Hi, all,
I was rejected by UC Berkeley this spring. Many people around me, some with lower GPAs, got in. They seemed to have the same qualifications that I did, although maybe their personal statements were better, I just don’t know. Specifically, I was wondering if I was rejected because as an application for Integrative Biology as as junior transfer, I didn’t complete ANY physics yet. The physics were planned for summer and fall. Biology majors at Berkeley are not REQUIRED to complete physics prior to transfer but it is “strongly recommended”. Do you think that my application was immediately dismissed because of the lack of physics meaning that my major preparation was weaker than other candidates, and Berkeley received such a high number of applications that they just had to find some to get rid of? I haven’t heard of anyone who didn’t get their physics done and got accepted anyway, but I don’t know that many people that well. I’m just looking for some insight because I only applied to two schools, and I got into Davis. I’m just not sure that I want to attend Davis and wonder if I should hold out for Berkeley next year (I have to do my physics after finishing at Davis, anyway, so it’s not going to take me any longer). On the other hand, I got financial aid at Davis that totally covers my tuition and then some, and it IS a great school. But my commute is over an hour. Berkeley was the big prize, and I’m at the top of my class. Should I hold out for next year?