Myth or Fact about UCs

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm planning to apply to UC Berkely, UCLA, UCSD, and UC Irvine :]</p>

<p>True or False with explanations plz :]</p>

<ol>
<li>UC Berkeley/UCLA's accept people mostly based on GPA/course load and ACT/SAT scores.</li>
<li>A person with strong stats will be accepted with a mediocre essay.</li>
<li>AdComs do not prefer creative personal statement, rather they like straight to the point pieces.</li>
</ol>

<p>So my sophomore and junior GPA is 4.64 and my ACT Composite is 34 :] I'm wondering what're my chances??</p>

<p>Thank you for ur time!</p>

2

<p>sorryy! kinda noticed this is in the wrong section… but please help me anyhow :]!</p>

3

<p>true
semitrue
not sure</p>

<p>want to chance me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/786234-chance-me-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/786234-chance-me-please.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>I can’t answer specifically but UCs are very stats centric. If you are instate you’re probably in at all these schools.</p>

<p>UCSD is all about the points. You’ll probably need over 7600 on this thing (maybe a little more) -</p>

<p>[UC</a> San Diego Comprehensive Review Admission Process: Freshman Selection, Fall 2008](<a href=“http://www.ucsd.edu/prospective-students/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/freshmen/process.html]UC”>http://www.ucsd.edu/prospective-students/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/freshmen/process.html)</p>

<p>Essays and personal statements only matter insofar as they can explain things to get you some points.</p>

5

<p>:O… can some other people comment on the fact/myths please :]</p>

6

<p>I agree with bovertine about UCSD - even in their info sessions, they talk about the points needed for admission. </p>

<p>However, to your questions on UCB and UCLA …</p>

<ol>
<li>True. The higher your stats, the better your chance</li>
<li>Semitrue. Even with the highest stats, to ensure admittance, write the best essay you can possibly write. Don’t ever send in a mediocore essay if you are hoping for acceptance.</li>
<li>False. Each application and essay is looked at by trained adcom personnel. It doesn’t matter if your essay is “creative” or “straight to the point” - just make it a strong essay, and one that is memorable.</li>
</ol>

7

<p>thanks Skyisblue92 :] i will MOST definitely write the best essay i can :D! but its just im not a very strong writer D’: sob</p>

8

<p>We all excel at different things. Write your essays, look at then a day or two later and edit them, and then ask someone who is a good writer and who you trust to read and critique them.</p>

9

<p>anyone else want to share their opinions on these questions…? :] greatly appreciated!</p>

10

<ol>
<li>UC Berkeley/UCLA’s accept people mostly based on GPA/course load and ACT/SAT scores. (you need good essays too, so semi-true)</li>
<li>A person with strong stats will be accepted with a mediocre essay. I guess</li>
<li>AdComs do not prefer creative personal statement, rather they like straight to the point pieces. False?</li>
</ol>

<p>Apply to top schools lol. You have really good stats.</p>

11

<p>loll yes i am applying to top schools as well~ but i rly doubt my chances there :\ must write better essays!!!</p>

12

<p>True
Depends
Depends</p>

<p>What I mean by depends is that every UC campus has a different philosophy. Some will be conservative with their essays, some with be more open minded. The best way to think about an essay is to think of it as a final exam. It won’t turn a C into an A but it would definitely give a nudge from B to A-.</p>

<p>P.S. You have an amazing GPA. In case your curious, UC’s will weigh GPA noticeably more than test scores. My SAT score was 2040 but the fact that my weight gpa was a low 3.8 still kept me from being accepted to UCI.</p>

13

<p>D: how was ur essay in ur opinion hm?</p>

14

<p>bump bump~ anymore opinions? :]</p>

15

<ol>
<li>True, it’s basically those two.</li>
<li>Sort of yeah, but you should still write a good essay.</li>
<li>No, i think creative is actually better.</li>
</ol>

<p>I think you have high chances, but remember UCs weigh GPA differently than they do in your high school (they only let you count up to a certain amount of APs… well it was for my case. it’s called a UC-GPA). But anyway, yeah you’ll probably get in. I would know, since I got into both schools last year :P</p>

16

<ol>
<li>true, 2. true, 3. depends</li>
</ol>

<p>UCs are largely stats-based.
Yeah, UCs are diff. from privates in that they don’t count 9th grade or 1st semester 12th grade.
Most UCs also cap W GPA at 8 max credits (but this is mostly for published statistic purposes, calculate in all your weighted classes for UCs)</p>

17

<p>cool :] thanks everyone!</p>

18

<p>Well, what’s your UW GPA? W GPA tends to not mean much since some schools inflate their points much more than others.</p>

19

<p>3.89 uw :o</p>

20

<p>They have so many applicants, I think its impossible to really read all of those essays. I think you’d be easily in to every UC.</p>