Chance Me: UC Berkeley

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

General Info:

Asian Male
Middle-Upper Class Family
Californian
Intended Major - Computer Science

Statistics:

3.99 UW GPA
4.68 Weighted GPA
No Class Rank Provided by School

SAT: 1560 (800 Math + 760 Reading + Writing)
SAT Subject: Math II - 800, Chemistry - 800
ACT: 35

AP Courses:

  • AP Calculus BC(5)
  • AP Statistics(5)
  • AP Chemistry(5)
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics(5)
  • AP Biology(5)
  • AP World History(5)
  • AP US History(4)
  • AP Econ/AP Gov(5)
  • AP English Language(5)
  • AP English Literature(5)
  • AP Computer Science(5)
  • Honors Chemistry
  • Multi-Variable Calculus taken at Community College

Extracurriculars:

  • CM Level 5 - honor student for CM Level 4 and Level 5 (piano for 6 years)
  • Karate Black Belt - 1st degree and competed at local tournaments
  • Debate Team -
    -Captain of PF in 11th Grade
    -VP in 12th Grade
    -Qualified to TOC 3 years
    -Qualified to Nationals 3 years
    -Varsity Public Forum for 3.5 years
    -Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking for 3.5 years
    • Lots of awards on National Circuit tournaments
  • California Scholarship Federation - volunteered at misc. events, Secretary in 11th Grade
  • Science Bowl - went to Nationals 2 years, Secretary in 11th Grade
  • Model United Nations - part of club for 3 years, competed in B MUN, SCVMUN, etc.
  • Computer Science Club - VP in 11th Grade, won different hackathons
  • Volleyball Team - 3 years, Team Captain in 11th Grade
  • DECA
    • Qualified to ICDC for 2 years
    • competed at local conferences

Volunteering/Job Experience:

  • Sandia National Laboratories - researched Nuclear Physics for 3 months
  • UC Berkeley - researched under prof. for 3 months
  • Teen Advisory Board - part of board for 4 years, 150 hours
  • Temple - part of board for 3 years, 200 hours

Total Volunteering Hours: 300+ hours

Letters of Recommendation:

  • AP Calc BC teacher
  • Prof. at UC Berkeley

Other:

  • National AP Scholar
  • National Merit Scholar
  • Ranked Top 20 PF Team in California
  • Ranked Top 50 PF Team in California
  • Ranked Top 100 PF Team in California

I am trying to see if I can try to formulate a spike in anyway but I still appreciate any help received. I hope that my grades and EC’s will be able to get me into UC Berkeley. Thanks to anybody who helps!

2

As a high school student, I can tell you this:

I’m not even entirely sure you are on the UC Berkeley caliber when it comes to being qualified for admission. Your profile strikes me as someone who would fit a profile of an Ivy League admitted student. You have insane amounts of ECs, plenty of leadership, and you already have a clear spike in STEM with CS Club, Science Bowl, your Nuclear Physics research and your UC Berkeley research.

I’ve had friends who have gotten admitted to EECS (if that is how you will declare the CS major) with much less under their belt, and many more who have gotten into UC Berkeley and majored in CS through Letters and Sciences (with even less, of course). The fact that you did research under a Cal professor might even give you a huge edge (do NOT quote me on this) in the admissions process for Cal.

tl;dr you’re probably good :). this sounds like a humblebrag as well but i guess everyone is paranoid these days so maybe not :slight_smile:

3

Can’t ever say it’s a sure thing but you definitely look great. Have a couple of good backup options just in case but your odds are good.

4

Calculate your UC GPA and post capped weighted and fully weighted: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

You are a very qualified and competitive applicant but no guarantees.