Chance me for UC Berkeley - Low GPA, Good SAT, Good ECs - Dream School

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

Demographics: [HS JUNIOR] Asian, Male, upper-middle class, both parents completed univeristy. I go to an extremely competitive high school.

Intended Major: Computer Science/Economics (L&S)

Academics: Current Total APs (5) -USH, CALC AB, CHEM, LANG, CS. Intend to take: Stats, Physics, Lit, PolySci/MacroEcon. Self Studying for MicroEcon. - thinking about joining ASB as well

UC GPA: UW: 3.48, W/C: 3.84

SAT: 1500 (Essay:21), hoping to get >1540

PSAT Score: 221

ExtraCurriculars: Eagle Scout, President of Technology Club and co-founded (and treasurer of) our school’s Operation Smile Chapter (helped fundraiser money for one operation) 5 Years of FIRST Robotics (Electrical/Build, Fundraising) and helped lead our team to the World Championships. Volunteer at local hospital/tutor elementary school kids in math and reading. Out of thousands of applicants, I was selected to be one 24 participants at an Engineering Camp held at Apple’s campus this past summer.

I understand that my GPA is a huge detriment to my chance of admissions at UC Berkeley, especially considering most of my low scores is due to a close friend of mine passing away. I was greatly affected by this, and I will write about it in my essays.

Thank you for reading through this long post - I would greatly appreciate it if you could chance me! :slight_smile:

2

You have the rest of this year to get your GPA up, so work your butt off! UC Berkeley is extremely competitive, one f my classmates applied with a 4.0 and got deferred…but I think you have a chance! You have a little bit of time as a junior, so don’t freak out yet :slight_smile: Please chance me!!

3

You have a chance! Instead of focusing on getting your sat up, I’d spend this semester completely focused on your schoolwork so that you can get your gpa up. GPA at many schools is weighed more heavily than standardized tests, and yours could be higher. All of your rigor this year is definitely a good sign. If you really feel the need to retake the sat, I suggest you do it in June or early senior year. Good luck!