<p>Out of state resident looking to get into UCBerkeley. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>GPA - 3.97
Rank - 1 out of 35 (Architecture school - I hope to study architecture at UCB [family lives in area], not sure if it will make a difference)
SAT I
Writing - 700 (essay 11/12)
Math - 620 (retaking)
Verbal - 650 (retaking)
SAT II
Waiting for results, took US History, Bio/M, Lit
ACT
30 Comp.
34 Reading
32 Science
26 Math
28 Eng/Writing (9/12 - essay)</p>
<p>Overview of transcript:
Alg 1 - Honors - A/A
Alg 2 - H - A/A
Geometry - H - A/A
AP Stat - A/B (4 on exam)
Pre-calc (In progress)
Spanish I, - B/A
Spanish II - A/A
Spanish III - H - A/A
Spanish IV - H - A/A
AP Spanish - (In progress)
Biology - H - A/A
AP Bio - (in progress)
Chemistry - H - B/A
Physics - H - A
English I - H - A/a
English II - H - A/A
AP Comp - A/A (4 on exam)
AP Lit - (in progress)
AP Art Hist - (in progress)
Economics - H - A
Am. Gov - H - A
AP Macro - In progress
AP Gov & Politics - In progress
World History - H - A/A
AP US History - A/A (4 on exam)</p>
<p>not sure if these matter, but I have taken several courses related to Architecture, earning all As
Drafting & Design, Public Speaking, Arch. History, Arch. Photo, Modelmaking</p>
<p>not sure if ECs are very important, but...
Spanish honor society - secretary
key club - vice president
skills usa arch - vice president
junior senate (government) - secretary
gap (mentor program)
national honor society
national technical honor society
etc.</p>
<p>I have around 120 community service hours.</p>
<p>I live in Florida, unfortunately.</p>
<p>I have a job part time supervising at a movie theater. I also just finished an internship with a local architect. i have been working since freshman year, so i have experience to put on my application.</p>
<p>What are my chances? Anything I need to work on? Any <em>hope</em>? It is my dream school.</p>
<p>Your math is weak for an archicture major. Not taking the math IIC will hurt. You need to figure out your UC gpa, they only count soph and jr years. Your gpa as given is below average for instate and your SATs just average, it will make it hard. Also consider Cal Poly for a great CA arch program.</p>
<p>UC GPA would be around 4.4 if I calculated it properly. I'm not sure which courses to include on the application. If I started courses junior year but did not finish until senior year, should I put them in the junior category to increase the gpa?</p>
<p>I really liked cal poly, but the distance from family is again a problem :-(</p>
<p>UC gpa is only academic core classes you took those 2 years with a cap of 8 weighted (semesters) classes. If you have a 4.4 and bring math to 700, you'd have a shot.</p>
<p>I found out today that I actually have around 250 community services hours that were unaccounted for. I'm pretty sure my SAT II scores will be strong (690-730+) and I have greatly improved in the verbal area, so my SAT I scores should all go up - especially if I study for math. If I were to also apply to the College of Letters & Science at UCB and UCLA, would I fair any better? </p>
<p>I'm confident I can make a splash with my personal statement, and my list of achievements is actually rather lengthy. I figured the list I posted would be long enough for evaluating my interest in ECs... so taking this into consideration, do I at least stand a decent shot at admission to UCB or UCLA? </p>
<p>Hmm, I am taking it again in December (I'm certain that UC takes the Dec. score, but confirmation would be nice). What type of gains do I need to see ideally? I prefer to walk into the test without reviewing, so that explains why my math is low - I stopped taking general math courses my 10th grade year. I think if I prep myself I should make a significant improvement because I <em>used</em> to be rather strong in math.... </p>
<p>So, ya.... anything else I need to work on? </p>
<p>I really appreciate any feedback.</p>
<p>EDIT - other factors applicable to me.... not sure if they matter: first gen. college student, come from a family with low income, I was homeless (heh, not sure if this is too melodramatic for a personal statement - probably) for some time, moving around quite a bit, etc.</p>
<p>Woah, I did not notice that you are only taking pre-calc. That will really hurt you as an architect major, especially at UCB. Anyways, as to confirm the DEC. score, they will accept it but it is the last one.</p>
<p>Yeah, I was unable to take AP Calculus. They offer it, but it could not be scheduled due (ironically) to my architecture classes. I realize it hurts, but I obviously can't fix it. Is there anyway to make a note that I couldn't take AP Calculus, or does it not matter? I did take AP Stat, but that isn't much of a math. </p>
<p>Heh... I have a million questions - one more: If I apply for the College of L&S at UCB and UCLA, is math as important? I'm also extremely interested in pursuing a law degree... Is CED harder to get into than CLS?</p>
<p>EDIT - My <em>unweighted</em> GPA is 3.97, but my weighted GPA is a 5.41. Obviously, different regions weight scores differently and I doubt it makes much different, but someone commented that my GPA was low... not sure why (please explain)... I've only gotten three Bs out of some 30 semesters of work.</p>
<p>I dont know much about CED but math is definitely important. CLS is considered relatively easy to get in compared to other majors at UCB but right now I would suggest you do anything you can to get your SAT score up. It will show them that you are prepare for their math classes and compensate for your lack of higher math if you were to be admitted.</p>
<p>EDIT - Your GPA is not low but it is on the low side of people being admitted.</p>
<p>University of Michigan
University of Illinois (UC)
UCLA (in case it was looked over)
University of British Columbia
University of Oregon
Georgetown (a reach, I know...)</p>
<p>Also, is there any way to edit the thread title? The edit option is no longer available... which isn't cool, as I'm curious about chances at multiple schools but feel that a new thread is unnecessary. Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>If you are low income, have you thought through money issues? UCs give incredibly little aid to OOS kids, and the few who get aid are the very top candidates. As a borderline candidate you can't expect money and the cost OOS is $40K/yr. Also keep in mind only about half graduate in 4 years, so you could be looking at $200K.</p>
<p>I come from an interesting family situation, so finances are hard to explain. I am extremely interested in becoming a teacher, so I was considering using federal grant money and then having it paid off through a teaching program.... Is this a good/bad idea? That was my plan and I feel like I have researched it fairly well, but maybe someone here has experience with it. That would make financing my education easier... it is a real option, right?</p>
<p>Well there is loan forgiveness for teaching in some places, but the bottom line is that if you qualify for need based aid you'll do better at a non UC. If you can get into Cal OOS, you'll get into many top schools that meet full need and cap loans. You'll see a lot of options during college you don't know about now and it's better not to be tied down by loans.</p>
<p>Anyway, if your parents aren't paying a big chunk, chances are you can't borrow enough anyway.</p>
<p>Let's put it this way: if it comes down to it, my parents will pay what I can't get covered in loans or scholarships (heh). Obviously I want to maximize my use of federal loans so they can be forgiven. I have researched the program and I can get forgiveness if I teach in certain subject areas nationally, or in even more specific areas in particular states/regions. Which is fine, as it might be the only option I have right now for school. I'm not going to depend on handouts from the school, if that is what you are asking. </p>
<p>But I do appreciate the advice. The last thing I want is to be bogged down by loans, too. Would transferring from a school like Cal Poly after 3 semesters (residency established) be a better idea? I mean, will I stand a better chance at getting need-based aid? Just in case...</p>
<p>The problem I have is that I am not fond of any schools in Florida. I've grown to loathe the state, even though I should be able to enjoy full scholarships here. If it comes down to it, I might have to stay.... but I'm interested in learning more about options OOS. Any information about the other schools (if you or anyone else has any) would be fantastic.</p>
<p>You can not establish CA residency by being a student there. If you could, half the world would be there. Start as an OOS in CA and you are for all education. The only possible way around this is to live and work there for a year before starting school and prove you supported yourself. Also, your parents can not have claimed you on their taxes for 2 years.</p>
<p>If you qualify for aid you will have lots of options OOS, they will just most probably be privates.</p>
<p>Hmm... Berkeley told me I could after three semesters. Maybe I didn't understand the counselor's answer (it was an informal chat on campus). </p>
<p>I know my parents won't claim me this year, so it is a start... but waiting a year between HS and university is usually a poor decision, no? How does admissions look? Exactly the same? </p>
<p>I'm not too confident in private aid options... I don't think the government will pay them if I decide to do public service.</p>
<p>Sounds like you need to do financial aid research, you're confused. And you definitely misunderstood the Berkeley rep. Privates that meet need will give those with need better aid than UCs will. Those loans would be forgiven as well.</p>