<p>Well just finished my first semester at Cal, and found I got a whopping C+ in Stat 21. </p>
<p>I'd like to hear from similar cases, if I have any chances at still getting into Haas. Here's the deal:</p>
<p>I've taken the equivalent of Math 1B and 53 at a local CSU back in high school. Haas has told me that they will accept these grades. </p>
<p>I've also taken the Econ 1 pre-req through AP Credit (Macro) and Community College (Micro).</p>
<p>I've AP'd out of R1A and R1B.</p>
<p>Basically the only prereq I have left after Stat 21 is UGBA 10 (which I'm taking spring semester).</p>
<p>This is what I'm likely getting this semester (I took all breadths other than Stat 21):</p>
<p>**Stat 21: C+
Drugs and the Brain: B
Physics for Future Presidents: A
Intro Development Studies: A</p>
<p>overall gpa: 3.3**</p>
<p>Back in that Math 53 equivalent, I got a B as well. But I got an A in 1B, as well as a 5 and A in the Econ 1 substitute. I have an externship with the Chief Deputy Treasurer of my county this winter, and I just got an interview with a local social media startup for an internship this spring in SF. I'm on committees in two clubs, part of three total. Hopefully I can get some sort of a leadership position in one of the two I'm in right now. And this is my first semester...I messed up in Stat 21. Do I still have a chance in Haas?</p>
<p>I think you still have around a 25% chance. Most people in haas have had great internships/leadership positions(no way to get into haas without these). So your essay and extra-curricular can help. But they won’t replace your GPA.</p>
<p>If you can just bring up your GPA a little more, that would be great. I would see if you can try retaking econ 1 or the R1a/R1b math classes here for letter grade (as a GPA booster). Pre-req GPA is evaluated separately from other GPA, so ask admissions to see if you can somehow get around the first class thing :S (a way I did this is that I took Stats in community college, but I wanted to retake more pre-reqs (since I ap’d and CC’d out of everything except econ and UGBA 10). So I just took it and mentioned the grade that I got in the “do you have anything else to add section” just to show I can handle berkeley classes (and improve my pre-req GPA). </p>
<p>Also, try really really hard in UGBA 10. If you want to improve your chances some more, take really really easy breadth classes and get As. For any class you are getting lower than an A-, just P/NP it.</p>
<p>They only look at the first class you take that fulfills the requirement. For instance, the first class for your math is the classes you took at CCC. If you were to take math again at Berkeley, it would be the 2nd class.</p>
<p>For instance, the stats I took at CCC was my first class for the stats req. But I retook stats at Berkeley, and that was my 2nd class. However, I just wrote new grade in at the “additional comments section” due to the fact that I only had 3 pre-reqs done (ugba, econ, and lit) at Berkeley and I did pretty well in Stats </p>
<p>Also, breadth GPA is kinda important too So take easy ones! The brain and drugs thing should have been a P/NP if you were going to get lower than A-.</p>
<p>UPDATE: finished my second semester a month ago. Boy things have changed.</p>
<p>So following StarryNights advice, I tried my best in UGBA 10. Got an A+ fortunately, as well as A-, A, and A+ in all my other classes (all breadths). Decided to take Econ 1 this coming semester, even though it won’t really count since I already AP’ed out of it. Just want to show them that I can do well in Econ 1 AT Berkeley (hopefully).</p>
<p>My UC GPA is now 3.51. It was 3.15 last semester, which was when I got that disastrous grade in Stat 21, and not so impressive grades either in my other breadth classes.</p>
<p>In addition, I worked hard and moved up in my clubs. I nabbed officer positions in 2 clubs, one is a general networking club (think IABC, Phi Beta Lambda, etc), the other is a more narrow skill-based club (think Berkeley Investment Group, Berkeley Consulting). I also am now officer in a student-run socially-responsible startup (it’s a non-profit business, run as a club).</p>
<p>Finally, this summer I networked, cold-called, and fought my way into an internship, long story short. I’m interning (unpaid) at a boutique investment bank in SF. </p>
<p>This upcoming semester, in addition to taking Econ 1, I’ll be taking UGBA 102A (financial accounting), which isn’t a prerequisite but since I’m done with all those I decided to move ahead. </p>
<p>Starry Night, what do you mean leadership? Since we apply our sophomore year, our leadership role at Berkeley (only for one year) will still weigh a lot right? When I see leadership, i feel like they expect 3+ Years :(!</p>
<p>there are many ways to show leadership. follow in missionnewokzzz’s path: s/he got officer positions in reputable clubs, has an internship lined up for the summer, maybe has other work experience or community service activities that demonstrate his/her leadership style and skills.</p>
<p>Could you take Economics 101A or 100A, or UGBA 101A instead? That would free up space later for an elective UGBA course (instead of having to take UGBA 101A later).</p>
<p>I actually have a lot of free space. Coming from an uber-competitive high school with a ton of AP’s and classes taken at a local CSU, I came with a few pre-reqs knocked out (math, econ). I finished UGBA 10 and Stat 21, and decided to “re-do” Econ (pretty sure it won’t count, but I just want to show em i didnt take some easy watered down version).</p>
<p>Therefore, I’m done with all my prereqs and nearly all my breadths. I’ll do Econ 100/101 next semester, but for now this upcoming semester I have UGBA 102A (intro to financial accounting) planned. I am also considering doing a 1-2 unit special topics class within Haas, if I can get in and if its not too much.</p>
<p>the 2 unit ugba class is a good idea, those are fun and are usually capital-e easy.</p>
<p>for future froshies, missionewokzzz, would you care to explain what main factors (habit, lifestyle, priorities, etc) contributed to your C+ start as a frosh, and then what specific things you did to turn your grades around second semester?</p>
<p>First off, I want to start off by saying that even though I turned things around second semester, this is all untested territory–I haven’t applied to Haas yet, so if I don’t get in, I wouldn’t be a “success story” by any means.</p>
<p>Why the C+? Well Stat 21 isn’t rocket science, but its not easy either. I found it initially easy and slacked off when I could have worked harder. In addition, my high school was way more competitive and hardcore than Berkeley coursework, believe it or not. I think I overreacted to that initial feeling of “Oh, this is easy,” and thus “took it easy” too far. My grades were not good.</p>
<p>Why the turnaround? I realized my chances at Haas were slim after the C+ in Stats (many people get B’s in prereqs, and dont make it in). So I put all the gas I could in UGBA 10, participated, and tried as hard as I could to get an A. Ended up with A+. I was very selective about picking the easiest breadths possible, and overall my courseload was just a bit easier than first sem’s. UGBA 10 is definitely easier than Stat 21. (But I’ve heard its more important to Haas?)</p>
<p>In terms of clubs and leadership, I was involved with the same clubs first semester as I was second. But I stepped it up significantly near the end of first semester, showed my knowledge and dedication, and fortunately moved up to some officer positions by year’s end.</p>
<p>Anybody else have any thoughts on my chances?</p>
<p>*** if you got into berkeley consulting as a freshman i’d be really super impressed… berkeley investment group and berkeley consulting are on completely different levels. BC is ridiculously selective</p>
<p>Right, BC is super selective. As are all the consulting groups. But you could also see it as that Berkeley investment group is one of those clubs where it doesn’t take much commitment to be a member, but to become an officer is rather difficult.</p>
<p>@demoz, was there anything about those kids with c/c+'s in stat 21 that made them “stick out” in any other way? Its encouraging to know kids like me made it, I just want to know how THEY did it.</p>
<p>i’ve heard of people getting Cs in ugba 10 and still getting into haas, so i’d imagine the situation is similar with stats</p>
<p>just chill man, if your other activities are as great as you say, you still have a solid chance. remember, gpa is not everything. i know someone with a 3.9 who got rejected but several people with 3.3s who got into haas</p>
<p>Yeah, like everyone else said, I think you should just chilled. I was sort of like you when I was a freshman/sophomore, but I think it was a waste of effort worrying. It turns out that Haas was a lot easier to get into than everyone hyped it up to be. I think as long as you do reasonably well then you have a good chance. Even if you don’t get in it’s not the end of the world.</p>
though i agree with your sentiment, i always wonder what goes/went wrong with the people who tried especially hard yet still didn’t make it. *shrugs</p>
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