<p>Hi I’m a Californian from a competitive suburban public school. </p>
<p>Prospective Major: Undeclared Engineering
Scores: 2270 SAT (790 W, 760 M, 720 V), 225 PSAT (probably qualifies me for national merit semi, but idk), 780 Chem, 800 Math IIC
Classes: 10 APs, 2 Honors, 3 community college courses
UC GPA: 3.89 UW/4.32 W… 3 B’s came from humanities courses if that makes a difference
EC: 6 years violin, 5 years orchestra
Community Service: 75 hours Library, 175 hours Shelter
Clubs (joined and paid for membership, never attended any meetings… should I still add them to my short list?): 2 years key club, 3 years CSF, 2 years red cross club
Essays: Assuming they’ll be average</p>
<p>In terms of academics, you should be fine; your UC GPA is certainly high enough for Cal as is your new SAT I and SAT II scores. Quite impressive indeed.</p>
<p>I'm concerned about your Math IIC score; is that an option for new students with the new SAT? I thought there were strict guidelines that you are not to take any of the Math SAT IIs; and take two SAT IIs in different subject matter?</p>
<p>Another point of concern, at least for me, if your participation in orchestra and clubs; your clubs don't show any leadership which may hurt you and the orchestra playing, if you're Asian, is a mold which may hurt. </p>
<p>Your community service however is applauded and I would suggest you focus on those in your three questions for UC (unless they change the questions this year).</p>
<p>To conclude, however, I'm not a Cal admissions officer and my comments may or may not be for debate; take what I've said for what it is worth.</p>
<p>Well, what I meant by that statement was that you can't go in as a stereotype. With that many years of experience, that might not be a factor, but breaking the stereotype is sometimes necessary. There's nothing wrong with playing the violin and your chances are not nil if you do play it, but break out of that mold and be different from those other violin players.</p>
<p>*Edit:</p>
<p>And find a passion. If you're thinking engineering, look for some internship positions available for high school students; it shows you have interest. Of course you might not be actually sitting there doing the fancy stuff, but the office might give you drafting or something related. That would look great on a university app.</p>
<p>A year or two ago, I read an interview with a Cal admissions pooh-bah who said they were looking for leadership/independence, moreso than other UCs who went strictly by the numbers. You don't have to be club president or first chair violin, but exhibiting some individuality and independent action--dare I say "quirkiness"?--would distinguish you from the pack of 800-SAT-nerds. (One of my D's essays was on being the only Anglo in an all-Asian violin section. Kids with similar grades and better SATs didn't get in, but she did.)</p>
<p>Great scores and GPA. Fill in all the spaces in the EC section, even if that means putting down clubs you didn't do any work for. The trick will be the essays, to prove that you were active in high school and were passionate about your community service. The essays should complement the EC's and make them seem more significant, since simply listing a number of community service hours isn't impressive by itself. Your goal now should be to stand out among others with similar stats.</p>
<p>I think you're fine. Jesus, if I got into Berkeley, anything can happen! Not to say I didn't do anything in high school, but I'm also from a competative base, and from MD to boot. </p>
<p>Your biggest worry should be your location, not your record, I guess. Would Berkeley admit like 6 people from the same school?</p>
<p>They don't have a standing committee that evaluates these apps; Berkeley admissions operate like UCLA, I believe. There are many different people that read these applications and they don't communicate; thus, apps from the same school may be sent to different places...this would thus mean that Berkeley doesn't have a quota on one high school (or else Troy and Whitney High students are outta luck).</p>