Help with my UC Berkeley Appeal?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

Would someone (who’s written a successful appeal letter or knows how to do so) help me with my UC Berkeley appeal?

Here are my stats on my application.

Major: Applied as Art History. I plan on double majoring in philosophy as well, and have completed lower division prereqs for both.

Major GPA: 3.74

Overall UC Transferable GPA: 3.4 (I will explain why below)

Personal Statement: Discussed my abusive childhood and learned how to live with PTSD, depression, and other mental illnesses. I graduated high school early at 16. My first year of college I had to deal with my parents’ abuse (I don’t want to go into detail) and I worked nearly full-time so along with personal stress and work I did not do well at all. Second year of CC I had 7 W’s because I had to drop out of school for mental health reasons (suicidal, PTSD and other illnesses diagnosis, etc.) By the end of my first two years at CC, my GPA was at a 2.1. The past two years (third and fourth year of CC) my GPA has spiked dramatically (I had all A’s except one B) and raised my GPA to 3.4.

EC (what I put on my application): Started the literature club at school and ran it for two semesters (as president). Secretary and VP of feminist club. VP for one semester and then Pres. for rotaract club. Involvement in sustainability club. Worked 20-30 hours a week third and fourth year of CC. Spoke at an honor’s research symposium at Stanford University on global psychology regarding the mental health of teens in the US and China in regards to academics. Worked on an independent research project for art history. Was my professor’s personal research assistant Fall 2015.

So, here are some of the things I have not mentioned on my application.

EC (not mentioned): Helped start a local family business with advertising. Did private tutoring on academic writing. I also did not mention I worked 4 jobs (3 of them odd, under the table jobs) from June to December 2015.

My “extraordinary” circumstance: in the summer of 2015, I received backlash from my extended family in regards to trying to be open about my abuse from my parents. They told me they wanted nothing to do with me and cut me off. PTSD symptoms grew worse. My boyfriend (I’ve been living in his apartment since I’m an independent, homeless student) became suicidal and I had to constantly monitor him as well as support him through his mental health group classes he was taking. I was dealing with harassment, both sexual and non-sexual in one of my classes last semester as well as online stalking.

Changes since my application: I won an art history scholarship from my CC. I’ve tried to finish up the rest of my major pre-reqs for art history and philosophy. I’ve been working one on one with my professors to improve my art history and philosophy academic writing. I’ve taken a step back from Honor’s courses (there were really no more for me to take since I’ve already taken 9). I’ve been actively involved as an officer of rotaract club and helped out with sustainability club.

I know this is really wordy, and I apologize for trying to explain everything somewhat thoroughly. If you have any questions about anything, please ask below!

Should I bother appealing or not? I know there are plenty of other students with much more compelling stories, more extraordinary circumstances, and much better overall GPAs.

Thank you so much for your help!

2

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I made Dean’s Honor List for outstanding academic achievement 3 semesters in a row as well as receiving an “honor’s scholar” merit on my transcript which came with a $100 scholarship as well.

3

The personal statement is supposed to focus on overcoming adversity or challenges. Key word there is overcoming. Notwithstanding the difficulties you have experienced, it seems more like you are trying to cram as many sympathy cards into the picture as humanly possible. And many of those problems seem to be ongoing.

Focus on one or two events and how they made you a stronger person. And explain how they’re all behind you too.

4

Were you waitlisted, or were you rejected? Where else did you get in? Would you consider taking another year to boost your GPA more, or are you tired of CC?

5

@falltransfer1 My personal statement was more along the lines of overcoming self-worth issues tied along with the abuse. Would you mind if I DM you my personal statement? I’m definitely focusing on “extraordinary circumstances,” but I also want to write half my appeal on the ECs I either didn’t mention or did not know about until this spring semester.

@goldencub I was rejected from UCB, but got into UCLA. I pretty much am at 84 units right now so taking another year is out of the question.

6

@falltransfer1 Sorry for the double reply, but should I say how I overcame the harassment, supporting my boyfriend, and dealing with the PTSD? It’s gotten better, I just had a rough summer. One quick note, the B I did get from the past two years was during that summer because of the outside issues. Should I just casually play the sympathy cards, but focus mainly on the ECs I didn’t mention?

7

You can’t go over the unit cap by taking too many CC courses - all lower-division courses are capped at 70 semester (105 quarter) units.

That being said, why are you so set on Berkeley? UCLA’s art history program is strong I believe, as is its philosophy department.

8

I am a bit tired of CC honestly. I’ve switched from a STEM major to the humanities so I’ve pretty much tried everything.

UC Berkeley’s programs are still stronger than UCLA’s. There’s also a certain prestige that comes with UC Berkeley. Do you have any suggestions for my appeal though?

9

They’re essentially on par with one another. Any difference in prestige is truly negligible. @Cayton can attest to the strength of UCLA’s Philosophy department.

Anyway, yeah - do not use this appeal as an extension of your personal statement. That is not what this is meant for. I would limit talking about adversity, unless it’s something that is not at all mentioned in your PS. Rather, you should focus on new information (such as that scholarship, and any EC involvement they don’t know about, and explain how that makes you a good fit for Berkeley. They admire leadership qualities, a desire to positively impact one’s community/help others, career ambitions, etc. - so keep that in mind.

So I think you should focus on (1) new and pertinent information that provides your application new depth, and (2) how that information specifically, along with the rest of your situation, makes you a perfect fit for Berkeley. I know somebody who got in on appeal by explaining that they wanted to be closer to home to care for their family. Honestly, appeals are extremely unlikely to fall through. So you might as well, if you’re set on Berkeley, but it’s extremely unlikely that it will change your decision.

Best of luck.

10

I agree with @goldenclub and @falltransfer1 . UCLA is strong. Are you local to Berkeley?

I personally believe that prestige or no, Berkeley will be competitively tough and, maybe, the adcoms saw too much adversity, in your history, to merit giving you another struggle on top of the current pile. The adcoms are human.

Honestly, the CC’s are challenging, but not in comparison to the university level of study. Maybe they were empathetic with your struggles and decided you weren’t ready for another struggle. That’s how I’ve interpreted your story. Just my Two Cents.

11

I am local to Berkeley (about an hour away). Moving and uprooting myself so far away from where I’ve been nearly my whole life would be incredibly stressful. I have a lot of connections at UC Berkeley (former classmates, professors who’ve gone there, etc.). It would also be much easier for me to move there as well.

@“aunt bea” So are you saying to not appeal at all? Should I go with @goldencub 's suggestion?

12

Thank you for your comments by the way!

13

I think you need to be at home. I agree with @goldencub, I can’t see you moving to LA because things do appear precarious, given your history.

Tell them you need to be close to family. Please don’t add any more struggles or adversity to your new information; they like positive news.

BTW, Did you get into Davis? DD loves it!

14

@“aunt bea” I will not add any more diversity! Thank you for your comments! I did get into UCD as well :slight_smile: Their art history program doesn’t offer what I am specifically looking for though (I know someone who just graduated from UCB as an art history transfer from the college I am going to and she says that they focus specifically on what I am interested in).

15

Good Luck! DD graduates next month and has had a great time at Davis.

16

hey! did you end up successfully appealing? if so, how long did it take for them to respond?