<p>Son really wants to attend Berkeley in 2008. He is a junior with four AP and one community college class this year and, aside from AP Chem or Physics, has taken the most rigorous classes each year, but ended his soph year with a 3.5 academic GPA. (His school only weights AP and it is generally restricted to one class soph year unless student is a serious math or science whiz) He will end up with about 9 AP and three college classes by the time he graduates. The low grades were affected, but not entirely caused by, some transitory health problems during his frosh and soph year. He taught himself to play the piano, guitar, and various other instruments while he was getting all of those B's, as well as working on a book manuscript. He took a UC class this summer "for fun" and aced it. His SAT from last year is low-2200's and he will take it one more time in October to get that out of the way. He thinks he can bring the GPA up to 3.9 by the end of his junior year. He will have three years on student government, two years of basketball, 3 years of coaching youth sports, and is president of the Amnesty Intl. chapter at his school, among other things. Has anyone here gotten in (without athletics or another serious advantage) with a GPA under 4.0? As a matter of fact, because the GPA question can be so complicated, can anyone who got in with a "low" UC GPA post and let me know what it was and why they think they got in? Everyone always says that a high SAT with lower GPA spells rejection and, although he will apply regardless, if there is hope, I'd like to let him know. Sorry for the long post.</p>
<p>There's hope, for sure. If he can bring his GPA up to 3.9 then he should have a very good shot. I believe the average is 4.2, so there are surely many students who got in with a 3.9 or lower.</p>
<p>The average UC weighted GPA here for matriculations is about 4.28.</p>
<p>S1 is a 3rd year at CAL and was accepted with a weighted GPA of just under 4.0. The current stats online for fall 2006 students accepted with a 3.70 - 3.99 shows an 11.9% admitted. When S1 was admitted it was around 8%. For more data, on all UCs, check out this link (<a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles.html</a>)</p>
<p>Note that the stats do not include Spring Admits, of which my S was one. We've always said that the Admission Gods were smiling on us. Our guess, and that is only a guess, is that his essays were good. The rest of his profile, tests, etc. were good, but nothing was out-of-the-ballpark.</p>
<p>By all means, I suggest your S should strive to do his best. That will only increase his chances at the schools he applies to. CAL is worth applying to, but there are many well-qualified students who are not accepted at CAL.</p>
<p>"Has anyone here gotten in (without athletics or another serious advantage) with a GPA under 4.0? As a matter of fact, because the GPA question can be so complicated, can anyone who got in with a "low" UC GPA post and let me know what it was and why they think they got in? Everyone always says that a high SAT with lower GPA spells rejection and, although he will apply regardless, if there is hope, I'd like to let him know. Sorry for the long post."</p>
<p>Well, I have good news and bad news for you.</p>
<p>The good news: I was admitted into Berkeley for the class of 2010 with an uw GPA of 3.4 and a UCGPA of 3.8. Not an athlete, no special advantages. Just a 2250 on the SATs.</p>
<p>The bad news: first, I am a spring admit. Second, I have not heard of anyone here with a GPA that even matches mine.</p>
<p>How did I get in? Probably luck. My high school is also pretty rigorous and I took a lot of APs.</p>
<p>Does your son have hope? Yes, a little. And it's probably spring admit. But look into other schools as well. On a sidenote I was rejected from UCLA, just to let you know how competitive colleges are getting.</p>
<p>Fall 2006 Admit</p>
<p>My UW GPA was 3.67, my UC GPA was 3.96. Max Uncapped Weighted GPA was 4.25.</p>
<p>But my HS is known to the admissions office for Berkeley, sending 50+ people from my class to Berkeley every year. Makes up for GPA as they know our HS employs Grade Deflation and is one of the top 5 public HS in the state.</p>
<p>SAT: 2300
ACT: 35
SAT IIs: 800/800</p>
<p>No ECs Whatsoever.</p>
<p>Don't know if it helps you but here it is. Also, my friends have lower stats then me and got into engineering at Berkeley so go figure.</p>
<p>Ec's might hurt you. But very good SAT and ACT. I think you'll get in.</p>
<p>well
i go to one of the best schools in cali
uw gpa 3.3 ucgpa 3.92
sats 2090
bio 740 math2c 790</p>
<p>im good at piano
they sent me a supplement in febuarary and apparently i did well..?
fall admit 2006</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the replies. Can you please explain what the supplement you got in February is? Also, are there any situations where the adcoms at Cal take calls/letters from school personnel (GC's, psychologists, etc) in support of a student's application, as in explaining the very good (of course they were!) reasons the student may have had problems keeping their GPA above 4.0? Now, I know all of the information available says otherwise, but does anyone feel connections at the university helped their cause?</p>
<p>hi, i sent a piano recording in along with my application and in febuary they emailed me a supplement asking for more information on my Ec's(piano) and the awards i have won and stuff like that
they also asked for my first semester GPA (3.0) hehe and a teacher rec</p>
<p>" i sent a piano recording in along with my application and in febuary they emailed me a supplement asking for more information on my Ec's(piano) and the awards i have won and stuff like that
they also asked for my first semester GPA (3.0) hehe and a teacher rec"</p>
<p>You actually sent in a letter of recommendation? Now, I don't believe that. Berkeley, all the UCs, just throw away any letters of recommendation you send in.</p>
<p>Bessie,I don't think you should actually call the Berkeley admissions committee. They just receive too many applications a year. I would explain my situation in the miscellaneous section they give you on the application. Last year, I believe there was a section where you get to explain anything that you might like the admissions commitee to know about you.</p>
<p>they sent a supplement ASKING for my teacher rec.</p>
<p>They don't want the recommendation unless they ask for it in the supplemental letter.</p>