<p>Shizzle: Aim for mid 2200s and up on your SAT, and aim for 750+ SAT II’s and you’re very likely in, I think. Probably this is even conservative as an estimate.</p>
<p>I second mathboy on his assessment, shizzle. Also don’t underestimate the importance of essays as they are very important parts of the admission process. That is where you can perhaps explain your situation of moving to a different school (in a subtle kind of way–don’t make your entire essay on that is what I’m saying). UCs aren’t too big on ECs–what you have seem fine.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you so much! Makes my day. I was really worried there because of everything that’s been going on with transferring. I’m pretty confident about my writing skills so I’m sure at least one of the essays will be good. Would you guys recommend taking the SAT as well? I don’t know what the scores on that compare to the 30’s on the ACT. ACT 31-36 is 99th percentile.</p>
<p>Yeah if you score 32+ on the ACT, you should be OK. Have a good SAT or ACT, and have good subject tests, and you have a good shot :)</p>
<p>Alright thank you!</p>
<p>Although it wouldn’t hurt if you try the SATs. You might potentially do better as long as you prepare for it. I did better on the SATs than the ACTs–but that might be because I didn’t even know anything about ACT before I took my first test. </p>
<p>Also, if you need essay tips or someone to look over your essays, you can pm me. I’m a prefrosh, got into L&S with regents–just a little something to let you know I’m qualified and not a mediocre essay writer; I’ve had plenty of experience writing those college essays.</p>
<p>Thanks KitKatz, when the time comes for applying I’ll surely bombard you with questions.</p>
<p>Chance me, please?</p>
<p>OOS (FL)
Will apply to L&S</p>
<p>My course load and GPA are my strongest aspects. I’m in the IB program, and when I graduate from HS I will have taken a total of 15 AP/IB courses with 2 years of Calc and Stat.
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.53 W. Ranked 4/315 (this could drop, but I will definitely be in the top 5% by the end of this, my junior year).
Highly competitive high school- best in the county (people have gotten into many Ivies from it).</p>
<p>Standardized tests are certainly my weakest point. I KNOW they’re bad, so no one needs to rub it in my face.
SAT: 660 M, 630 CR, 660 W
I’ll be re-taking it once more, but I doubt I’ll get out of the 1300 range.
I’m also going to give the ACT a shot-who knows?
SAT IIs: MathII: 690 (will retake it), Chem: 700, U.S.H.: 710</p>
<p>EC’s: Pretty average and mixed up, i.e. they don’t really follow a theme.
Clubs: Several honor society clubs- treasurer in one of them, Young Republicans treasurer (let’s not be biased upon discovering this please…lol), and Random Acts of Kindness president and founder- our club usually does low-scale community projects like food and toy drives, hopefully we’ll do something big next year.
Aviation: a little unique, but I only have about 15 hours of experience. Hopefully I will have enough experience to fly solo by the time I apply…
Piano: pretty new to it, only 3 years of experience, but I did get a superior on a performance so at least I have some evidence that I actually play
I will be doing a business internship this summer in Chicago. I don’t know the full details of this yet, but I know I will have a position that they usually only give to college students (I got in with distant family connections).</p>
<p>I’m going to be sure to work hard on the essay, so assume it’ll be good but not stellar. Recommendations should be good, but also, not stellar. </p>
<p>Additional facts: Caucasian, but I was born in Iran and lived there for 8 years. Unfortunately, I forgot Farsi… (biggest mistake of my life).</p>
<p>ECs look fine–no need to focus too much on it. In fact, everything looks great except your SATs–retake and get above 2250. SATIIs could be higher too, but these two factors are easily fixed. Study and retake. Your chances are pretty high. </p>
<p>Again, UCs DO NOT accept recommendations. It’s just your stats, ECs, and essays, so make the most out of your three options.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Thank you!
I’m really running out of time for the SAT, June will be my third time, and I don’t think a 2250 is a possibility. I don’t even think I’ll make 2100. I’ve got plenty of time left for the ACT though, I have the summer to study for it…
If my SATs don’t improve, do you think that’d be enough to make Berkley a reach for me?</p>
<p>Why don’t you cancel your SAT session for June and take it later? I didn’t start taking any SAT tests until May of last year with my final one in November (yes, I’m a horrific procrastinator :D). The summer will give you ample amount of time to study and such, or take a prep class if you are really struggling. </p>
<p>ACT will be your other option. It’s equivalent to SATs. So if SAT doesn’t work out, go for ACT. </p>
<p>And if your SAT/ACTs are sub par, then it will definitely jeopardize your chances, esp if it is below 2200. But don’t freak out about it–if you study long/in depth enough, you can definitely make it! :)</p>
<p>Well thanks again 
I’ll be sure to bust it out on the ACT-studying this summer!</p>
<p>Actually I’m a little curious about something. I have that Berkeley’s 25th percentile is a 580 CR and 620 M on the SAT… do mine really need to be THAT much higher because I’m OOS?</p>
<p>UC GPA: 4.00
UGPA: 3.45
WGPA: 3.86
In-State
SAT-I: 670CR, 800M, 780W
SAT-IIs: Taking USH, Math-II, and Phys in June; practice tests give: Math-II: 800, Phys: 730, USH: 660
Applying to: L&S
MAIN ECs: Head of Design for School Newspaper; member of Junior State of America</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think I have much of a chance. I’m taking 5 APs next year, for reference. Might be notable that I took Pre-Calculus and Calculus ABC at Stanford’s EPGY.</p>
<p>Actually, you might. </p>
<p>Your SAT seem alright for L&S. Although if you could get that Critical Reading score up to 700, it will be better. </p>
<p>Your main concern would be GPA. Can you tell us your rank? If you are top 5%, then maybe you have leeway.</p>
<p>You might have some serious explaining to do–why is your GPA on the low side. If you can communicate that to the adcoms convincingly, you should have a decent chance.</p>
<p>^Metalpots: Yes, because berkeley is a public school dedicated to educate Californians. It has no obligations to accept ANY oos students. </p>
<p>I have seen people getting accepted to Yale and rejected to Berkeley from out of state because of low stats but impressive ECs/race. It is significantly harder for you and that’s a fact. Getting accepted to Berkeley from OOS is about as hard as getting accepted to middle ivies at least because spots are extremely limited. Not to scare you though, cuz the only part about getting into Berkeley that is as difficult as getting to middle ivies is simply stats (SAT/ACT, GPA, and rank)</p>
<p>besides, you DO NOT want to be in the 25%. Those 25% must have something amazing going on for them, either extremely impressive rank/essay/EC/GPA or combination and most likely Californians, not OOS.</p>
<p>Mainly it’s been family troubles; my mother died my freshman year, my father almost did my soph, and I really have no excuse for Junior (Fell off the wagon halfway through the year; should be mostly A’s and B’s at the end.) My rank is distorted, as I am in a class of 60 students (Small, new, Catholic high school), and there’s an interesting dichotomy between those who work and those who don’t; about 6 students get all A’s, while maybe 10 do decently, and all the rest just sit in class drawing stick figures. Because of this, I barely fall out of those 6 students, which makes me look bad by not being in the top 10%.</p>
<p>Hey KitKatz, which SAT 2’s did you take? Do those make much of a difference if you do well? Like will the balance out a lower than 2250 on the SAT? Because right now I’m signed up for Bio and Chem, and I was going to take either Math 2 or US History depending on time. This will be 2 weeks from now. And I’d like to not have to retake those so that next year I can work on the original SAT. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Shizzle: I took US History, French, and Math IIC. I personally recommend US History cuz it was really easy (for me anyways). I don’t believe the SATIIs need to be major related. You just need good numbers. Math IIC was relatively simple (UC will only accept math IIC plus you can also get out of some prerequisit classes for math)–if you know the material covered. I didn’t study for either one of them, but if you do, you can definitely get perfect or close to perfect scores (SATIIs are graded easier–I omitted 7 questions on the Math II one and still managed to get above 750). </p>
<p>Also, in case you don’t know, even if you are signed up for chem and bio, you can still opt out and change to different subjects–you are not required to take the test you signed up for. </p>
<p>I don’t think it will make up for the bad SAT scores; only the ACT will. But good SATIIs certainly will help you out in the entire admissions process. SAT II is just like your essay or GPA–completely different criterion to fulfill.</p>
<p>FranzKafka: I’m sure UCB will factor in your situation (if mentioned tastefully in your essays). But I honestly don’t know how much. I’m willing to read your essay when the time comes and if you are willing to share, and I will tell you if it is a good reflection of your situations.</p>