Nationality: Indian
G. P. A: My school doesn’t give GPA but the percentage is 95-96% (Class rank is 2 in 256)
SAT:1490 (E-700 M-790)
ACT: Taking it on 28 Oct. (expecting 34-36)
APs:Physics 1-5 Calculus BC-5 Physics C-5 Microeconomics _5
Subject tests: Math 800 Physics 800 Chemistry 800
Extra-curriculars:Run my own organisation that uses funds from recycling to promote sustainable development goals. Raised almost INR 20000 as of now. Donated approximately 3500-4000 books and about 1000 sanitary pads. President of School eco club and quiz club. Vice-president (and Co-Founder) of another organization that plants forests using a scientific manner. Raised about INR 350000. Planted approximately 25000 trees Organised the largest plantation in the history of my city. Wrote a research paper on environmental and financial effects of the plastic ban in my state. Made an App that tracks your carbon footprint. Head boy. Interned at stock firm and also made INR 600000 on the stock market. Also interned at a training institute where I taught Python
Awards- AP Scholar with Honor
LORs: One by counselor (Fantastic), One by chemistry teacher (great), and by English teacher (the best as she knew me the best), another by a chemistry prof. at a college where I attended introductory classes. (letter is great but I didn’t get credit for college)
Berkeley is a public university funded by California taxpayers. They do not fund non-residents.
That being said, can you afford $65K per year?
Apply, but as a non-domestic student, you will be competing against your countrymen who may have better scores and awards.
I think you have a good shot at getting in. Make sure to look at their website. I’m guessing you want to get into the chemistry school. They have fairly high requirements. Since you are international, you will be put up to higher standards than a US citizen or California state resident, and will have to pay extra for tuition unless you have been in California for a year or more. Make sure to look over their admissions requirements and website at berkeley.edu. Also, it may be good to visit (if you are not already in the US) the campus and ask about admissions and how the courses you took in India translate into their admissions requirements. If they don’t, it may be best to attend a community college for 2 years in California then transfer. Here is their website: berkeley.edu. Remember that getting in is very hard and you will want to apply to multiple colleges/universities. Every one is different and has different costs and requirements for admission. Your high SAT and perfect SAT subject test scores say to me that you probably can handle the rigor of Berkeley and college in general. You must write essays and can only have 2 LORs. Make sure to fallow their instructions and seek help from them either in person, on the phone, or via email; I don’t recommend sending emails if you want fast response. Good luck!
I agree. It can get costly. In the US, college is very expensive in general. I’d recommend community college first if I were you. It can be a great way to transition into California, as it costs way less than UC Berkeley. I’d say it is roughly 3000 US dollars for a degree depending on where you go, but they essentially cost the same (at least I think.) It costs a lot to live in California, so getting at least a part time, most likely a full time job is basically mandatory if you don’t want to go off welfare sense cost of living is very high. There are cheaper places to live, and college dorms are usually cheaper than apartments. (Rent and cost of buying a house are killers in California.)
It’s a two year degree, so you will need to transfer to get a full bachelor’s degree.
But I can afford $65k a year.
Also, @IGwokyI I am applying to Environmental Science, but love chemistry too.
I’m glad you can afford it. Once you are here for the first year you can qualify for financial aid if you need it sense you will be considered a California resident. Remember the admissions process will be against you because they only accept so many international students. You will be competing with some of the top Indians from your country if you don’t stay in California for a year prior to applying. I think you would be competitive, but like @auntbea said, applying as an Indian will lower your chances.
What I mean is that you would be at a disadvantage as an Indian citizen, not as an Indian culturally or racially.
Re #7. I don’t think the comment about bring considered a California resident after being instate for a year is accurate. At least as far as the UC system is concerned. Where your parents live determines your residency for instate UC tuition purposes. I’m not convinced that more fa would be available after a year instate particularly as a student. See the UC website regarding this issue. It is very clear.
@IGwokyl is giving wrong information regarding California Residency. As @TdoesCollege points out that the UC’s are very specific about the residency requirements so if you start at a UC as an International student or OOS student, you will be paying OOS fees all 4 years. The only way a student can get in-state California residency with in-state tuition rates is if their family moves to California or if the student becomes independent at age 24 or older.
@Gumbymom Is paying 65k for a public university worth it?
I personally think no school is worth $260K for 4 years of education. If your parents have the money and they and you do not have to take out loans to afford UCB, then that is fine. If you and your family have to go into debt to afford UCB, then definitely not worth it.
The best gift any parent can give a college student is a debt free education.
Sorry for giving the wrong information. I thought I read somewhere where they said that if you live in California for a year, then you are considered a California resident. Unfortunately, that isn’t true and it only matters if you went to a California high school at least for financial aid anyways. The only exception is if you are in California for more than educational purposes. This is why I recommend going to a community college in California first. If you attend one for about 2 years, you can cut costs of a bachelors nearly in half sense, again, they are only 3000 per year, though the cost of living in California is one of the highest in the world. I’d only recommend going to UC Berkeley if you have something you really want to do with a degree. Getting a masters, which is even more expensive per year, can get you into higher level positions, though I am unsure if there is a masters program for environmental science. Make sure to do a lot of research.
Also if you live with a parent, then you are considered a California resident
a parent in California*
Live with a parent, in California; not moving to California for educational purposes, expecting to gain residency that way for in state UC tuition.
There technically are at least a couple of other ways of getting instate tuition, eg going into the military and getting married.
@Gumbymom What are my chances for College of L&S Physics?