<p>Hi guys,
I was looking through the appplication requirements and everything on the berkeley website and I had a couple of questions.</p>
<p>1) I am an OOS, do I calculate my GPA according to the UC Scale? (Just 10-11 grade and courses a-g or whatever)
2) When I apply, do they look at the GPA my school provides them or do they calculate the GPA themselves
3) I have noticed that a requirement is "Visual and performing arts 1 year" on </p>
<p>APPLY! I was out of state and now class of 2014.
They will calculate your gpa at the UC Scale. If you’re curious you do the same, meaning yes technically if you failed PE or whatever’s outside a-g you still have a shot. but don’t do that.
Your school won’t provide diddly squat unless/until you’re admitted. meaning on the application you fill in your grades by hand (or…mouse) and they take your word for it. No such thing as a- or b+, they would translate to just As or Bs. lame in some cases, great in others. Later you send in your transcripts and they make sure you A. didn’t totally lie and B. met the conditions of admission, which are to keep a 3.0 unweighted for both semesters and not get anything lower than a C.
yeah i stressed about the fine arts thing too. my school required two semesters of any classes (i took ceramics and a drawing class) but Cal recommends a straight year of a single subject. I remember reading on their site–couldn’t tell ya where–that they understand that OOS schools sometimes have different requirements/ways of enforcing the fine arts thing. it’s just that most california schools all do a year of art. they said to not stress but if you could fit in a semester it might help.
And yeah, the GPAs on their site are all UC (typically weighted) unless otherwise specified. Hope that helps! Go bears!</p>
<p>Also, you can take the year of visual and performing arts your senior year. My son didn’t satisfy that requirement until his senior year and he was accepted.</p>
<p>One last thing- My UW gpa sophomore year was a 3.63 (UC Scale, 2 B+'s got rounded down ), Weighted was 4.5
Took 2 AP classes, rest honors</p>
<p>Junior- Unweighted is (3.87, 1 B-, 2 A-'s and rest were solid A’s). Weighted is 4.8
Took 4 AP Classes, rest honors</p>
<p>I expect all A’s senior year.</p>
<p>Is my GPA sufficient to put me in the running for Berkeley? I consider my GPA one of the weaker parts of my application btw. Also, will the upward curve help?</p>
<p>Upward trend is good in any case. I don’t see your GPA as awful, though you did only post your isolated GPAs not your cumulative UW and W (which could help). Try to take APs over Honors when offered, imo. but definitely if your uc weigted gpa is anywhere over 4.1 (which is their average for accepted kids) you have a shot. do well on the SAT. they do care about stats slightly more than a private school, though i know for a fact they do a good job of reading essays. cause they let me in.</p>
), Weighted was 4.5