Chances for Early and Regular Admission

<p><em>Already posted in CC Stanford forum</em></p>

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>Stanford is my top choice. I am applying for early decision this fall (2006). According to everyone here, what are my chances of getting accepted?</p>

<p>What are my chances for Cal Berkeley and Columbia (regular decision)?</p>

<p>GPA (weighted): 4.2 (from fresman to junior year)
School Rank: 7 out of 559
SAT: 2310 (maximum scores out of two tests)</p>

<p>APs:
World History - 4 (Sophomore)
Chemistry - 4 (Junior)
Biology - 5 (Junior)
U.S. History - 5 (Junior)
English Language - 5 (Junior)
Spanish Language - 4 (Junior)</p>

<p>APs I'm taking this year:
U.S. Government (2 separate classes)
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP English Lit.
AP Computer Science
AP Physics EM
AP Physics M
AP Calculus BC
Tests Total: 8</p>

<p>I have been volunteering for organizations that work with Lou Gehrig's Disease. My grandfather died of it, so I am planning on writing my personal statement on my whole story with the disease, etc. I visit patients. I am an inern for one of the organizations. I raise money for walk-a-thons and advocacy. I have made websites and just advocate awareness in general.</p>

<p>I also tutor at the library as a volunteer. I am part of the Teen Advisory Group for the library as well.</p>

<p>I was an intern at Sandia National Labs, a Department of Energy-sponsored government laboratory.</p>

<p>I worked at a local environmental lab from May 2005 until June 2006.</p>

<p>I won the Math and Science Award from the Sandia Women's Committee (I was nominated by the school).</p>

<p>I won first place in the regional science fair for Environmental Science. This was coupled with the regional Stockholm Junior Water Prize and Best Science-Related project prize from the local water district.</p>

<p>I won an academic block from my school.</p>

<p>I have played the piano since I was 5. I have been a part of the National Guild of Pianists since 2002. I have also played in recitals, etc.</p>

<p>I am an avid singer of Indian music, with an emphasis in classical music. I have had a few group public performances.</p>

<p>Nationality: Asian-Pacific Islander/Indian (from India). I'm not sure how significant this will be in the application process.</p>

<p>If I remember anything else that I'm planning on putting on my application, I will be sure to add it.</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for their time!</p>

<p>P. Y. L.</p>

<p>You don't say which state you are from (in-state versus out-of-state makes a world of difference for UC Berkeley), but since you worked at Sandia Labs, I'll presume you go to school in New Mexico.</p>

<p>Also, you didn't give us your UC GPA--which you can figure from this website:
<a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Note that UC Berkeley doesn't count freshman grades, and caps the GPA by using only 8 semester hours of honors/AP/IB courses in the computation.</p>

<p>The data for in-state acceptees at the UCs is located here:
<a href="http://www.ucop.edu/news/factsheets/2006/freshman_admit_profile_2006.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ucop.edu/news/factsheets/2006/freshman_admit_profile_2006.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Based upon what you have told us here, I'm estimating your chances at Columbia as "slight reach" and at UC Berkeley as "match to slight reach". If you go to school in California, then I would rate you as a "match" for UC Berkeley.</p>

<p>This may seem overly tough grading on my part, but the problem is that while your courseload is tough and your SAT scores are excellent, your GPA is not all that high (you are about a 3.8 to 3.85 UW) for these schools. Your rank of 7 out of 559 sounds great, but generally Columbia only takes the students that are in the top three at their high school, unless that high school is really exceptional (like Phillips Exeter Academy or Phillips Andover Academy). </p>

<p>What can you do--well, first of all, write a great essay and get excellent recommendations. Also, apply to some other similar schools--as well as schools that are slightly less prestigious. If you apply to about 10 of the top schools, you will get into at least one in my opinion. If you apply to only these two, you may not get into either one.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comment. Some more notes:</p>

<p>I live in California. My rank puts me at 1.25 (round to 2) percent in my class. Also, I have taken two courses (Statistics and English) at the local community college. I'm not sure what the UC GPA is, but mine would be 143 (from what I can tell from a quick look at the page linked by Calcruzer). I go to a public school in Pleasanton, which is considered as a "rich people's" city, so that might affect my chances of getting in also. Stanford usually accepts 0-3 people from each class.</p>

<p>SAT II's:
World History: 750
Biology: 710
Math II: 780</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p>pyleela:</p>

<p>UCB: Safe Match</p>

<p>I think UCB is a match, and Columbia, a slight reach.</p>