Please approximate my chances of getting into UC Berkeley / UCLA. Thank you

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello everybody, I am here to ask for your help. As college application deadline in coming, I am just in this really anxious emotional stae because as I compare myself to the applicants pool, I just feel I stand no edge on it.
So here comes my little profile: </p>

<p>SATI: I have not taken it yet because English is my second language, so I am spending my summer now to do the preparation (I am hoping to get 1900, could somebody please tell me if that's good enough)
SATII
Chinese 800
Biology 760
Math IIC 700</p>

<p>AP score: 5 on Ap bio, 4 AP calculous, 3 on AP Chemistry(I self-studied for this one), Statistics, Computer</p>

<p>GPA: 4.12</p>

<p>rank: our school doesn't rank, but I believe I am at the top 10 percentile.</p>

<p>School: I am in this small (800 students) public High School, but our acdemic performence is well known by Cal and UCLA. Each year we have about 30 to 40 students go to cal or UCLA out of 200 graduating class.</p>

<p>California resident</p>

<p>Low Income Family</p>

<p>English is my second language. I came to the US in 9th grade. I had a serious struggle because I didn't speak English at all and I hope the reader will respect this..</p>

<p>first generation to go to college (although my sister went to cal, my parents did not go to college. I don't know if I am still counted of first generation)</p>

<p>freshman courses:</p>

<p>first semester
English 1-2 A-
French 1 B+
Algebra 2 A+
P.E. A
AP Computer Science A+
ESL(English Second Language) A
Integrated Science I A+</p>

<p>second semester
English 1-2 A
French 1 A
Algebra 2 A+
P.E. A
AP Computer Science A+
ESL(English Second Language) A
Integrated Science I A+</p>

<p>sophmore courses</p>

<p>first semester
English 3-4 A
French 2 A
Math Analysis A+
Intergrated Science II A
World History B+
ESL(English Second Language) A
Art II A</p>

<p>Second semester
English 3-4 A
French 2 A
Math Analysis A+
Intergrated Science II A
World History B+
Social Psycology A
Art II A</p>

<p>Junior courses
first semester
English 5-6 A-
French 3 A-
Calculous AB (our school only offers AB) A
H. Chemistry (We don't have AP) A
AP Biology A
US History A-
Art III A</p>

<p>second semester
English 5-6 A-
French 3 A-
Calculous AB (our school only offers AB) A
H. Chemistry (We don't have AP) A
AP Biology A
US History A-
Art III A-</p>

<p>Planning senior courses
English 7-8
AP Environmental Sci.
H. Physics (we don't have AP)
French 4
Anatomy
Civics/econ
Art IV
will be taking calculous III at local community college</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
-Inline speed skating since 5th grade, been to the world cup junior skater trail
-Track&Field 3 years since freshman
-Volunteering 350 hours at city public library since the summer of 10th grade
-member of the city's youth leadership council at the main library
-membership at school's green club in 2005, will be the vice president next year
-Enrollment in Acdemic Talent Development Program(ATDP) from 2003 to 2005. course taken: </p>

<p>Programming in C A </p>

<p>AP Statistics A</p>

<p>AP Biology B+ (this's a redundant, but we were craming a year long course into 6 weeks 3 days per weeks and 8 hours lecture each. After that I feel I need to retake it cause pace was too fast)</p>

<p>-High School dual enrollment in community college, courses taken
Pre clac A
Calculous II A
Computer Unix Operation System A
computer programming in Java advanced topic A
-Internship at the Earth Team (an environmental network)
-Currently working with the Earth Team on this TV program that will be on the local tv channel
-After school TA for my science teacher</p>

<p>Award/Honor
-Volvo Advanture international environmental Award third place 2002. I was the team leader
-Volvo Advanture national environmental Award first place
-Membership at the school honor society
-certificate from the Enterprise Institute soponsored by the local rotary club
-North Coast Section Scholar Athlete for achieve 4.0 GPA during sport season
-Blue volunteer Certificate for volunteer more than 100 hours
-Golden volunteer Certificate for volunteer more than 250 hours
-AP Scholar with Distinction</p>

<p>So here's what I can think of right now in terms of letting people to give me some valuable advice. please let me know if you need anything else to give an accurate approximation</p>

<p>schools I am interested:
UC Berkeley (top choice)
UCLA(second choice)
Brown University
Stanford Uni.
U. Chicago
U. Washington in Seattle
UCSD(Third choice)
MIT(I think this's just kind random, but I am just applying it)</p>

<p>I am just really uncertain whether I stand a high chance of getting in or I am not good enough. For example, I am not even sure if I qualify for well-rounded student. My biggest nightmare is still the SAT because my English disability. Please somebody know the admission process, if you can give me some insight, I will be very grateful.
Additional Question: I have never had a job, would that be a big deal in terms of admission? </p>

<p>Thank you for those who are willing to give me the advice</p>

2

<p>Jovil:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Match
UCSD: Safe Match</p>

3

<p>Hi,
Just wondering. When you say reach, do you mean like about 90% chance of getting in? and what else would you suggest me to do to improve my profile?</p>

<p>Thank you for your response tho, I am glad people responded.</p>

4

<p>UCLA AND UCB: Match</p>

<p>What really suprised me was the fact that u moved in 9th grade without knowing english, and still managed to learn French. EXCELLENT!!</p>

5

<p>Jovil,</p>

<p>I think you are competitive for UC Berkeley and UCLA. I would put you at a MATCH (very good chances) to be accepted to either. For UCSD, I think you have an even stronger MATCH to SAFETY chances. </p>

<p>You will want to strive to get 2100+ to have added assurance of being accepted into UCB/UCLA. A score of 1900 is probably about average for enrolled students at these campuses but might be sufficient given your unusual circumstances of not having moved to the U.S. and learned English until just a few years ago. (Be sure to consider this theme of moving to the U.S. and adapting to a new country, culture and language in one of your essays. I think it would be an excellent topic to explore and discuss.) Reminder that you should register for the October SAT test date soon, if you have not already done so.</p>

<p>Let me make a suggestion, understanding that English is your second language, when you write your personal essays for your applications, ask somebody such as a trusted English teacher if he or she would review and edit your essays. Your written English is actually excellent, given that it is your second language. </p>

<p>Aside from the UC's, if you do reasonably well on your SAT, and even if you don't, do not be afraid of applying to some of the other private colleges. The ones you list may be in the position of offering good need-based financial aid, and I believe all will consider your admissions application on a "need blind" basis, meaning they will not consider your ability to pay for your education as a factor to admission.</p>

<p>Also, recognizing you are new to College Confidential (CC), when people refer to "REACH", it means that chances are lower for acceptance. By "MATCH", it means that your chances are good, very solid. By "SAFETY", it means that your chances for acceptance are very, very good -- almost assured of being accepted.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Thank you for your suggestion. Now, I understand the terms refer to. I am still aiming for the october test as I am doing more SAT practice in the summer.</p>

7

<p>Whoa! A fellow inline speed skater here on College Confidential!</p>

<p>What team do you skate for?</p>

8

<p>I used to skate with verducci team when I was in Taiwan, but right now I have switched to ice speed skating. Inline speed skating is like practice for fun when I am not on ice now....
I am currently skating with Northern California Speed Skating Association (NCSA)</p>

9

<p>I would say GOOD for UCLA and UCB. Nice job.</p>

10

<p>Yeah I say you stand a pretty good chance for both UCLA and Berkeley. But I do have one advice to you... and that is to GO TO UCLA if you get accepted to both! This is coming from an incoming bruin who delined berkeley to attend ucla! :)</p>

11

<p>lol Why is that so?</p>

12

<p>because UCLA is simply better... duh :) Well, I like how UCLA students are more social and are smart but do not study 24/7 like those Berkeley kids.. no offense!</p>

13

<p>Study 24/7 at Berkeley! That's whack, well it's only true for Engineering, CS & Pre-Med. Wait.,,isn't UCLA Pre-Med and Engineering just as competitive?</p>

14

<p>True, but at least UCLA kids know how to work hard and play hard. My baised opinion, forgive me :)</p>

15

<p>Yup, sounds pretty biased.</p>

<p>I'll offer my biased opinion:</p>

<p>Berkeley > UCLA. If you do nothing but slack off like UCLA kids, you won't learn much in college. ;)</p>

16

<p>Who would want to go to a satellite school anyway?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Wait.,,isn't UCLA Pre-Med and Engineering just as competitive?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Pre-med and engineering will be competitive at any top school. Then again, Berkeley's engineering is way better than UCLA's, so...</p>

17

<p>^^^Definitely true though the quote was used to refute his statement that UCLA is so much easier which isn't true.</p>

18

<p>lol, I am not sure about UCLA. But I live like 20 minutes away from cal, and I didn't think Cal students are all that nerdy</p>