he is much more concerned about students dropping out and looks for every chance to give students better grades. But 4.0 uw gpa is still very few and far.</p>