<p>purple cow thanks I will try to meet all the reqs on your list. </p>
<p>kyledavid, your post was very informative. Thanks.</p>
<p>I met one of the readers at a party last month and she said essays played a HUGE part in the decision. I kinda figured that already based on my own stats, and she confirmed it.</p>
<p>Berkeley doesn't use affirmative action or any race-related admissions decisions (at least they're not supposed to), so if you're Asian, it doesn't mean you have to have higher stats. Although, or course, do the best you can in any case. Berkeley seems a lot more forgiving than other top schools in terms of mediocre test scores, as long as you GPA is good. But they really stress GPA. And of course, work hard on your essays. I think they were the make-or-break element in the admissions decisions of most of the people I know, since some of them had good stats and got rejected, while others had so-so stats and got in.</p>
<p>I had so so stats.... not bad, but not up to par with berkeley's average, but worked hard on my essays and got in.... the essays are very helpful i think in the admissions project, I am an example of it.</p>
<p>Thanks. When should I start preparing for essays? Should I start before my senior year?</p>
<p>Yes. Work on them over the summer.</p>
<p>The prompts are available there. Write drafts over the summer and get as much feedback as possible. From there, write another draft and get more feedback. Repeat until you just can't stand it anymore. They were an assignment in my English class, maybe your school does something similar, but even if it doesn't, ask your teachers to read them.</p>
<p>GPA is the most important...and courseload</p>
<p>And rank. Those three all sort of fit together.</p>