Chance me for Berkeley, please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I am a Junior in high school, and plan on applying to UC Berkeley this fall. It is the school I want to go to the most, so I was wondering what my chances are. Thank you for any information you give, and if you have any questions, ask them! Thanks!</p>

<p>College: Letters and Science
Major: English
Unweighted GPA: 3.76
Weighted GPA: 4.33
UC GPA: 4.17
SAT: 2010 (650 CR, 630 M, 730 W)
SAT IIs: US History, Literature (taking both in June)
Rank: 13/about 760 (top 2%)
AP Exams: European History (3), Language, US History, Calculus AB, Environmental Science (those 4 I just took, don't have scores yet)
ECs: Theater all 3 years, leads in 3 plays. CSF, Commissioner 10th grade year, Vice-President 11th grade year, President next year. Started Debate Club, President. JSA, Chess Club, Theater Club. Played guitar.
Community Service: Judged middle school debate, more than 100 hours. CSF Community Service opportunities, 25 hours. Small community service opportunities, including writing a script for an anti-bullying skit and helping at a friend's church.
Programs: Quest Bridge, NSHSS, Global Youth Leadership Conference.
Awards: Many school awards, Honor Roll.
Other: Research opportunity at Joshua Tree National Park.
Personal: White male, low income family, first-generation college.
General: Think I will do good on the essays, I'm good at writing.</p>

2

<p>academic seems not your strong part. be frank, math sat is quite a low score for cal freshmen. consider retaking it.
try to emphasize more on your eca. no one knows what your interest is from your eca record. try to clarify.
as you know, cal is facing a budget cut and i doubt whether you will be awarded scholarship/financial aid. due to this, your chance is not high. be prepared for alternative options.</p>

3

<p>need a higher SAT and GPA.
otherwise, good record.</p>

<p>but since u are first gen, i think u will get in.</p>

4

<p>SATs, and especially, GPA, are low for Berkeley.</p>

5

<p>I received all As this semester, and if I passed my AP Calc Exam, my teacher will bump by B in Calc last semester to an A. That would make my 10th and 11th grade grades look like this:</p>

<p>10th grade:
English II Honors: A-/A
PreCalculus Honors: B+/B-
Chemistry Honors:A/A
AP European History: B/B-
Spanish II: A-/A
Health: A
Theater III: A</p>

<p>11th grade:
AP English III: A+/A
AP Calculus AB: A/A-
AP Environmental Science: A-/A
AP U.S. History: A+/A+
Spanish III: A+/A+
Theater III: A/A</p>

<p>Would that make me a bigger contender for UC Berkeley? Right now, I want to go more than any other college, so I’m hoping I have a shot.</p>

<p>And, what other schools would I have a good shot of getting into? Like UC Irvine, for example?</p>

6

<p>With the above grades, I’d say your chances are pretty good. This year’s admitted class has an average unweighted GPA (4.0 scale) of 3.89. The average weighted GPA is 4.36. The average SAT I total score was 2068. Of course, you want to be better than in the ‘average’ range. I’d retake the SAT once more. Remember, unlike most private peer schools, UC doesn’t super-score the SATs. Your ‘hook’ would be that you’re lower income and first generation college. Being top 2% would be a plus as well. I get a sense that Cal looks for kids who has overcome obstacles in life. In either case, essays will play a key part in the admission process.</p>

<p>This year, despite accepting 13,000 students, they only admitted 21% (18% for fall), which is a record low, so nothing can be taken for granted. I’d say your chance at UCI is excellent. Look into UCLA, UCSD and UCSB as well. At UCI, UCSD and UCSB, you may get into their honors program, which has certain advantages as well. Start looking for scholarship opportunities right now. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Here is a more complete summary of my high school experience.</p>

<p>10th grade:
English II Honors: A-/A
PreCalculus Honors: B+/B-
Chemistry Honors:A/A
AP European History: B/B-
Spanish II: A-/A
Health: A
Theater III: A</p>

<p>11th grade:
AP English III: A+/A
AP Calculus AB: A/A-
AP Environmental Science: A-/A
AP U.S. History: A+/A+
Spanish III: A+/A+
Theater III: A/A</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.83
Weighted GPA: 4.50
UC GPA: 4.50
Rank: 13/675
SAT I: 2010 (CR 650, M 630, W 730)
SAT II: Literature
U.S. History (scores come on June 24)
AP Exams: European History (3)
Language and Composition
U.S. History
Calculus AB
Environmental Science (scores come out in July)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, AP Government, Theater III, P.E.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
*Theater (all 4 years)
-Acted in 4 school plays (lead roles in 3)
-DTASC Semi-Finalist
*CSF (all 4 years)
-Commissioner (sophomore year)
-Vice-President (junior year)
-President (senior year)
*Debate Club (2 years)
-Founder
-President (2 years)
*Theater Club (3 years)
-President (senior year)
*Chess Club (2 years)
*JSA (1 year)
*Unashamed Club (1 year)
*Played Guitar (since 6th grade)
*Global Youth Leadership Conference (leadership conference in NYC and DC)
*National Society of High School Scholars (3 years)
*Quest Bridge (2 years)
*Winter Ball Freshman Prince (1 year)
*Made YouTube videos (4 years)
*Joshua Tree Research Trip (1 year)
*Went to Obama’s Inauguration with a leadership conference, plus another leadership conference, also in DC (middle school)
*Debate (3 years, middle school)
*ASB (2 years, middle school)
*Math Field Day (2 years, middle school) </p>

<p>Community Service:
*Judged Middle School Debates (about 150 hours, 3 years)
*CSF Community Service Opportunities (about 30 hours, 3 years)
*Helped at friend’s church (played bass in church band, edited videos for church, about 40 hours, 3 years)
*Wrote anti-bullying skit, helped prepare school’s new library, other small community service opportunities (about 30 hours, 3 years)</p>

<p>Awards:
*Student of the Month (several, 3 years)
*Golden Lion Awards (highest possible award to get at my high school, have 6, 3 years)
*Honor Roll
*NSHSS Scholar
*DTASC Semi-Finalist
*DTL Best School Play (2 awards)</p>

<p>Hooks:
*Low-income
*First-generation college</p>

<p>Essays:
*Already written one, English teacher said it was good
*Second one will be about mother dying of cancer, father having cancer, and low-income, and how I have overcome these things</p>

8

<p>You actually have a 4.6 UC GPA because UCs don’t count English 2 H as an honors class and Theater, and Health as a class.</p>

9

<p>I’m so sorry about your parents. Best of luck to you! As you may know, Cal has the #1 English program in the country - at least according to US News.</p>

10

<p>Vexophous: Oh, ok, thanks! I didn’t know that!</p>

<p>Cadave: Thank you. And thanks for your wishing me luck. I’m aware of Cal’s fantastic English program, and it’s one of the reasons I want to go there so badly. I really hope I get accepted, as Cal is my dream school. Only time will tell!</p>

<p>Thanks to all who’ve answered so far! Just trying to get an idea of my chances!</p>