OOS. Should I even apply?

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

<p>Since it's a little harder for us OOSers to get it in, would I still have a decent chance?
Any thoughts would be appreciated =)</p>

<p>Asian female, born in New York, schooled in Texas</p>

<p>SAT: 2230 780M/750C/700W
SAT II: 760 Math II, 730 Biology E, 720 Literature</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 5.7826 out of 6.0
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 out of 4.0
Rank: 4 out of 567</p>

<p>Public High School
--Member of its Medical Sciences Academy
--Most Rigorous Curriculum</p>

<p>Awards:
--1st Place National Champion, Health Occupations Students of America (11)
--2nd place National Runner Up, Health Occupations Students of America (10)
--National Merit Semifinalist
--Houston Youth Symphony
--1st Place HMTA Jazz Pop Festival
--99% Texas Music Theory Exam
--1st place District Finalist, Computer Science
--Hugh O'Brian Youth Region Leadership Conference
--Highest Average in grade level in: Computer Science I, French IV, Algebra II, World Geography
--2nd place Korean Scientists and Engineers Contest</p>

<p>Internships:
--General Medicine Internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center
--General Medicine Internship at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
--Neurosurgery/Neurology Internship at Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital</p>

<p>Volunteer:
--PASSPORTS (taught 5th graders from 2 different schools how to speak French) 30 hours?
--Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital (Human Resources) 200 hours?
--Colony Baptist Church 25 hours?</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
--Health Occupations Students of America- 10,11,12 Vice Pres (12) Parliamentarian (10), 2 varsity letters
--French Honor Society- 11,12 Vice Pres, Public Relations Officer
--Varsity Orchestra- 9,10,11 Concertmaster
--Piano- Headliner 6 consecutive years
--Solo band- composes and records demos, plays houseshows
--Instruments- Piano, Violin, Viola, Voice, Guitar, Bass</p>

<ul>
<li>more ECs that I don't feel like typing</li>
</ul>

2

<p>you could definitely get in. apply.</p>

3

<p>thanks for the input!!! =)
anyone else have any ideas?</p>

4

<p>Don't apply. Berkeley is a crappy school that will drain your time and talent. Its also charging an Ivy-League price for a second-rate public school experience. I would rate "lesser" publics such as UVA and UT higher than Berkeley.</p>

<p>It seems like you are an intended premed. Look up Berkeley's med-school admit rates. It is terrible. In addition Berkeley has far fewer opportunities for you to get premed experience than where you are now. All the hospitals are some distance away and the only easy commute to them is through mass transit through ghetto, inner city areas. Plus, as a fellow Texan, I can assure you that Berkeley is as culturally odious a place to study as any in the US.</p>

<p>Save your money and time. Aim for private schools (where that 40k a year is better spent) or the cheap honors program at UT.</p>

5

<p>haha thanks for the honest opinion.
yeah guaranteed admission to ut austin =)</p>

6

<p>shiboing boing, if you are so dissatisfied with "crappy" Berkeley, why don't you transfer the hell out. Reading your posts, I can't help but observe that you harbor very bitter feelings towards Berkeley and life in general. Why don't you go back to Texas and start your college life over?</p>

7

<p>Sorry if I hurt your feelings, big guy. I don't let emotional attachment get in the way of cold, hard facts about Berkeley's crappiness.</p>

8

<p>My feelings aren't hurt, bud, I'm just suggesting that you get over your pessimism. It seems like your emotions are affecting your view towards Berkeley more than my emotions affect me. No need to drive off applicants by saying Berkeley is crappy, is there?</p>

9

<p>ooookay.
well...
anymore input on chances?
this thread= peaceful</p>

10

<p>I think you will get in. You have amazing stats. Are you applying to any Ivy's?</p>

11

<p>Thanks! =)
Yes, Harvard/Princeton/Yale (even though they're reaches, you never know, I could get lucky)
Dartmouth and possibly Penn
(and for Princeton I applied early decision)</p>

12

<p>Don't apply to Cal. Seriously. It costs the same as the Ivies but brings little name-brand recognition and actually screws up your chances at getting into top programs.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
It costs the same as the Ivies but brings little name-brand recognition and actually screws up your chances at getting into top programs.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>First of all, it's quite possible that the OP is not worried about cost, thus at least partly invalidating your criticism in this context. Second, while many Cal graduates may get "screwed" in grad admission, many do not. In fact, I know and know of plenty of Cal grads who get into "top programs."</p>

14

<p>Seriously, don't listen to Shiboing Boing. Just ignore him. </p>

<p>Apply. Cal does not cost the same as the Ivies. You pay 50,000 dollars for an Ivy, you pay half for Cal. Also, dobby is true in that many Cal grads do get into top grad programs. A lot of pre-meds are accepted into top medical schools, too.</p>

15

<p>Shiboing Boing is just a sad, bitter person who apparently made the wrong choice and is now dragging everyone else into his problems.</p>

16

<p>Money is not a real issue for my family when it comes to my education.</p>

<p>And personally, I believe that Berkeley is more "brand name" than certain Ivies like Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth (which are still good schools don't get me wrong, Dartmouth is my third-choice school).</p>

<p>But negative opinions are welcome also. I'd like to hear both sides lol =)</p>

17

<p>What's your expected major?</p>

18

<p>lol shibiong is funny. He's seriously got problems. I'd recommend you just transfer out and go back to Texas if you really hate it that much!</p>

<p>Well, you definitely have a chance! You'd definitely be in if you were instate, but obviously you're not. But you have quite the stats, so you have a very good shot!</p>

19

<p>I plan on being a philosophy or women studies major (also pre med)</p>

<p>But I probably won't be applying anymore. I ran out of time, and I'd rather not apply with such rushed essays.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help though!</p>

20

<p>Just apply...many who get into Berkeley do their essays at the last minute...</p>