Low GPA...Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I know there's already a chances thread, but hardly anyone replies to those anymore.</p>

<p>Applied as OOS for L&S, Computer Science major</p>

<p>GPA
---UW - 3.95
---W - 4.10
---UC - 4.22</p>

<p>Senior Course Load
---7 APs (6 year long + micro/macroeconomics)</p>

<p>Standardized Tests
---SAT I - 2170
---Math II - 780
---Physics - 800 (predicting, I just took)</p>

<p>AP Tests
---Computer Science A - 5
---US History - 4
---Language and Composition - 4</p>

<p>ECs (pretty weak)
---NHS 10, 11, 12
---Internship at a Army Engineering District 12
---3 JV/Varsity Sports (doubt these count for anything) 10, 11, 12
---MUN 11, 12</p>

<p>Hooks
---current DoDDs student living overseas (does this count as one?)</p>

<p>I realize my GPA puts me at a serious disadvantage, but compared to the rest of my school, I am actually set for valedictorian. When I look at it, I feel terrible knowing the top 5% in California have 4.2+. I honestly feel like mine is deflated, because though I have only taken 3 APs, I have only received 2 Bs in high school. The Honor courses I took in 9th/10th are neither UC-approved nor weighted, but I do hope they take this into consideration. Now, I am taking just about the last AP classes my school offers.</p>

<p>So this means my stats are slightly sub-par or possibly borderline? I read that about 2 years ago, 98% of applicants with 2100+ were admitted, so that gives me a bit of hope. However, the standards have probably shot up recently. I can only hope my hook(?) and heavy senior course load can compensate. Thank you in advance!</p>

<p>Btw, in case anyone was wondering why I used --- to indent, it's because spaces are automatically removed. I know those dashes looks terrible, but at least it makes this easier to read.</p>

2

<p>I think they will look at your GPA in relation to your school. My school didn’t have a lot of AP/honors either so the max weighted GPA we can get was 4.22 but it worked out pretty well.</p>

3

<p>Haha nice! So what was your junior year GPA?</p>

<p>Actually, there are about 13 APs at my school, 10 of which I am/was taking so our cap is really around 4.3.
I just neglected taking them in my sophomore year because the “honor” classes that I now regret taking were considered the sophmore equivalent, and also because only one person in the entire fresh/soph classes was taking an AP.</p>

4

<p>You have a good shot. I agree that they will compare your GPA to that of your classmates (in any case, it is a strong GPA) so that will only help you.</p>

5

<p>Bump. 10 char</p>

6

<p>you have a good shot, your test scores are pretty good :slight_smile: --i thought it was funny how your prediction is 800 LOL…overconfident??? JK JK…
your extracurricular’s average, so with good solid essay,i’d say you have a very good chance.</p>

7

<p>Lol. Maybe. I took it once without knowing any magnetism and little optics for a 760. This time, I studied both and I omitted only 2. I checked the a collegeconfidential thread for other answers and if those answers are right, I only missed 1-3.</p>

8

<p>Hahah I was kidddding :slight_smile: funny how both of our usernames have “hopeful” in it… hopefully you get in :P</p>

9

<p>That’s the intent of course! Ever since I joined CC I’ve been checking these forums everyday…</p>

<p>Also, I actually forgot to mention Boy Scouts in my OP, which is pretty significant because it has to do with one of my essays. Speaking of them, I think they are above decent so I doubt they’ll drag me down. Thanks to everyone who’s chanced me.</p>

10

<p>So…anyone know any former Dodea students?</p>

11

<p>3.95 UW GPA ≠ Low… end of story</p>

<p>Enjoy Cal</p>

12

<p>It’s not that bad, even without an 800 on the Math II (assuming you got 800 on math SAT I), you’ll probably get into L&S CS. I only got 2 B+'s as well, but it is weird that your weighted GPA is fairly low. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much, even without a plethora of AP or IB courses you probably have a good shot of getting in to L&S CS.</p>

13

<p>Your GPA isn’t low, really. Seems like the scores/gpa are in the range that’d get you accepted. Good shot/match. good luck!</p>

14

<p>Thanks guys! I’ll stop obsessing over my chances now. After reading several tables on UC stat finder, my think my chances are at least over 50%. Looking at this conservatively, I feel like I’m flipping a coin that takes 3 months to fall.</p>

<p>I have no idea why my GPA is so deflated. Must be my unweighted honors (and yet my school weighs AP classes) and maybe because I take more courses a year than Cal students (I take 7, not sure how many is usual).</p>

<p>Anyway, for some reason, my math turned out to be lowest percentile wise on my SAT. 710 for a 94%. First time I took it, I had a 760 but that sitting resulted in a lower score so looks like I’m stuck with it.</p>

15

<p>My D is a former DoDDS student. She was accepted to UCB in '08 with very similar stats as yours: 2170 SAT (CR740, M650, W780) and a 3.9 GPA. However, we found out that we would have to pay OOS tuition and that made it a no-go. She is now quite happy at a top LAC in California.
Good to hear from other DoDDS folks. I am a DoDDS teacher and have lived overseas since 1985. Unfortunately this has resulted in us not being able to claim in-state tuition anywhere, so every state is OOS for us. It has been cheaper to send my kids to private schools than pay OOS fees.</p>

16

<p>If admitted to L&S, you will enter undeclared like other freshmen in L&S. You will then have to apply for and declare the major after meeting the prerequisites. L&S Computer Science is currently not one of the capped majors which has limited slots compared to the number of applicants meeting the prerequisites.</p>

<p>AP Computer Science A will not be of any use to meeting the prerequisites for a Computer Science major. A score of 4 on AP English Language will satisfy one semester of the (two semester) L&S Reading and Composition requirement (you need a score of 5 on the AP English Literature to satisfy both semesters).</p>

<p>Of other possible AP tests, AP Calculus is probably the most useful if you do well.</p>

17

<p>Haha thanks for the very-late replies! I knew I wasn’t the only DoDDs person around here. I am disappointed that I’ll have to pay OOS tuition. I only applied to public universities in Cali for the tuition…</p>

<p>I take it 3.9 is unweighted?</p>

<p>And I’m taking both AP calc and lit this year. Glad they’re useful for meeting requirements.</p>

18

<p>Regarding AP Calculus…</p>

<p>At Berkeley, the usual freshman calculus sequence is Math 1A and 1B. The usual sophomore level math courses are Math 53 (multivariable calculus), 54 (linear algebra and differential equations), and 55 (discrete math), which may be taken in any order (many majors require only one or two of them). Note that some courses may have honors versions available (e.g. H1B, H53, H54).</p>

<p>Here is [what</a> the Berkeley Math Department says about AP tests](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html]what”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html). For those without AP Calculus credit, here is more about [choosing</a> a first math course at Berkeley](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_1stcourse.html]choosing”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_1stcourse.html).</p>

<p>Regarding other AP credit for L&S, here is [what</a> L&S allows AP credit to be used for](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html]what”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html). Note that [L&S</a> does not allow AP credit to be used for its Seven Course Breadth Requirement](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirements/breadth7.html]L&S”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirements/breadth7.html). But check with each applicable department to see if they allow it to be used to place into more advanced courses.</p>

<p>If you change to a different college at Berkeley (e.g. College of Engineering), the rules for AP credit and placement and breadth requirements differ.</p>

19

<p>@Sarsfield My daughter qualified for in-state tuition in FL, even though we have been overseas with DoDDS since 1993. I know they had some very convoluted qualifications for civilians, versus military who had an easier time with in-state tuition. However, we had maintained a home in FL, voted, had drivers licenses, etc in FL, and there was no problem qualifying in-state. In fact U of F was going to give her some in-state scholarships once they found out she was national merit. So there is hope in some states.</p>

20

<p>For future Berkeley hopefuls, DoDEA students in general, or just anyone curious who stumbled upon this thread, I was accepted to Berkeley for fall. Don’t let your weighted GPA discourage you because every school weighs courses differently. Mine does not weigh honors and thus deflated my weighted GPA. I believe what really matters is the UW and number of honors/APs (I added the title Honors to all my Honors courses though they are not UC-approved).</p>

<p>Given all the people who were rejected with 2300+ and 3.9+ UW GPAs, I would say being a DoDEA student is an advantage.</p>

<p>Regarding in-state tuition, you have to submit a petition for it and basically prove you are a resident. The process seems to be subjective. I have not yet done so, but it seems civilians overseas may have to pay the full 55k/year.</p>