Chance Me

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

<p>Asian-American Male, Junior, Class of 2016, Out of State, Very Competitive High School in Virginia</p>

<p>Objective:
* SAT I: Math 760, CR 690, CW 720 Total: 2170 *retake in September
* SAT II: 800 (Math II); 780 (Chemistry); 800 (Chinese)
* PSAT: 236 (National Merit Finalist)
* Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.82 (Yes very low, I’m well aware)
* Weighted GPA (out of 5.0): 4.46
* Rank: Top 25%
* AP (place score in parenthesis):
European History: 4
Calculus AB: 5
U.S. History: 4
Chemistry: 4
Psychology: 5</p>

<p>Subjective:
* Extracurricular (place leadership in parenthesis):
-National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, History Honor Society
-Math Club, Invisible Children Club, World Culture Club
-Varsity Indoor Track (9th Grade)
-Varsity Basketball (10th Grade)
-Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team (11th Grade)
-Varsity Football (12th Grade)
-Leadership Class (Sophomore-Senior Year)
-Piano (10 Years)
* Awards:
-Honor Roll 3 years
-Piedmont Virginia Regional Science Fair Winner (Math Category 2011)
-National Merit Finalist
* Volunteer/Community service:
Habitat for Humanity (100 Hours)
Local Library (50 Hours)
Electronic Projection Work (100 Hours)
Hospital (150 Hours)
TOTAL: 400 Hours
* Summer Activities:
Summer Internship Pathology Department assisting in Lab experiments
* Teacher Recommendation: One from English teacher (11th) and Calculus teacher (11th)
* Counselor Rec: Loves me
* Additional Rec: N/A</p>

<p>Other
* State (if domestic applicant): Virginia
* School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: Asian
* Gender: M
* Income Bracket: >250,000
* Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation</p>

<p>COURSES TAKEN:</p>

<p>7th Grade:
Honors Algebra I: A/A
8th Grade:
Honors Geometry: A/A</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Honors English 9: A/A
Honors World History I: A/A
Honors Algebra II: A/A
Honors Biology I: B/A
AA Spanish I: A/A
PA Info Tech Fundamentals: A/A
ST PE/Health: A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Summer Gym/Health: A/A
Honors English 10: B/A
AP European History: B/B
Honors Math Analysis: A/A
Honors Chemistry I: A/A
AA Spanish II: A/A
PA Computer Science I: A/A
SE Leadership I: A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year:
Honors English 11: B/A
AP U.S. History: B/A
AP Calculus AB: B/A
AP Chemistry II: CYIKES/A
Honors Physics: A/A
AP Psychology: A/A
AA Spanish III: A/A
SE Leadership II: A/A</p>

<p>Senior Year Course-load:
AP English 12
AP Government
AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AA Astronomy
Honors Spanish IV
SE Leadership III</p>

<p>Yeah, my grades and SAT Scores are sub-par, any chance at all? what do i need to improve on?</p>

2

<p>Up that SAT score. How did you do so badly with a pretty beastly PSAT socre? </p>

<p>You seem pretty solid.</p>

3

<p>Don’t need teacher recs. From what you and caiacs are saying, you have a low GPA and SAT, but are gonna raise those, which is good. </p>

<p>What stands out to me (but probably isn’t that big of a deal) is that you have so many varsity sports, but for just one year each (I think that’s what you are saying). If I’m wrong, say so. But the way you put it, it seems like you only each of them for one year, which is something most colleges do not like.</p>

4

<p>Probably a pretty great chance. 2170 is above average for Cal (it is, right? I’m not entirely sure but I don’t think that their average would be a full hundred points higher than UCLAs), but raising your SAT score will obviously make you a more competitive candidate, especially for Ivies/other top schools which I’m sure you’re applying to.</p>

5

<p>thanks guys.
and just some more general questions if anyone could answer.
what does cal pay more attention to-the SAT scores or GPA. Also I am only in top quartile and not decile of my graduating class does that hurt?</p>

6

<p>bump bump bump</p>

7

<p>You go to what seems like a pretty competitive school so “only top quartile” won’t hurt you too much. You’re still most likely smarter than 90% of admitted students. </p>

<p>Also don’t bump a thread after only three minutes since the last post.</p>

8

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.82 (Yes very low, I’m well aware) </p>

<p>I think you are being a little hard on yourself. Your courseload is obviously very rigorous and your GPA is nothing to be ashamed of. I think your chances at Berkeley are good overall. They go up somewhat, or down, depending on your intended major. If you are majoring in engineering, for example, your chances go down a little and if you were an undecided major your chances go way up. Make sure you don’t apply “undecided” and then think you can easily switch into engineering, though, because it is next to impossible to do that at Berkeley after the fact. I would look at applying to some out of state private schools as well if you ‘wanna get away’-- USC definitely comes to mind. The UC’s are very pricey for OOS applicants when you could stay in-state and go to UVA, W & M, VA Tech, etc. Below is a link to look at your UC chances. Click on “Custom Tables”, answer a few prompts and enter up to 3 “mean characteristics” at a time to see what your admit rate is at any and all of the UC’s:</p>

<p>[University</a> of California: StatFinder](<a href=“http://statfinder.ucop.edu/]University”>http://statfinder.ucop.edu/)</p>

9

<p>ehhh What’s up Doc? (bugs bunny)</p>

10

<p>anyone know Berkeley’s acceptance rate OOS? or do they not keep track of that</p>

11

<p>I’m not too sure of the OOS acceptance rate, but I do have to say: things have been much easier for OOS students ever since the budget became an issue. This is because in-state issues are subsidized with a lump sum from the state, but that amount is getting smaller. Meanwhile, OOS students have to pay that ridiculously high tuition.</p>

<p>That being said, you have a great chance. Your SAT score could use a boost, but it’s still significantly above average. The rest of your stats look great and show how you’d be an excellent fit for the culture here. The lab work gives you an extra boost.</p>

<p>When I applied a few years ago, I got into EECS with a 2080 SAT I and 3.7 UW GPA.</p>

<p>I’d actually be somewhat surprised if you don’t get in.</p>

12

<p>anyone know if berkeley superscores the SAT?
also is housing guaranteed all 4 years?
and hows the quality of the girls there ;p</p>

13

<p>I believe housing’s only guaranteed for four years if you get Regents and Chancellors. Not sure.</p>

14

<p>Cal does not superscore the SAT.</p>

<p>housing is only guaranteed for 2 years for most students. I’m not sure about the info caiacs said above.</p>

<p>The girls are girls. The guys are guys.</p>

15

<p>I know that RC scholars definitely have housing guaranteed for four year. I wasn’t sure if anyone else also had some sort of guaranteed housing (athletes maybe??)</p>

16

<p>Looks good to me! You’re stats are competitive.</p>

17

<p>pretty good chance</p>