Chances at transfering to UC Berkeley for program not offered at current school?

<p>I currently go to Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA.
I realize that this diminishes my chances at getting in to UC Berkeley since they give preference to CCC students.
But I am a California resident -- I live in the Bay Area, and the primary reason i am interested in transferring is because I want to study Linguistics and that program is not offered at the college I currently attend.
Do you think these two things give me a slight leg up in the admissions process?</p>

<p>I have already met with a professor in the Linguistics Program at Berkeley and an Admissions Councilor. I have already completed admissions pre-reqs and by the end of Sophomore year I will have completed all undergrad requirements for graduation.</p>

<p>My current cumulative gpa is a 3.7 but should be around a 3.8 by the end of the semester</p>