<p>Class of 2015
San Marino high school, California
Asian
GPA UW 4.0, 4.3 weighted (excluding classes I take at college, I will explain why)
APs (by the end of sophomore year)
Biology 5
Chemistry 5
Euro 4
Physics b 3 (I studied for two weeks and I cancer this shameful score)
AP done by this May
Physics C mechanics 5
Calculus BC 5
Chinese 5
U.S. History 4 or 5
Other courses taken at pasadena city college
Chem 1b (class after ap chem) A
Bio 10a (intro to celluar biology) A
Intro to psychology A
Senior prospective course loads
AP gov and Econ
AP stat
AP environmental science
Physics C EM at pasadena college
Intro to computer science (2 semesters at PCC)
Multivariable calculus and linear algebra.</p>
<p>ACT score 34
Sat Subject tests
Bio E 780
Chem 800
Math 800
Physics 800</p>
<p>Working experience
Worked as a chem tutor for over 100 hours
Manager at a local mall for two months
Translator in immigration office
Internships at Peking University (over 100 hours) and other not so famous research companies (50 hours)</p>
<p>Extracurricular activities
Debate original advocacy
Win a few trophies in local tournament
Treasurer in an investment club
Vice President candidate for debate team (chance is low)</p>
<p>I want to pursue either materials engineering or chemical biology (first choice).
My dream school is UCB, I want to stay in California if possible. Other states that interest me are MA and IL. Can you give me some suggestions on what school should I apply? Do you think I can get in UCSD for sure? I am really worried about my future.</p>
<p>Thanks for whomever tries to help me out.</p>
<p>What exactly is it that is making you worried? </p>
<p>No one knows where you will get in for sure unless you apply to a guaranteed admit college. There are some you qualify for if you need it. The top UCs admission is always a bit uncertain. Get used to it. You should have reasonable chances but no certainty.</p>
<p>So you will apply Berkeley and UCSD, I suggest you add a few more in case you don’t get in where you like-- apply widely and you can consider some UC as safety. You might have a chance to transfer to another later or you might find that you can do well enough where you are to get into the grad school that you like. </p>
<p>For privates you can add USC and Stanford.</p>
<p>OOS, just get a Fiske Guide and browse colleges to see what’s out there and figure a plan for what you might be interested in. If there are any financial considerations, it is good to include that into your post as that must be part of the equation.</p>
<p>Top UC selection is holistic. It means there’s no “for sure”. Kids with your stats can get denied at UCSD, UCSB, etc. Just peruse these boards in “college selection” and “college admission”, look for threads with these universities in the title but also “rejected from”, etc. Some shut outs have your stats. They’re shut outs because they didn’t include proper matches and safeties, figuring they’d get into at lest the mid-tier UCs. My goal isn’t to scare you - do apply there, you’re obviously qualified and would belong, but remember that so would thousands of other CA kids. Hopefully the budget cuts won’t be so bad this year so the UCs won’t have to admit as many kids from OOS who pay full price to offset the shortfalls. But you can’t count on it, so you need to apply outside CA and aim strategically where you’ll be URM, not ORM.
As an asian student from CA, especially one interested in the sciences, you’re going to have tough competition about everywhere except the Midwest and South (where you’ll have tough competition too, just not as deadly). Beside the obvious in CA, apply widely - Carleton, Macalester, Davidson, Grinnell, Emory, Tulane, UMiami are key “low reaches” for you (reaches in terms of selectivity - you’re a match for stats, and geographical diversity may give you a nudge to make it more a match than a reach.) Start reading about them in Fiske Guide, Insider’s Guide. Express interest at each of them as early as now - fill out the request info questionnaire to start with.</p>
<p>California is one of the most well represented states at Emory. I believe it’s the same for Tulane, Carleton, and to a lesser extent the University of Miami. </p>
<p>Whenhen, I still think it’ll be a bit easier for OP than at other schools of the same caliber… Californians tend to be well represented at every top college :). </p>
<p>lovelorn, you need to mention the financial situation, and if that effects your search.</p>
<p>Finance is not a big consideration. But I will apply for scholarship if possible, not financial aid. My parents worry that applying for financial aid would lower my chance. Also, even though I am a CA resident, I came to U.S. 3 years ago. Would it be good if I apply for UIUC, and Uchicaco, and John Hopkins? Do I have a decent chance?</p>
<p>So are you an international or a U.S. permanent resident? That will make some differences.</p>
<p>Colleges that are need blind will not care if you apply for aid or not. Most state colleges don’t care either. They don’t consider it. Only ‘need aware’ colleges consider it and even they may see that you can afford it and admit you. But you may not qualify for any need based. You can run the net price calculator to see. </p>
<p>Some schools give merit scholarships and some don’t. It is quite limited and difficult to get at Chicago, you don’t apply separately it is considered when you apply.</p>
<p>You seem (I didn’t read all the details) like you can apply anywhere and have a shot. As long as you have true safety schools you should be okay. You might like ‘match’ schools in the mix</p>
<p>I am a U.s. permanent resident, but I am a Chinese citizen. I have a green card.</p>
<p>My father works as a lawyer for a big pharmaceutical company. So as long as I can graduate, I can get into that company for sure. Even though I am passionate about researching, I will be more like a manager rather than researcher. Still, I need a strong understanding on chemistry. I believe chemical engineering is more selective than chemical biology, right? </p>
<h1>ucbalumus</h1>
<p>At Berkeley, chemical engineering and chemical biology are both in the College of Chemistry; it has not been stated that the selectivity varies by major in the College of Chemistry.</p>
<p>At other schools, selectivity may or may not be different between the majors.</p>
<p>Nepotism is not necessarily a reliable way to get a job in every company, and if it is too obvious, your co-workers may be talking behind your back about it.</p>
<p>i dont know what to do then.</p>
<p>should I apply for MCB rather than CoC, can i transfer to CoC if i get in as a MCB major.</p>
<p>My parents will not allow me to go to “bad” schools
My father threatens me that he will not pay for me if i dont get into first tier schools
My mom talks about how her friends’ children got into UCB from community colleges. My mom cries if i get lower than a 94 on any exam. They consider me as a shame because my cousins all got into Ivys or other extremely good schools (Caltech, MIT…)
And they always tell me that they dont want to give me any pressure.</p>
<p>I am really confused now. I really dont think i have a decent chance to make a living as a researcher. An average engineer makes around 80k after tax (would be me if do engineering) or 70k if i do chemistry. I will be a shame to my family forever.</p>
<p>I made a list of schools that my parents consider good, what is my chance if i apply for biochem or chemistry</p>
<p>*means acceptable to me but not my parents </p>
<p>UCLA
UCB
*UCD
*UCSD
*UCI</p>
<p>John Hopkings
Standford
Cornell
University of Pennsylvania </p>
<p>*UIUC
UChicago
Northwestern</p>
<p>*University of Michigan
*University of Washington</p>
<p>I dont think i have any chance for Top ivy, Caltech or MIT (Though my brother goes to MIT)</p>
<p>I was just chosen by Rotary Youth Leadership Association to represent my school to participate in a program, do this help me build up a better resume (college letter)</p>
<p>Changing from other divisions to the College of Chemistry at Berkeley is described here:
<a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/policies/change_of_college.php”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/policies/change_of_college.php</a>
However, it does not say how difficult it is to do so (i.e. whether there is a GPA requirement or competitive admission).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So they would rather have you not go to college at all over going to what they consider a “bad” college? Even though they know that students who start at community college can be successful?</p>
<p>If you do something with the honor and build from it, yes. If you just write it down on your resume, no.
What program is that?</p>
<p>You can ask your parents if a school that ranks in the top 1% in the entire US for the production of students who not only get into grad school, but into PHD programs AND obtain the PHD, would be good enough for them? (If not, offer top 0.5%…)
Then show them the list.
<a href=“Top 50 Schools That Produce Science PhDs - CBS News”>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-50-schools-that-produce-science-phds/</a></p>
<p>My mom thinks that students from CCs are bad even though they are not. She thinks she is a smart person and her son must show that, same thing and much worse for my father.
@ucbalumnus</p>
<p>i think they will still pay me through college but they will be very upset.</p>
<p>Yes a Rotary Award or appointment is a very nice award to list on your application.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for kids like you who are accomplished but have parents with such an ugly attitude. I hope for you that once you do get in college and go away you can learn not to care what your parents think and break free of the feeling that worth is tied to how much you make. If I had parents like that I wouldn’t wait to get away.</p>
<p>Well, be sure you don’t get shut out (starting at community college is an option, but it seems like you probably don’t want to be living at home and listening to the parental abuse and shaming every night when you get home from class). Start your list with a safety like UCR. Or, if you think that there is any chance that they will refuse to pay (or use their paying for your college as a way to threaten or abuse you) if you do not get into what they consider an acceptable school, find an automatic full ride scholarship school to be your safety.</p>