<p>Applying to: Cal (top choice by a long shot), UCLA, UCSD
Major: Political Science (yes, another one of those)
GPA: 3.71-- definitely planning on getting it up to ~3.8 in the next two quarters
IGETC: Will be completed by next quarter
Pre-Reqs: Will be completed this quarter
Essays: Still working on them, but they will definitely be awesome
ECs: Honors club, Phi Theta Kappa, English tutor working at the school's writing center, competitive badminton player with no school affiliation--I train a good 10+ hours a week at a training facility close to my house and also help them put with a bit of volunteer coaching. I don't involve myself with too many activities but what I do have I concentrate very hard on. Planning on writing about that fact a bit in my personal statements.
Other: Definitely the one thing that is scaring me the most is the fact that I got a D in a calculus class my very first quarter. I retook it for a better grade but it still scares me. In fact there's just a general not-very-impressive trend with my math grades; they're the only B's I have :/</p>
<p>Yea that's about it. I want to go to Cal so badly it's not even funny. Hope I still have a decent shot. Thanks.</p>
<p>Well B’s in Calc will still get you into UCB’s L&S to study Poli Sci so wouldn’t worry about that so much. What would best assist you is a year dedication in your school’s student government body and/or writing articles for your school newspaper. UCB isn’t really going to care about how you choose them as your dream school, training activities or excuses why you didn’t participate in the educational process. I’m not trying to be harsh but I’ve seen many 3.3 students get into UCB over 3.8 students because the 3.3 student was willing to sacrifice his/her time and efforts to better understand how the California educational system works while the 3.8 student merely just showed up to his/her classes. I mean you are going for a Poli Sci major yet never bothered to join student government but wish to just be shooed into Berkeley?!?!</p>
<p>Phil, for one there is no guarantee in life and college is not some product you can return to some store. UCB and UCLA have a holistic process as part of their admission process and I know plenty of people that got into either school with barely a 3.3 because became involved and learned about the California educational system. It is true that in the past decade there have been a large number of status seeking foreigners who want to attend a tier 1 college and joined a club or student government but didn’t do a damn thing. That shouldn’t discourage others not to get involved and instead remain apathetic or hopeful without even experiencing what it is about. One still has to dedicate his/her time and will learn something in the process which is part of Leadership Development. UCB is very hip to the game of students who spend wasted energy on taking short cuts and think they are being clever.</p>