@User47392 Don’t do that, there’s no way they’d budge. I think alumni have tried for regular admissions and even they can’t get it done
If I emailed a reflection about the process do you think anyone would actually read it lol
@mjr2013 I definitely will try to!
Sure. I posted a very abridged version in another thread, but since people are probably curious (and just in case it might help anyone out), here’s a much more detailed version:
General info about me:
-27 year old
-Veteran
-California community college student
-Prospective electrical engineering major
High school stats:
-Overall pretty average/unimpressive. Went to a small high school in Arizona and took dual enrollment courses at a local JC
-HS GPA: 3.21
-DE GPA: 3.17
-Definitely a downward trend in grades overall.
-Took the ACT: 28 overall
-Never took the SAT
I applied to a couple in state colleges (ASU, UofA) but ultimately ended up rescinding the applications.
Early on in high school, I lost one parent to brain cancer and another a few years later from complications due to diabetes. It’s hard to handle that kind of loss at such a young age so, obviously, I didn’t make the best decisions at the time. Long story short, I enlisted after having exhausted all my other options and on the verge of being homeless.
Not going to go into much detail about my enlistment, but basically I spent six years doing some pretty intense technical work and separated in 2016, relocated to California, and started at a CCC.
College stats:
-5 semesters, 79 units completed
-4.00 GPA
-Pretty much followed the UC requirements for engineering transfers on ASSIST. Calculus and physics series, Linear/Differential Equations, two writing courses, etc.
Work:
-25 hours/week at my college’s Veterans Services Center. General office work and processing of education benefits for student veterans.
-Rotated in and out of working at my college’s food bank.
-Also spent a couple semesters as a TA at one of the UCs.
Internships/Research:
-Summer internship with NASA and the Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB.
-Also spent some time working with one of my physics professors and some of his other students on a machine learning project.
-Took that research to SCCUR in Pasadena and presented it there.
Volunteering:
-Been involved with the local chapter of the Sierra Club off and on since I moved to CA
-Veteran peer mentoring/tutoring program. Just general service tutoring in just about any subject under the sun offered at the VSC
-Lots of lobbying done at the state government level. Went to Sacramento the past two years and spoke with CA assembly members and senators to try and get more money allocated for CCC vet centers. Last year we asked for and received $5 million. This year we asked for $20 million.
Awards:
-Tons from my military service (Achievement medals, commendations, etc.)
-Various scholarships and awards from my college’s foundation.
Applied:
-UCI, UCLA, UCB, Yale, Stanford
Accepted:
-All of the above (Yale is still pending)
I’ll try and stick around on these threads for a bit to answer any other questions that might come up. And if anyone who’s reading this is thinking of applying (or reapplying) next year, feel free to reach out.
@trg2010 Did you take any EE courses at your CC?
@trg2010 thank you for your service and congrats!!! If Yale comes through, will you have a hard time deciding or you’re pretty much set on Stanford?
I am thinking of applying next year, and I was wondering if any of you who was accepted would be willing to share (maybe some of) your essays? I’m having a difficult time deciding what angle I should approach, etc. I also had a not so stellar past academic records, and I’m not a veteran, so I’m fully aware on how even more minuscule my chance is. I know these essays/short answers can be highly personal, but if you’re still willing to share, it’s much appreciated!
Congrats again!
Hi everyone! I was waitlisted but didn’t make it through! Still going to Berkeley and I’ll find a new dream school for my masters. Thank you all for your good wishes!