Berkeley transfer chances

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

A few weeks ago, my CC had a transfer day and I got to talk to a Berkeley rep who said I had a decent chance, but I’m still anxious and want to do whatever I can to stand out.

Major: Classical Languages

GPA: 4.0

ECs: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Society for Classical Studies, work part-time, and I’ve written several books rooted in Classical mythology. I’m also in the Honor Society and Queer-Straight Alliance (former officer). In HS, I was a Girl Scout and Venture Scout, with multiple awards through each program.

For the personal insight questions, I plan to answer 3, 5, and 7

3–“Talent or skill”: My writing is something I’ve worked at for years, as it’s a place of solace for me when life gets tough. Pursuing it has allowed me to befriend all sorts of people, including my favorite author. This person has been a kind of mentor to me, and has helped me through one of the most difficult periods in my life. They’ve also encouraged me to keep pursuing my writing, as well as this degree. Writing itself is therapeutic, and has connected me with some of my closest friends.

5–“Significant challenge”: I have pretty severe PTSD from growing up around an addict who was in and out of prison. I struggled academically for a long time, especially in HS, but I got the help I needed and went from Ds and Fs in HS to straight As in a demanding curriculum in college.

7–“Something that makes you stand out”: I’ve lived through what my psychiatrist and several others have referred to as “horrific” child abuse, and yet I’m thriving and making the absolute best of the situation I’ve been given. My favorite author called me “exceptionally courageous” and I know I have the grit and tenacity it takes to be a successful student at Cal. I’m brave, resilient, and I haven’t let my past struggles define me or prevent me from obtaining this degree.

^^^^ These are just the basics of what I plan to say, not my actual responses. Just FYI.

What are my chances?

2

Your GPA is solid. Be sure to complete IGETC and all/any major prerequisites. After that, it really comes down to the personal insight questions and to a lesser extent ECs.

No one is a shoe in for Berkeley but you are a very competitive applicant. Best of luck.

3

@theladiekatie
You stand more than a decent chance, haha. I guess they like being vague. With your GPA and your ECs, you’re basically guaranteed. I rarely say that but it’s obvious. Classical Lit is also not a popular major.

My only suggestion is don’t write two essays on challenges. You’re already writing two, more or less, on writing/major. One on challenges. Make your third something entirely different— community involvement (a specific story), or creative that’s not writing: dance, art, cooking, etc. You can also make writing creative and do another skill, which could also be dance, art, cooking, sports, etc.

4

I do run a small art business where I make clocks and other wooden products on commission. I suppose I could write about that. Wood-burning is a pretty quirky hobby, so there likely won’t be hundreds of students talking about their graphic design + pyrography endeavors and the patience required to complete a piece.

Or I could go in a completely different direction and talk about my involvement advocating for children and fundraising for Lumos and the Dave Thomas Foundation (but I did that by selling my art, so that may be related to the above prompt).

You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you for your suggestions!

5

Either one. Making clocks is definitely interesting.

6

UC loves students that have overcome adversity. You have a great chance of admission.

Just make sure that you complete any and all prereqs for your intended major. (And that is true for any other campus that you apply to.)

Good luck.