Did i bite off more than i can chew?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

yeah so like the title, did I bite off more than I can chew. I applied as an bioengineering major but just now found out how damn competitive it is.
my stats are:

4.4 GPA
AP Chem (4), AP Lang (5), AP French (4), AP Sem (3, did not submit), AP Macro, AP Physics C E&M, AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Bio, AP BC Calc, AP CSA, Ochem 1 & 2 with As at Stanford Summer session

ECs:

Internally published research interning at T5

Started research project involving mercury w/ Berkeley professor that resulted in a film that got into a film festival and a submitted paper.

More research experience at another biochem company

Scioly w/ quite a few medals

President of public health club

VP of Chem club

Board of an NPO that raises ~20k a year

Volunteer work

Gave lectures in chemistry over quarantine

Led a small team in a business competition that got us 50th out of 1200

Managed a small portfolio

LOR (not sent to UCs):
AP Chem teacher

Research professor at T5

AP Lang Teacher

should I try to email admissions to try to apply to L&S? In retrospect, I want to go to Berkeley quite a bit ;(.

Also, while we’re at it, how’s it looking for Stanford REA?

2

What did you score on the ACT/SAT?

3

35 and 3 800s on SAT 2s, but they don’t matter no?

4

They do if you chose to send them, which I hope you did. Did you mark “No” when they asked if you were applying test optional?

5

oh yea i entered everything in, including my subjects

6

Although the UC’s are test optional now it still does affect your chances of admissions. Schools in the top ten of US News and other college ranking list want to see a “spike” significant accomplishments in a singular area. They don’t want to see well-rounded applicants contrary to popular belief. Based on what you’ve done I would say you have a really good chance of getting accepted to UC Berkeley. I also think you could get accepted to Stanford if you applied. Good luck!

7

I think that you are a competitive applicant. However, what is your unweighted GPA? Weighted is computed very different at different US high schools.

Have you also applied to safeties?

Have you paid attention to what your budget is? There is one thing worse than applying to a top university and getting rejected. That is applying to a top university, getting accepted, and discovering that you can’t afford it.

I suppose another thing worse is attending a top university and finding out that you do not like it. Plan to work very hard and make a huge effort to keep ahead if you get into and attend either Berkeley or Stanford.

1 Like
8

UCs are not test optional this year they are test blind. They will not use or consider test scores (SAT and ACT) admission decisions so no need to send them. If you do send them they will not use them.

9

right, of course. money, for me, is a non-issue. However, I made this post mostly because I felt like I might’ve applied to a major a bit too competitive for my application for Berkeley. I think I might have the option to ask admissions to consider me for Biochemistry instead of Bioengineering, but I’m not sure.

my UW is 3.86 btw, and I applied to purdue, penn state, and low UCs as safeties.

10

UC’s are test optional not test blind. In 2023 UC’s will be test-blind.

11

@Texas231343: Due to a court injunction all UC’s are TEST BLIND for the 2021 admission cycle. This is the most updated information and always check the UC website.

@whippymop: I believe you can request a change of major until January for UCB.

12

No that’s wrong read this article by the University of California. UC’s are test optional until 2023 then they become test-blind.
h ttps://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-board-regents-approves-changes-standardized-testing-requirement

  • Test-optional for fall 2021 and fall 2022: Campuses will have the option to use ACT/SAT test scores in selection consideration if applicants choose to submit them, and will develop appropriate policies and procedures to implement the Board’s decision.
  • Test-blind for fall 2023 and fall 2024: Campuses will not consider test scores for California public and independent high school applicants in admissions selection, a practice known as “test-blind” admissions. Test scores could still be considered for other purposes such as course placement, certain scholarships and eligibility for the statewide admissions guarantee.
  • New standardized test: Starting in summer 2020 and ending by January 2021, UC will undertake a process to identify or create a new test that aligns with the content UC expects students to have mastered to demonstrate college readiness for California freshmen.
  • Elimination of the ACT/SAT test requirement: By 2025, any use of the ACT/SAT would be eliminated for California students and a new UC-endorsed test to measure UC-readiness would be required. However, if by 2025 the new test is either unfeasible or not ready, consideration of the ACT/SAT for freshman admissions would still be eliminated for California students.
  • Elimination of writing test: The University will eliminate altogether the SAT Essay/ACT Writing Test as a requirement for UC undergraduate admissions, and these scores will not be used at all effective for fall 2021 admissions.
13

Oh okay, that’s great! I was wondering whether my application might have a significantly better chance if I applied for Biochemistry in lieu of Bioengineering though (and whether it’s worth it to switch!), since I heard that Berkeley’s school of engineering is harder to get into than Berkeley L&S.

14

@Texas231343: Below is the updated information posted on the website. The information you posted was the UC’s original intention but much has changed since this information was posted. As UC Forum Champion, it is important that I keep up with the most current information.

Fall 2021 enrollment:::

UC will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admissions decisions or awarding Regents and Chancellor’s scholarships. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used to determine your eligibility for the California statewide admissions guarantee, as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

1 Like
15

@whippymop: You look like a competitive applicant and you should apply to your first choice major since there is no guarantee you will be able to switch majors easily once you are enrolled.

16

“I might have the option to ask admissions to consider me for Biochemistry instead of Bioengineering,”

I think that I would apply to the major that you actually want.

Your major impacts what you do in your career. Which university you attend just impacts where you are for four years. Also, the “lesser UCs” are still very good universities, as are Purdue and Penn State.

Assuming that you applied to the major that you actually want to study, I do not think that you should worry about it.

17

Thank you. I got it. I was thinking about transferring to something else eventually as I don’t love the academic pursuits I’ve done so far, but I’m restricted to applying to bio-related programs because of my ECs. However, I think I might stick with my engineering application for now.

18

My ECs had essentially nothing to do with what I went to university to study. I do not think that your ECs need to be related to your major.

19

Thank you for setting the record straight on this as many people still think UCs are test optional for Fall 2021. The fact that they are all Test Blind is a significant change from prior years. The same applies to all Cal States, including SLO. I have a feeling that admission decisions may be even more erratic than usual.

20

I do believe that they still take subject tests, however.