<p>I’m a junior in high school in Illinois, trying to narrow down the colleges I want to apply to. I want to be an english major, and I plan on applying to UoI-Champaign, Northwestern, Columbia University, and I’m trying to decide between Stanford and Berkeley as the fourth school to apply to. I’m leaning towards Berkeley because I definitely prefer the urban, diverse, large population environment as opposed to small, sheltered Stanford. But my problem is, I’m an out of stater, and I’m wondering if it’s really as hard to get into Berkeley as the statistics say. </p>
<p>I mean, I’m definitely a good student, but I’m not like, perfect, by any means. UoI is my fallback–though I definitely would not mind going there, and am expecting to go there so I won’t get discouraged if I get rejected everywhere else–and I do think I have a decent chance at Northwestern. Columbia is definitely a reach though. </p>
<p>So my question is, as an out of stater who is mostly relying on standardized test scores, recommendations, and essays as opposed to grades and extra curriculars to get into a good college, should I even bother applying to Berkeley? is it really THAT tough for an out of stater to get in? </p>
<p>Apply to both!
If you think Columbia's a reach, then Stanford's gonna be worse. I applied for Cal and Stanford from out of state and got into Cal.
Apply to Berkeley for sure and leave Stanford's application for when you get everything else done :)</p>
<p>well, things are looking bad already. well i do have other things that make me stand out--high standardized test scores, good essay writing skills, even better creative writing skills, success at a summer program at Northwestern--and even though my ec's arent spectacular like some people, i do have some good stuff, leadership roles, elected positions, etc. i also have a lot of work experience, and plan on juggling two jobs this summer and work 40+ hrs a week to save up for college because my parents refuse to support me if i choose to major in english.</p>
<p>the only part im concerned about is that im in 10th place in my class, though my grades have gotten slightly better since last year, and dont colleges like to see an upward trend? </p>
<p>my second problem is that I've had two suspensions, do colleges really look into this? one suspension is totally ridiculous and a funny joke to tell--I got a three day suspension for eating my teacher's donut, and I didn't even know it was his, it was in tech class and it was NEAR his desk, not ON his desk. heh. my second suspension is a bad one though--my friend spotted a stack of 2nd semester english finals in our teacher's cubicle, and I was in the mood for an adventure so I went up there and sneakily ganked one, made copies of it, and sent it to all my buddies. I got in trouble when a peer told her mom who told my teacher. i got a zero on the final, and got my first ever B in english. yea yea, I know, its real naughty, but I do totally regret it now.</p>
<p>I mean im not a cheater by any means, but I can see why colleges might think I am by that one suspension. Think this will be a problem? any ideas on what I should do?</p>
<p>Make sure to talk about what you learned or how you grew from those suspensions and make it creative. On the applications, there is part where you get to discuss things like your suspensions. Make sure to make them as minor as possible and to add a bit humor to it. Make sure to do what I said in the first sentence.
You still have one more year to get better. Get into more clubs at school and also start doing some volunteer work at some hospital or school or somethin'. Your right about the upward trend and all. But make sure to keep improving during your last year!
Good luck. If you work hard in the next year, I'm sure you will dramatically improve your chances of admission.</p>
<p>yeah make sure yyou don matter tem on ur UC essays. also UC essays like straightforward answers so dont use any of those creative writing skills on those. i'm serious, my college counsellor knows all the UC admissions pple and she told me all this. ummmm basically your chances arent impossible for privates, but the chances tthat the tigers winning the world series is much better</p>
<p>I'm sort of in the same place you are, although my suspention wasn't for stealing a food item. I'm all the way out in Maryland, and I was infamously suspended for kissing a girl...but uh...I'm thinking that actually helped me at Berkeley, as it was a gay rights protest.</p>