<p>Hello, I have a few questions about this UC Berkeley summer program: Cal Summer Experience. </p>
<p>How large is the applicant pool? Is it extremely hard to get in? Does it cost money? What should my application/resume look like (I've never written one)? Will they accept applicants from outside of NorCal? </p>
<p>I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this program and if you can give me a brief review/response to it.</p>
<p>Hi FutureBruin,</p>
<p>I attended it last year. I don’t know how large the applicant pool is, but there were about a 100 people total. It was a pretty diverse group of people from all over. The majority of the students were High School seniors/ Freshmen applicants, and the rest were transfer students/ Junior applicants (70/30 split).</p>
<p>It doesn’t cost any money other than your transportation costs and your entertainment, food, and board will be taken care of. As far as your application and resume, just present something clean and coherent. They didn’t provide a specific template, so I just submitted an updated resume, an excel spreadsheet of my completed and planned courses, and a sheet with all my ECs separated by Honors and Awards, Volunteer and Community Service, On Campues ECs, and Work Experience. Last year you also needed a letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the experience. You really get a feel for the campus culture and they do a thorough job of taking you through financial aid information and the application process. Some of the activities I enjoyed most included: a lecture with one of their Professors, Personal Statement workshops, and a transcript/statement review session. If you want to go to Cal, then definitely apply. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I haven’t attended it before, but it sounds like a great experience! I wish I could go, but it conflicts with my summer program -___-
If you’re considering going to UCB, I recommend you go! Don’t worry about how competitive it is to get in, just apply! :)</p>
<p>dnoland332, I thought I read somewhere that only current high school juniors could participate…?</p>
<p>archaic,</p>
<p>I don’t know if anything’s changed, but last year there were transfers and high school students. Once there we went on separate schedules, but there is definitely a simultaneous “transfer” program. I’m a “re-entry” student at 26 years old, and I believe the program targets “educationally disadvantaged” individuals, whether in High School or Community College.</p>
<p>My mistake if the high school participants were juniors. I just know they were applying for the following year, just as the transfers. There should be something on Cal’s website for both the HS and Transfer programs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies, guys! Now I’m screwed because I waited too long for my teacher to write me a letter of rec. It’s spring break here, and the deadline is the Monday we get back. Hopefully he will agree to writing me the letter!</p>
<p>dnoland332, </p>
<p>Do you think the fact that I haven’t taken the SAT/ACT yet will impact the chances of getting in? I plan to take the SAT when I go back to school in October (I’m scared). What were your EC’s like? Amazingg? I bet they were. I just hope I stand out well enough in the applicant pool.</p>
<p>FutureBruin,</p>
<p>As I’m a transfer student, I can’t say whether it’ll hurt your chances. Should you have taken them already? Did you get a chance to attend the webinar? I had a few questions last year that were addressed in the webinar.</p>
<p>My stats are decent, but everyone applying to Berkeley has the stats. This year they’re making everyone submit a personal statement and this is where you can distinguish yourself. We didn’t have to do that last year, so it’s more competitive already. Below are my stats.</p>
<p>Scholastic:
-GPA: 4.0
-Honors Society PTK
-Selected by English faculty to be an English Tutor
-Management Studies Scholarship</p>
<p>Volunteer/Community Service:
-Started a program to help underprivileged student athletes make golf teams through Titleist Golf-fitness philosophy (I’m a TPI golf-fitness trainer on the side)
-Note taker for Disability Support Services at my school
-Disaster Service Worker for local Fire Department (C.E.R.T.)
-Trained a teenager with cerebral palsy when I worked in the health industry
-YEAH! Mentor at UCB</p>
<p>Work Experience:
-Financial Database Support Lead for Ericsson Inc.
-English tutor
-Security Supervisor at HP, Ericsson, and Applied Materials
-Fitness Manager at health club </p>
<p>I work full time while taking 15 units, so I don’t have too much time to participate in clubs at school. I focus on my program, mentoring, and tutoring for my E.C.s. It’s cutting it close, but send me message if you want me to look at your personal statement. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when we can expect a reply regarding our acceptance/rejection?</p>
<p>They’ll email you.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>