<p>Out of state applicant
SAT Math: 740
SAT Reading: 800
SAT Writing: 740
2280</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.64
Weighted GPA: 4.14
UC GPA: 4.04</p>
<p>SAT II US History: 800
SAT II Biology: 800
SAT II Math: 780</p>
<p>AP Exams: Biology (5), World History (5), US History (5), English Language (5)</p>
<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Calc BC
AP Physics E&M
AP Lit
AP Gov
AP Econ
Religion</p>
<p>EC's: Varsity Wrestling, Beta Club, NHS, Newspaper, Model UN
Summer program at Brown in molecular biology.</p>
<p>Part of the reason that my GPA is low is because of a mediocre freshman year. My GPA (weighted) for freshman, sophomore, and junior years respectively are 3.7, 4.3, and 4.42. I know that application officers like to see improvement especially in the junior year. This is stated on Berkeley's website. Will my improvement make up for by GPA being lower than the average applicant?</p>
<p>I've read before that colleges like to see people that are passionate in one area and UC's (or Berkeley's, can't remember) website states that one of its points for admission is strength in a specific subject area. How much will my interest and inclination in Biology (standardized tests and summer program) increase my chances at getting in?</p>
<p>Weak point is ECs. What about your essay/teacher recs?</p>
<p>Improvement is good.</p>
<p>Test scores are great, send them all.</p>
<p>In addition to passion in one subject area, I think they like to see passion in and dedication to your top ECs. Also, a hook is good, try to do something unique or spectacular before you apply.</p>
<p>GPA could use improvement, but I’d say you’re definitely a good candidate. Because of GPA and EC’s, my designation would be high match/low reach.</p>
<p>UC GPA should only include 10th and 11th grade a-g subject course grades. See:
[University</a> of California - Calculating GPA](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/q-and-a/calculating-gpa/index.html#4]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/q-and-a/calculating-gpa/index.html#4)</p>
<p>To compare your stats with admitted freshmen:
[University</a> of California - Freshman admission profile](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/index.html)
[University</a> of California: StatFinder](<a href=“http://statfinder.ucop.edu%5DUniversity”>http://statfinder.ucop.edu)</p>
<p>Biology is a very popular major at Berkeley, so you would hardly be unique. According to the [career</a> survey](<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm]career”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm), the 2010 bachelor’s graduates included:</p>
<p>534 Molecular and Cell Biology (largest single major)
292 Integrative Biology
96 Nutritional Sciences
plus unlisted numbers in smaller biology majors</p>
<p>out of 7851 total bachelor’s graduates.</p>
<p>@imasophomore
Thanks for the feedback. The problem with EC’s is that i’m currently a rising senior and seeing as I don’t have much inclination for or a very long history with any of my EC’s, i don’t exactly have much of an oppurtunity to create some kind of a clear passion with EC’s. Should i just try to compensate with community service? </p>
<p>As for the hook. I’m assuming you’re referring to some life experience I could insert into my application essay? Sorry, i’m not too familiar with application-lingo. If so, i think I may have one. Unfortunately its kind of an awkward topic. About a year ago I was hospitalized for self injury. As idiotic as it may be for me to seek a circumstance in which i could profit from this, would colleges view that as some kind of personal challenge that could give me this “hook”?</p>
<p>Are you full pay as an OOS? If so, then you are set. Otherwise, it’ll be like all other top college acceptances.</p>
<p>Yeah i’m full pay. Is that an advantage?</p>
<p>I think being out of state is usually a disadvantage for public schools</p>
<p>The UC/CSU system has budget issues so they’ve increased the % of OOS students and its been thought that full pays have an advantage for a couple years atm.</p>
<p>you’ve definitely got a fighting chance at getting in (better than most).</p>
<p>the thing i would be worried about is the low gpa + high test scores puts off an image that kind of looks like what has been called “lazy genius,” which colleges apparently look down upon. however, if you can’t do anything about this, you could try to explain it a little bit (if there is a legitimate reason) in your essays. your upward trend may make up for this though.</p>
<p>other than that, your ecs are a little scattered, although you definitely show that you’ve put a lot of work into them, especially wrestling.</p>
<p>your test scores are about as good as they get, so send them all.</p>
<p>i think you’ve got a better chance than most, altogether. good luck!</p>