Rejected by UCLA, can I get into UCB??

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

Hi everyone,
I’m really worried about my chances of getting into my dream school (UCB). I’ve just been rejected by UCLA and feel kinda hopeless.

ACT Composite: 31
Lang:36
Math:27
Reading:34
Science: 26

Weighted UC Gpa: 4.48

grade 9:
Honrs Eng
Alg 2
CP Bio
French 2
Art 3
Human Geo

grade 10:
AP world hist
Trig/Pre-Calc
Physics
French 3
Hon eng 2

grade 11
AP Eng 3
AP US history
AP calc
honors chem (no ap cred available)
student gov
drafting/computer design

grade 12:
AP Eng 4
AP american govt
AP stats
AP bio
Anatomy
AP economics

scored 5 on AP lang and comp test
3 on AP world
will take 5 tests this may

played basketball all 4 years, team cap for two
many many hours volunteering
work/manager experience
played a few other sports
VP of LGBT club and Pre med
part of 2 other clubs

essays: I consider myself a decent writer and the people who read my essays were impressed with their clarity and emotion… talked about family issues in one, my art in another, being a mentor to some kids I coach

I realize that my test scores are average for freshmen admits, but have heard that it’s likely I can get into one without getting into another. I did receive LOR request and submitted two. I intend on entering L&S for Cognitive Science. What do you think?

Thank you so much for your help

2

I’ve heard/read that Cal is much more holistic than UCLA, so your test scores might bring you down. But, your grades and and ec’s might boost you up and give you an acceptance, especially if your essays were really good! Chance me back?

Waitlisted at UCLA
[ b]Objective

[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 1240 (highest combined) 590 English and 650 Math
[ *] ACT: n/a
[ *] SAT II: n/a
[ *] Unweighted GPA: 3.8
[ *] UC GPA: 4.1 (4.3 if they count all my honors courses instead of just English like my school says)
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 20 out of 120
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): past and present schools don’t offer AP’s
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
[ ] Senior Year Course Load: College Calc., College Spanish, English 12 Honors, Govt./Econ., College Writing, PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing (College Course offered through El Camino)
[ ] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NHS, NSHSS, Earthwatch Ignite Fellow, DTASC semi-finalist (idk if those count, but I think they’re pretty good)
[ /list][ b]Subjective:

[ *] Extracurriculars: SWE (11th-12th), Soccer (forward, 9th grade), LA Mayor Youth Council (council member, 10th-12th), Spanish Club (10th grade), Interact (11th-12th), Crossfit Teens (11th-12th), SHPE (11th-12th)
[ *] Job/Work Experience: n/a
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: volunteer through Interact
[ *] Summer Activities: Congress of Future Scientists and Technologists, Earthwatch Ignite Fellowship to research in Maine
[ *] Essays: I think all were pretty good so maybe 8/10
I had a girl who was a senior at my school last year to look over them and she goes to Cal. I wrote one about drawing because I’ve been drawing seriously since 6th grade. Another was about Pre-Cal (math in general, actually) being my favorite subject because it’s challenging. 3rd one was about how my special talent is making anything fit, and it was more about time management when I transferred to my current school because the workload was way more than what I was used to. Last one was about what sets me apart and I said how I am able to take a boring situation into a “fun” one where everyone is connected because I was able to do this in a 3 hr bus ride with my peers.

[ *] Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
[ *] Intended Major: astrophysics
[ *] State: California
[ *] School Type: Charter
[ *] Ethnicity (Country of Origin): Mexican
[ *] Race(s) (AI/AN, Asian, AA, NH/PI, White, not reported):
[ *] Gender: Female
[ ] Income Bracket: prefer not to say, but middle class
[ ] Hooks/tips (URM, athlete, legacy, 1st gen, etc.): URM and first gen.
[ /list][ b]Reflection

[ *] Strengths: essays, ec’s, and GPA (I really think it was my essays that helped me from getting flat out rejected)
[ *] Weaknesses: SAT scores and not as much academic rigor as other kids, but that’s more of my schools’ faults

3

Cal’s admissions is definitely more holistic than UCLA. They are the top UC’s, but it’s not a given that if you get into one, you’ll get into the other. D got into both, but I know more than one kid that didn’t get into UCLA (or WL) but did at Cal. OP, don’t give up hope. @scholar526 - you have some hooks (ethnicity, first generation, etc.) that will help you, I think.

4

@Undercrackers thanks for your input!

5

@Undercrackers I got into UCLA and UCSD so do you think I shot an ok shot at Cal if they are even more holistic? I have weaker SAT and UC GPA (1920 and 4.48)

6

@lizziedarling Depends on your major and if you have a hook or not, I would think.

7

@Undercrackers @Scholar526 Ethnicity is not taken into consideration for UC schools

8

@JuicyMango Maybe not, but there are plenty of other things they do take into consideration (first generation, obstacles, etc.). Just read a study done 10 years ago that talks about the rubric used in admissions - fascinating reading.

9

From what I’ve seen, a lot of people get rejected by UCLA but still get into berkeley.