Low GPA, Good test scores, rigorous courseload and stellar ECs =?? UC Berkeley chance

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So junior year I went a bit overboard with APs and my grades suffered for it. I plan to explain this in the "additional comments" box on the UC App. However, do you guys think I have a shot? Also, should I retake the SAT? It would be my third sitting.</p>

<p>I am a California resident. In fact, I am a Berkeley resident attending the Berkeley public high school.
oh! And I'm hapa (half asian, half white)</p>

<p>SAT: 2180
-800CR
-730 W, 12 Essay
-650 M</p>

<p>GPA Weighted with the UC Cap: 3.64
GPA UW: 3.36
GPA Weighted uncapped: 3.86</p>

<p>Transcript:</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (only allowed one AP)</p>

<p>-Honors Algebra 2 B/A
-AP Chemistry A/A
-World History A/A
-Mandarin Chinese year 3 A/B
-World Literature A/A
-Orchestra A/A
-C++ Intro A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year</p>

<p>-Honors Math Analysis (IB Math HL1) C/C
-AP Art History C/A
-AP Biology* A/B
-IB SL Mandarin B/C
-AP US History* B/B
-AP English Language B/B
-Orchestra B/B</p>

<p>asterisks denote places where I MAY (might very well not) get my grade moved up because of my score on the AP exams, which follow:</p>

<p>AP Chinese: 3 (not a native speaker though my surname IS Chinese)
AP Biology: 5
APUSH: 5
AP Art History: 5
AP Chemistry: 5
AP World History: 5
AP English Language: 5</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload:</p>

<p>AP Physics B (no C is offered)
Calculus BC
AP Music Theory
AP English Literature
AP Gov/Econ
Free Period</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Field hockey for Junior and Senior year
Art History Club Senior Year</p>

<p>P2P Intern at an observatory (we are a group of teens that learned how to work real planetarium software and make shows for a blow up planetarium dome about astronomy to present at our outreach science fair nights, mostly to kids and their parents)
Volunteer year round at the same observatory, 200 hours (and I started in Junior year, this is increasing)</p>

<pre><code>*some of the duties include being observatory/museum floor experimenters. We present basic science concepts using cool demos in front of the public. Another duty is the outreach program to other schools. I've gone to a couple of them where we do the science experiments for a school's family science night.
</code></pre>

<p>Member of Astronomy Club which is run by the observatory--one night a week we meet at the observatory to have a lesson in Astronomy. When it gets dark we pull out telescopes and point them at different objects in the sky for observatory/museum visitors to look at.</p>

<p>Paid year round Intern at the observatory (I was promoted after a year)</p>

<p>Essays: </p>

<p>Ought to be good since my ECs really are my passion. I love astronomy and always have. I'm also a pretty good writer.</p>

2

<p>Bump. Also I’m a girl</p>

3

<p>badump</p>

<p>tsenchar</p>

4

<p>Bump, please chance me for UC Berkeley!</p>

5

<p>Just based on the GPA alone, I’d say Berkeley is a long shot. However, SATs are pretty good, AP scores rock, but the astronomy EC is a gold-mine! From what I’ve read (I’m applying to Berkeley too), UCB looks for interesting people, people with a passion, people who have gone out and done things in the world, and that certainly applies to you.
Write a killer essay about your passions, and hope for the best!
Where else are you applying?</p>

6

<p>ah that GPA is the only thing that puts a tiny bit of doubt into everything, but honestly that would probably be overlooked amidst all of your other scores. Your AP scores alone say a lot about you, along with your SAT. and like the person above me said, I think your focus on astronomy will allow for your app to really standout. best of luck!</p>

7

<p>oh and no i dont think you should retake the SAT. it looks good as is. actually, instead of retaking SAT 1, why dont you go for some subject tests?</p>

8

<p>I think you have good chances! DO NOT RETAKE THE SAT! Your score is completely fine! Good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1232794-final-chance-thread-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1232794-final-chance-thread-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;