And specifically speaking, Haas?
I know they say they have an 88% success rate for TAP members, but just wondered if anyone has any additional insight/opinions/observations/experiences on this. And obviously if anyone has any insight to it pertaining to Haas, that would be helpful.
Thanks!
I only recently got in but the counselor said she guides, reads, and revises personal statements to ensure they are what berkeley wants to hear. She also said that through the program you can potentionally take summer classes at berkeley free of charge and that would help boost your application. And being a veteran doesnt disqualify you but it also doesnt get you in. Being hispanic is what got me in and the counselor said that is a big plus, given that berkeley is like 45 % white and 45% asian. Like I said I’m still new in the program but i’ll keep in touch to let you know!
Are you working with Gina, perhaps @MikeSauce? I stumbled across a flyer that said a UCB rep was at my school a couple weeks back and ended up speaking with her. We sat and talked and she was really intrigued by my story and as she happened to be a TAP coordinator, she gave me a packet to fill out and said I shouldn’t have an issue as she makes the decision.
I’m white and parents have college education, so there’s no help there, but I’m a 70% disabled veteran with cognitive issues (among a few other things), which caught her attention.
Great info, Mike. Thanks.
yeah Gina Clayton, I guess she handles the east bay area. And she did say being a veteran was a plus 
, so she said she would let you know?? And im surprised your school had a flyer, at my school its like an underground thing that nobody knows about lol
It wasn’t a TAP flyer, just a flyer posted on a random wall that said a UCB rep was in the transfer center for walk ins. Glad I stopped by!
Said she’d let me know what, if I was accepted into TAP? (Sorry, a bit confused there).
I seee, yeah even the reps in general arent really advertised, i guess my school is just no bueno. Yeah sorry, I meant did you get into tap or are you waiting to hear back??
I’m pretty sure I’m in, @MikeSauce. Still have to turn in the application and everything to be done officially, but I think I’m in after that.
I think TAP was the major parameter that contributed to my acceptance. They go with you throughout the ENTIRE process. I even gave my password to my counselor from TAP, and she checked my app before submitting it (and she found some errors and corrected them). She also went over my essay 4 times (and nailed it 4/4, eventually I gave up since she was a creative writing major expecting too much from a technical person like me). I would say do it, the worst thing would be losing your time (which you won’t). They tell you exactly what the admission officers are looking for during the process and how to address those things in your app and essay, which most people either don’t do it, or do it wrong/inefficiently.
P.S I’m not from Haas, but the process is pretty similar to most majors in terms of acceptance. You would probably need additional stuff since Hass is competitive.
@briank82 and @mikesauce, my instinct is both of you will get into Berkeley, for what it’s worth.
^ Whole heartedly agree
@Moshe1010 Thanks for sharing your insight. It’s really reassuring to hear the type of help I’ll be able to get.
Thanks of the encouraging words, @lindyk8 and @luckie1367. Both of you have been incredibly helpful as well. The major dark horse in my application, I believe, will be those three 10 year old OOS C-'s. Two will probably be transferable, one might not be. Without those, I think I can get around a 3.8 GPA … with those factored it, it obviously pulls it down more than I’d like. Still going to look into any course of action I may have with those, but Cal reps have told me not to worry about them.
I also had Gina helped me get into Berkeley! She’s definitely very helpful during the whole application process.
But if you are applying to Haas, then TAP isn’t as helpful to you. Haas doesn’t factor in TAP like other colleges in Berkeley for admission. Still, TAP will be able to help you through the application process and the Haas supplemental.
Thanks @Loyshi.
When you say “Haas doesn’t factor in TAP like other college in Berkeley for admission,” are you saying they don’t factor it as much for admission, or they don’t factor it at all.
I definitely know there’s value to it, as a whole, for the admission process (i.e. experienced help with essays, an “insiders” knowledge of what adcomms are looking for, etc) … so for that, I am definitely thankful.
And a follow up question that is related. Is TAP considered an EC?
Cheers all!
Haas doesn’t factor it in at all, and TAP is not an EC.
I was wondering about that, because in general TAP doesn’t square well with the Haas fanaticism on academics and ECs, etc. but it does have its benefits of helping you craft the best application. Plus, I definitely know your military career is of value.
Thanks @lindyk8. With the veteran stuff, I’m also a 70% disabled combat veteran and enrolled in my college’s learning services for accommodations because of a traumatic brain injury. I know in a lot of cases, this can work to one’s advantage because they can show how they’ve overcome adversity and it can be an underrepresented demographic as wll. With Haas being Haas, I wonder if it could be looked at as a negative because some perception that my brain injury could limit my being successful there?
Obviously, I’m sure that’s grossly against the law, but I can’t help but wonder.
I do have plenty of interesting hooks though:
And some other things. I was also just elected VP of my school’s Student Veteran Organization. Woot.
So, hopefully with the assistance of TAP, I can knock my essay and application out of the park … and considering I’m taking 19 credits this semester, hopefully I can get all A’s this semester and show how I persevere even with my cognitive limitations.
@briank82, I know you have mentioned the cognitive before and all I can say is you seem quite alert, intelligent, and well-versed every time you post, so I don’t know, maybe it’s a little slower, I don’t know the issues, but you do not come across as a person who should not get in to Haas. I think the issue with TAP with Haas may be more giving someone who hasn’t had the opportunities the benefit of the doubt. I think they just need to see that you can be a leader, a responsible person, and bring new and exiting insights into a business situation. You have that in spades.