<p>Hello everyone! I'm applying to Berkeley this year and it would be awesome if I could see my chances of getting in. So here's my info and stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0/4.5 UW/W<br>
ACT: 33
SATII: 700 MathII, 720 US History
8 AP Classes Total
Intended Major: Geography</p>
<p>ECs:
4 years Tennis (co-captain 1 year, 2 years varsity)
2 years Debate Club
2 years Best Buddies Club
2 years Clear Windows Club
1 year Character Counts Club</p>
<p>100 hours of hospital volunteering
20ish hours of various orange county environmental projects
10 hours of library volunteering lol
School recycling program for a year</p>
<p>lol geography, i would reconsider that… when u graduate from college, u will be like “dam how am i gonna find a job with this degree??”</p>
<p>also “Best Buddies Club”, “Clear Windows Club”, “Character Counts Club” all sound like bs clubs you joined so you could put it on your app… what do they even do?</p>
<p>wow what a kind, informative, and helpful comment! thank you very much for your immensely valuable advice that is definitely not a result of completely uninformed misassumptions!:)</p>
<p>Oh you are very welcome sir. I’m telling you what the admissions people think when they see “Best Buddies Club” and “Character Counts Club” - it just sounds very fake. If you don’t like honesty, then don’t post on here asking for opinions.</p>
<p>While jsrgajh was a tad harsh he’s not wrong, you’ve got three good ECs (tennis, debate, volunteering) but those other clubs do not look impressive as extracurriculars. On a list like this, you don’t stand out, but there’s still hope! Berkeley places a lot of weight on your essays so write stellar essays and you’ll most likely get in with your grades. </p>
<p>Also you can do whatever major you want! There’s always grad school if job prospects are dim.</p>
<p>I have leadership on the tennis team and at the hospital, but not really anything else unfortunately. Geography is in L&S. and I’m interested in doing Geography with an emphasis in GIS (im gonna do the GIS minor), and might go to grad school afterwards. I’m extremely passionate about geography, so I’d rather study something I love. and then there’s GIS to make it more marketable. Anyways, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it:)</p>
<p>Your ECs are all over the place. Unless you demonstrate how your outside activities culminated an interest in Geography in your essays, or built you up as a person, it will be very difficult to gain admission at Berkeley/UCLA and any other top university.</p>
<p>I also agree with Dina4119…college admission councils are NOT stupid. They will discount clubs or leadership positions that they know are BS, or clearly lack any form of significance. Be careful while writing your application; you do not want to come across as someone who simply built a large list of ECs for college admissions!</p>
<p>Derek, Berkeley 17 has good advice. Your numbers are good, and you have a possibility, but you really need to develop some focus on that application/essay. Best buddies club, it sounds ridiculous, but its a great group. Its all about how you present yourself on that app.</p>
<p>Maybe you could write about BB (or how you want to develop or work with a group like BB) on your essay, and tie it in with why you want to study Geography at Cal. Write about your interest in how BB, and other similar non-profits develop a global volunteer movement, catered to diff. cultures and landscapes…mention how BB focuses on integrated employment and leadership development for those suffering from disabilities, and studying physical and human geography would give you the best tools to be of service on a global scale (IDD). </p>
<p>Maybe you could integrate how BB has 800,000 volunteers worldwide operating in 50 countries, and talk about this new multi-cultural world…mention the importance of being a global citizen that can link cultural and physical landscapes. How Human Geography will teach you how to best nurture, develop, and participate in the best aspects of culture, which, with the help of Geography at Cal, will make you the best you that you can be.</p>
<p>You could really take what seems to some to be a negative, and make it a positive. </p>
<p>Geography is an AMAZING field of study. I think it’s truly one of the most dynamic, and important departments at any major university. And, the faculties, Geography departments always have the most unique and interesting people on campus!!!</p>
<p>hey im applying to UCB too!
I think you have a really good chance! I have similar stats as you do. (4.5 weighted gpa. 2150 SAT I, 800 SAT MATH 2, and 11AP’s. 400hrs community service, president of a club for 3yrs) I am applying to engineering major so my counselor said I have like a 40%chance. So, If you are applying to majors like geography (I have noooooo idea why you are applying to such majors that you cant really use after you graduate) you will definitely get in!</p>