<p>i chose berkeley over UCLA, UCI, and UCSD. that plus, you dont need to go to an expensive private university to make grad school, since is vastly cheaper than those privates, with essentially equal footing, if not higher. where else can you go and be compared equally to the ivy league ppl, when you only pay $21k each year (provided you're an instate student).?</p>
<p>I've heard from people that went to Berkeley from my high school that Berkeley is ultra-competitive. Is it competitive to the point where it's unbearable? Also, how is the overall environment? Do people still have fun? I'm probably going to major in bio.</p>
<p>depends on which classes for which major, and yes some classes are very hard (but hey, how else can we be world class if the classes aren't hard right?). overall environment......hmmm.....social?? academic?? of course ppl still have fun, there are always parties if you're up for those........if not.....club events........theres many organizations on campus............</p>
<p>SAT: 1540 (800 M, 740 V), 800 M2C, 800 PHYS, 790 W
GPA: UC 4.5/4.0 uw (ranked top 4% from strong bay area private school)</p>
<p>ECs: medical sensors research, founder of school political clubs, active in political campaigning '04, sergeant/founder of town's police cadets program, created minority tutoring center, etc..</p>
<p>Was also accepted to Caltech.</p>
<p>Can you guys help me chose between cal or caltech? I'm definitly passionate about engineering, but as you can see also dig poli science and am considering law school in the future. I'm leaning Cal since it gives me the oppertunity to pursue all of them. Am I a fool to pass up Caltech?</p>
<p>dmcwhiz123, what do you recommend for freshman year in terms of dorms? I'm someone who loves to party but at the same time needs to know that I can retreat and have quiet space. I was considering going for Unit 1/Unit 2 but the down side is the distance to the engineering buildings. And exactly, what is the party scene at Cal? </p>
<p>Personally, I can't wait for the ultra-competitive environment! I go to a crappy public so I don't really know what I'm worth. It's going to be interesting to find out.</p>
<p>Wow, impressive stats! I got accepted, but my SATs are so much lower than the rest of you guys and I only have one AP class. One of friend got below 1000 on her SAT I and still got in, but I think it is because we go to an under-performing school in our district. I would like to know is it hard for someone coming from an under-performing school to keep up with the course work at Berkeley?</p>
<p>^my_acers: simply, yes. In fact, many students not accustomed to the heavy workload transfer out to other colleges although still leading very successful lives. You should assess your capabilities by sitting in at some of Berkeley's classes to see if you can handle the intensity of the work. But being an optimist, I say you at least go for it.</p>
<p>hey my_acers i believe if that one got into CAL is for a reason. CAL does not accept any students that they think will not be able to handle the coursework. So you can definateley excel in CAL just like any1 else. congratulations and I hope to see you at CAL.</p>
<p>congrats skiingfool101, in terms of dorms, the party scene is definitly around the units, but personally, i like my home turf to be a quiet environment, and have a party nearby. The units is in the center of all the action, but i always hear people talk about how they can't sleep early or study too well since the music is always up, or other various distractions. I would definitly recommend either clark kerr or the units.</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted (apparently Berkeley didn't get my many emails & phone calls that I had been accepted Penn ED...gogo UC inefficiency!)</p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT: Fine, but I don't want to say it</li>
<li>SAT IIs: See above</li>
<li>GPA: See above</li>
<li>Rank: No rank</li>
<li>Other stats: Many honors (school, local, national): Nat Merit Finalist, AP commended scholar, 5th on Nat'l French Exam, et al</li>
</ul>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Essays: Very strong</li>
<li>Teacher Recs: Very very strong</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: Very very very strong</li>
<li>Hook (if any): My ec's...if I do say so myself, they were quite quite impressive</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: CA (San Diego)</li>
<li>School Type: Very competitive private</li>
<li>Ethnicity: Did not disclose</li>
<li>Gender: Female</li>
<li>major strength/weakness: EC's, I fit the "Berkeley type"</li>
<li>why you think you were accepted: See above</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SAT: 1510</li>
<li>SAT IIs: 800writing/640math2c(GAG)/620worldhistory(GAGGAG)</li>
<li>GPA: int'l..kinda hard to compare</li>
<li>Rank: 1/400 till 11th year, then rank 5 out of 137 at competitive scholarship program school</li>
<li>Other stats: dunno wat this is</li>
</ul>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Essays: one ok, two awful (imho)</li>
<li>Teacher Recs: n/a</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: n/a</li>
<li>Hook (if any): --</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: malaysia</li>
<li>School Type: public</li>
<li>Ethnicity: chinese</li>
<li>Gender: female</li>
<li>major strength/weakness: lotsa leadership posts, no sports though</li>
<li>why you think you were accepted: God liked me?? lol.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Essays: pretty good, not my favorite though</li>
<li>Teacher Recs: none needed but good for other schools</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: same</li>
<li>Hook (if any): none</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: Miami - FL</li>
<li>School Type: Public</li>
<li>Ethnicity: Latino - Brazilian</li>
<li>Gender: Female</li>
<li>major strength/weakness: -</li>
<li>why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: -</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SAT: 1330 (690m/640v)</li>
<li>SAT IIs: 660/660/600</li>
<li>GPA: 3.9 WEIGHTED</li>
<li>Rank: 9/450 -- although this rank is lower for the UC GPA-- cuz I'm NOT ELC.</li>
<li>Other stats: US Hist - 4, Eng Comp - 4 (Failed Chem and Env. Sci-- but didnt mention that),</li>
</ul>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Essays: Good - They would have been better if I started working on them earlier.</li>
<li>Teacher Recs: From School Activities Director (ASB Advisor)</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: n/A</li>
<li>Hook (if any): Hmmm--not sure-- disadvantaged background? moral person? leader? academic/community service awards?</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: Orange, CA</li>
<li>School Type: "Targeted School" - Orange High School -- "Targeted" meaning, its not a good school</li>
<li>Ethnicity: 1st Generation Vietnamese-American</li>
<li>Gender: Male</li>
<li>major strength/weakness: weakness - GPA, SAT I, SAT II</li>
<li>why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered:</li>
</ul>
<p>I have no idea-- my grades dip from freshmen to junior year, my scores weren't great for a school like Cal (which I'm sure will **** a lot of ppl who got rejected off-- tat my gpa and scores were pretty not great). My essays, leadership and awards were good though-- and my rec was probably really great-- so I guess that's why -- ALL SUBJECTIVE. =]</p>