hopeful prospective student to UCB UCLA Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello fellow college prospects,</p>

<p>This is my first post, and I would love to hear your critiques and comments on my stats. I am hoping to go to Berkeley, but if not possibly UCLA and Stanford. I know generally UCLA and Stanford are considered more selective than Berkeley (ironically since Berkeley is ranked higher than is UCLA) but I am interested in its business undergrad program which only Berkeley provides. If I am admitted to UCLA or Stanford then I will have to change majors...</p>

<p>Anyway, here are my stats. I know they are not nearly as impressive as that of many on this forum, but I am working on improvements. Also, as a side note, I understand from observing that many here like to give others hope and encouragement, and I am all for that as it spares hurtful emotions. However, I do not wish to live in hope and denial, so please, for this specific thread and for my sake, please do not go easy on me. Be as critical or harsh as you please. If you think my Scores are really bad, do not hesitate and sugar-coat it with "it could be a tadbit better." Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Class: Junior, incoming Senior
Graduating Year: 2008 (took senior pics today!)
Class Rank: 3/345 (our school is not very academically competitive, I'm pretty much guaranteed top 3 upon graduation, the presitigous one and two spot get competitive)
Unweighted GPA: ~3.9
Weighted GPA 10-12: ~4.38 (hnrs classes count as unweighted at my school)</p>

<p>Courseload:</p>

<p>9th Grade (even though it does not matter)
Eng 1 Hnrs :A A
Span 1 : A A
Geometry : A A
World Geo hnrs : A A
Biology : A A
PE : B A (didn't dress out, thank god it isn't on academic gpa)</p>

<p>10th Grade:
Eng 2 Hnrs : A A
Span 2 : A A
Alg2/Trig : A B
AP Euro : A A
Chemistry : A A
P.E. : A A</p>

<p>11th Grade (critical year, had to step up my game haha)*:
AP Eng Lang : A A<br>
Span 3 : A A
PreCal Hnrs : A AorB
AP US Hist : A A
AP Bio : A A
Expl. Art : A A
*Grades for second semester are not final yet, but those are the expected.</p>

<p>12th Grade (schedule):
AP Lit:
AP Span:
AP Stats:
AP Civics and Econ:
AP Environmental Sci:</p>

<p>I decided to take easier classes (as opposed to AP Physics, AP Calculas, AP Chem) seeing as I am intending to bea Business Major.</p>

<p>AP Exams:
AP Euro: 4
AP BIO: not known yet
AP US: not known yet
AP Lang:not known yet</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning: 1990 cumulative (CR: 640, M: 680 W: 670)
Please be very critical about this, I was disappointed for days because I expected a 2100. I shouldn't complain too much though as my only prep was one week before the test. But nonetheless, I heard for CAL and UCLA, one should have over 2000, at least, and for Stanford, 2200.</p>

<p>SAT Subjects: Biology: 690, U.S. Hist: 700 Math IIC: 660.
My greatest folly: taking the subject test before the AP test; I didn't have the studying experience that the AP tests would have made me do...and our class didn't even finish the course! I know these scores are awful comparative to most students applying for these prestigious schools.</p>

<p>EC's:
Eagle Scout from Venture Troop (300+ community service hrs.)
VP of Venture Troop
Club membership in: Kiwin's, American Heart Association, Interact (though I have few hours).</p>

<p>Please chance me considering these factors. My top choice right now would be Berkeley, but my spirit is wavering as it is indeed the top public school in the United States. Some even compare it to Ivy League Schools! And again, no mercy is being asked. Be critical, but not so harsh please :). Thank you again.</p>

<p>Also, if anyone has had the same dilema as I on deciding between CAL, UCLA, and Stanford, please give me your insights on which you chose and why, primarily in terms of the general atmosphere rather than academics. I know Stanford is a small college, and UCLA is big but has little acreage, and Cal is very liberal, but since I live too far from these places visitation would be impossible. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Up SAT 1. In at LA and Berkeley.</p>

<p>Stanford: Reject.</p>

3

<p>If you get a 2100+, then you'll probably get accepted to UCLA and perhaps Berkeley. </p>

<p>Stanford is an extremely high reach though.</p>

4

<p>The strength of your courses is very important at all 3 schools. Doesn't matter what your major will be. You also don't get accepted to the B School, Haas, until Jr. year so you better be prepared to take hard classes and do well becaue it's very competitive. I think you have a shot at the 2 UCs, but probably not The Farm because of course load and scores.</p>

5

<p>for top schools: horrible sats, good rank, bad ECs</p>

<p>ucb, ucla, stanford: reject</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the comments.</p>

<p>I meant that I would take easier courses senior year because Calculas, Physics, and Chem will not be required for my future (if I go into business) so I would not need an early grasp on it. Also, I think an A in AP Stats and in AP env. sci would be better than B's in the other, correct?</p>

<p>I have also looked at the Berkeley course requirements and Breadth requirements for an undeclared major in the College of Letters and Science with interest in the Haas School of Business, and they do not seem that hard, one can even go as far as considering them fun. Hopefully I can finish some of those requirements granted I get high scores on the AP tests. But is getting into the Haas school really, really competitive? Is this from personal experience? Thanks much.</p>

7

<p>I'll try not to listen to you, Firefox, because I have seen this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=361934%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=361934&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks for pointing out the obvious, though. I really did not know that if you have horrible sat's and bad ec's you get rejected into top schools. Wow. This is one of the reasons I came to these forums: for these enlightening comments. You are such an asset to CollegeConfidential. Or should I scratch out the last two letters of "asset"?</p>

8

<p>No, an A in easy classes is not better. Again, doesn't matter what your major will be, top schools want to see physics, calc and the hardest courses your school offers. Your senior schedule will be seen as light weight at top schools.</p>

9

<p>Wow you MUST take calculus. I'm serious, if you want to go into business and you're thinking about applying to Berkeley of all schools, you def. should have calculus.</p>

10

<p>lol some people are dumb as hell</p>

<p>with your current sat and gpa you are in at LA and B, but stanford is a reach.
your gpa is over the average but your sat is slightly under SLIGHTLY for LA and B so don't worry just retake and do well.</p>

11

<p>Why Calculus? This discussion is good though, since I have time over the summer to change my class schedule. </p>

<p>But isn't Stats more necessary than Calculus for Business. Like UCgradmary said, you do not apply to Haas until the end of Sophmore year and they do require Calculus as one of the courses. And I am apply to the College of Letters and Sci., so do you think they will be okay with AP stats?</p>

<p>And you guys are correct in saying that colleges like high-level classes; but, to be honest, is AP Stats and/or AP Env. Sci. really that low of a class? They are AP after all, albeit easier coursework.</p>

12

<p>Taking calc is almost always always better, it looks better at admission time, and many/most peers at top schools will have it, better prep for college, etc.</p>

<p>Also, i should recieve 3 s.h. of credit for having to read that novel you called a post...j/k</p>

13

<p>I disagree that your schedule will be seen as "lightweight". Even though APES and AP Stats are known to be "easier" AP classes, that really applies to the difficulty of the subject matter, not the work involved in the class - since that varies from school to school. Anyway, I'd be willing to bet that 5 AP classes is never lightweight even for top schools. </p>

<p>I would say you are in at UCLA, UCB (only with an SAT boost to 2050+ thought), but not Stanford (even if your scores do rise). Stanford is just, well, Stanford.</p>

14

<p>Thanks for the confidence, Padfoot, and thank you everyone for your comments (some more helpful than others). I'll be aiming for a higher SAT score come next Oct. It's funny though, the UC's are always peculiar on their admission judgements. For example, a girl with an SAT of 1940 and ranked 18th (graduated, rank not impressive at my low school) got into Berkeley, while another one of my friends who goes to a more difficult school, in the I.B. program, and who scored a 2090 on her SAT's got rejected. I guess it's there holistic approach, and that they judge by poverty levels of the school and demographics as well. That's a good thing for me as my family is pretty humble in our financial backgrounds, I'm talking lower class poor. </p>

<p>But anyway, I researched the Haas program and the rate of admission from continuing Berkeley Students, for those interested, is roughly 60%. <a href="http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/Undergrad/statstransfer.html#ineligible%5B/url%5D%5B/B%5D"&gt;http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/Undergrad/statstransfer.html#ineligible</a> This gives me some hope for the future! Now the current dilemma is getting into Berkeley...haha...</p>

<p>Again, thanks everyone for your advices. I will try and prep for the SAT's over the summer, but this will likely not come to fruition. Damn you procrastination!</p>