<p>Hi! I'm currently a Junior at a High School and decided to apply for UC Berkeley next year. My grades are descent and my coarse-load is fine. This year I'm taking AP Calc, AP Psych,AP Physics, AP US. The reason I'm here is that my grades are not as great as a Cal student should have,(I'm going to end up at around 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA), which is due to my poor grades in 10th grade, so I have a question for you. I'm currently running for track and cross country. The XC season is over, but the track is about to start. According to my coach I will be recognized by many colleges for my 400 meter dash. Is it still possible to make it into Berkeley with being a star athlete and writing a great college essay? Do I get the same classes and major if I get accepted as an athlete?
Is Berkeley even interested in runners? What can I do as an athlete to increase my chances of getting accepted, since I can't do anything else with my grades.</p>
<p>Any helpful additional information would be fine. </p>
<p>Thanks You!</p>
<p>what’s your 400m times? Cal is a D1 XC/Track school so unless you’re a CIF Champion or at least all-state, getting recognized is tough. Try contacting coach Sandoval. </p>
<p>If you’re accepted as a scholarship athlete, which is the only reason that would negate your below-average GPA, you would get the same classes and whatever major you want with the advantage of having an earlier class selection period.</p>
<p>well the season did not start yet but I can tell that by the end of the season i can get below 50 seconds, maybe 47-49s. Is a sport at Cal time consuming? Would it reflect on my grades?</p>
<p>With a sub-50 400m time you would be in great shape. Just make sure you actually do it by the end of the year. haha. Sports at Cal are way more time consuming because runners will have two-a-days most likely. Plus you’ll be traveling with the team. But then again, it depends on your major too, and if you’re going to spread them out over 4 or 5 years.</p>
<p>Thank You for the info!
One more question. Do spectators come on CIF races or before that too? I have a teammate who received many letters from colleges for running 800m and he is top 10 in state, but I never really understood how did this whole process worked.</p>
<p>Have you gotten to CIF/state yet?</p>
<p>Well the season starts in spring…so no.</p>
<p>Your friend probably went to Arcadia which receives a lot of scouts and press coverage. DyestatCal in general is responsible for advertising athletes. Nobody’s gonna be at your dual/tri-meets. haha. I’d suggest e-mailing Coach Sandoval again to at least get him to look you up or check your progress. If track is your main sport, and not XC, I’d bust my as-s off this season since by next track season it’ll be too late to get scouted.</p>
<p>well obviously not this year. but i mean how about sophomore year? I know someone who’s made cif/state since freshman year and she’s already been scouted by colleges all over.</p>
<p>I used to be in swim and soccer but I quit. Since this is my first year in track/XC it would be my first time going to CIF(if I get in at all). Well XC mostly has to do with hard work and experience so I couldn’t really shine in that field…fastest I got was a 17:30 on a hilly course at Mt. SAC. But for track I have natural sprinting abilities that mostly came from being a forward in a soccer team for like 10 years. I’m mostly concerned about the 400m but I could also shine in other fields. maybe 1 : 53- 1:55 for 800m, which might get me into CIF, and the 200, which I have to discuss with my coach.</p>