<p>I am an Illinois senior who is applying to UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry (Chemistry major). However, I have only taken one semester of art in high school, which does not meet UC's one-year visual/performing arts course requirement. At this point, there is nothing I can do about it. I tried multiple times to call Berkeley's admissions office today at around 5:10 PM CST (3:10 PM PST) to ask about my situation, but no one picked up the phone.</p>
<p>Would I still stand a chance of acceptance? I understand that the UCs have admission by examination (Admission</a> by exam | UC Admissions), but according to Ask Oski Berkeley accepts few applicants by examination alone. Furthermore, I have two friends who scored 35 on the ACT and earned straight A's (they were the cream of the crop of their grade) but were both rejected from Berkeley last year. One of them, who was first in his class, only took one semester of art (he was in the exact same art class I took.)</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I have a perfect GPA, I scored 2310 on the SAT (800 CR, 760 M, 750 W), I have taken two SAT Subject Tests (Chemistry and Math Level 2) and am going take a third (Physics), and I have taken and am taking the most rigorous courses available at my school. My UC score is 485. I also have some national-level awards in French, chemistry, and spelling, and I am a National AP Scholar.</p>
<p>Berkeley is one of my top 5 choices, and I really want to get in. I am loath to give up hope. I just do not know how much UC Berkeley sticks to a-g requirements or how often it makes exceptions; after all, it does prioritize California applicants and receives thousands upon thousands of very well-qualified applicants.</p>
<p>One option would be to self study the AP Art History.</p>
<p>A better option is the one my son took, which was to take a 3-unit semester class at the local community college. This counts the same as a year long high school course. Options here could include any type of music history (he took Jazz History), Intro to Cinema, Art Appreciation, etc. You would have to check with Berkeley to see if a specific out-of-state course would qualify, since it wouldn’t be on the Doorways website.</p>
<p>The AP tests are in May, so I can’t rely on them. I tried to look at courses at my local community college, but I don’t know if I can take them outside school hours.</p>
<p>Check around to see if any of the colleges or CC’s in your area offer courses that require little to no class time. My son did 95% of the course outside of a classroom. He listed to podcasts at home, attended 2 or 3 jazz concerts and did reports on them, and only had to attend class to take the midterm and final exam.</p>
<p>agun77: Yes, the AP tests are in May, but you can mention it as a “Planned” course and it would be no different than if you were intending to take art during the Spring semester. List this in the additional comments section. </p>
<p>Was your concern about not being able to rely on the AP test because you’re not sure you’ll get a passing score? You’ve got GREAT stats, so I really don’t think this should be much of a concern. You would be a very good candidate for Cal.</p>
<p>Oh, but to answer your question … I don’t know with certainty, but I think it is unlikely you will be accepted. I’ve known some recruited athletes and even with the coach pushing to get them admitted, they had to meet all the minimum requirements. </p>
<p>But that’s for in-state, and the UCs love OOS students because they bring much-needed cash. So I would still apply.</p>
<p>Try really hard to complete the AP exam or take it at the community college. Drop an ec to make time for the class if getting into Cal is important to you. </p>
<p>Which college and major are you planning to apply to?</p>