<p>I'm got into UC Davis as a community college transfer, and I'm pretty psyched about going there. Still, I was expecting to get into Cal, and was surprised to get rejected. Does anyone have any idea why? Here's what I got going for me:</p>
<p>Pros:
-Veteran of Desert Storm
-First person in family attending college
-Lots of different work experience in business, real estate, managerial roles, etc.
-Did concurrent enrollment at Cal, and got A's in both classes, and both are requirements for my intended major: History
-Internationally ranked rock climber
-California community college transfer
-Well-written essays highlighting my unusual life and time living abroad</p>
<p>Cons:
-Only 3.83 GPA (I got two B's, both in classes not required for my major)
-Four W's from 15-20 years ago: had to pull out to keep working full time
-One F in non-UC transferable course from 6 years ago: work sent me to China during finals</p>
<p>Pro or con?
-Non-traditional student returning to college after 20 years.
-Asian</p>
<p>So, I figured that I got rejected because I didn't have a 4.0. But, I do have a lot of unusual things going for me. I know I can appeal my decision to Cal, but I don't really want to drag out the process. I'd rather just accept Davis' offer and move on with my life. However, with Concurrent Enrollment I perform at the top of my classes at UC Berkeley and I know my professors will be surprised to find out I won't be enrolling there in the Fall. I could get them to write me a letter of recommendation and contest the decision, but would that really be worth it? Even if they decided to accept me, would there even be any financial aid left? I qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.</p>
<p>Only the adcoms will know why. It sounds like you are well qualified for admission, and have several factors that should have added some points (veteran, 1st student in family, etc). Did you take part in the Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project? While Cal doesn’t have admission guarantees like some UC campuses, participating in this program is supposed to give an edge in admissions.</p>
<p>^ Which I do not understand since UC Berkeley has no idea who wrote the essay.</p>
<p>@Sprout, Although it is a violation of the law, I am convinced that there is age discrimination in Academia. I retired from the Foreign Service in my 40s and applied to medical school. Although I had a higher GPA and MCAT scores than the average accepted applicant nearly everywhere I applied, out of twenty schools I was only accepted at one, Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Fortunately, you only need one acceptance to become a doctor.</p>
<p>Although they can not ask you your age on the application, by looking at the answers you give about your school and employment history they can easily determine approximately how old you are. Unfortunately, while age discrimination is a violation of the law it is difficult to prove and there is not much you can do about it.</p>
<p>If you think that Cal rejected you because you are Asian (which I doubt), or because you’re a veteran (this is Berkeley, by the way), or because you’re an older student, or any other reason beyond your control, then you probably should take Davis, and be done with it. Don’t give Cal a penny more of your hard earned money. I don’t know the whole story, but if you’re suspicious of this rejection, then steer clear, and don’t do any more business with Cal.</p>
<p>Thanks for your ideas. When I told my professor and GSI at Berkeley I didn’t get in, they was pretty surprised, and offered to write me a letter of recommendation, so I think I’ll do the appeal because I don’t have much to loose. I’m going to just plan on going to Davis unless something shocking happens at Berkeley though. </p>
<p>Does anyone know, would I still get financial aid from UCB if they did change their mind? Davis gave me a nice financial aid package of state and federal grants, so that should be the same in all the UC’s, right?</p>
<p>the only thing that makes sense here for your rejection is your essays, because the rest of your stats look more than acceptable. Did you get a lot of people to help edit them?</p>
<p>Also, if they did change their mind and accept you, they would offer a financial aid package.</p>
<p>wow seriously…the answers I’m reading are a bit ridiculous… Veterans actually get a boost in their application and usually not discriminated. It’s what the counselors would tell you as well. I’m also a veteran with a 3.89 GPA and got into Berkeley into one of the hardest major to get into (EECS). I think you do have a shot when you appeal, our GPAs aren’t far off. Or maybe it was your essay?</p>
<p>@sgtbrecht – Sorry about that. When I wrote my last comment, I had recently watched a YouTube video of an anti-military protest at Berkeley. I’d like to think that the loudest screechers in the video were not Berkeley students, and not affiliated with the UC at all. As a former service member, I just get passionate about how the far left treats veterans.</p>
<p>I remember that some of the far left student protesters got pretty annoyed by other groups of (mostly non-student) protesters who seemed to be more into inciting violence (e.g. standing behind the main peaceful protest group and then throwing stuff over the main peaceful protest group at the police on the other side, trying to incite the police into running through or too close to the main peaceful protest group causing the latter to think that the police were attacking them for no apparent reason).</p>
<p>My only guess is that there was a mix up with the F. They might have thought it was transferable. I’m not sure who you could ask about this but I recommend speaking with a counselor at your university and being diligent. I would guess you were a shoe-in.</p>
Yes, you would still get financial aid from Berkeley. It won’t be the same exact package you were offered by Davis simply because they are different campuses. But it shouldn’t be significantly different from whatever you would have been offered originally, without going through the appeal.</p>
<p>First of all, thank you for defending our country and rights. I’ve heard of multiple success stories from students at my CC who have appealed (with professors help) and successfully been accepted. I guess it shows initiative and determination of your intentions. I’m surprised that the fact that you have Concurrent enrollment under your belt didn’t get you and acceptance letter. Your GPA is perfectly fine, heck, I have a 3.34 and managed to get in. It could have been the Ws or the F. Either way, if you have even the slightest intention on getting into CAL, APPEAL and should you’re determination in your letter. </p>
<p>BTW, I have two friends who are veterans and BOTH of them were accepted this year.</p>