<p>Does anyone know how our applications are reviewed at Cal? I was wondering this since we are admitted to the college and not the major. If you applied to the College of Letters and Science, would I be reviewed with people who applied to the same major as me or is it more like just person to person regardless of their major? Would the people who read my application be just random reviewers or someone who have background in my major? </p>
<p>@bluebottle </p>
<p>Well none of us know for sure, but this is what I think. I think we are compared to other students in the group that our major is part of. For example, if you were applying to Film, it’s part of Arts and Humanities. And I think more selective majors admit you compared to other students in your major. The reason I think this is because of the page that shows admit rates by majors and groups of majors. The percentages have stayed consistent (although gone down) in recent years.</p>
<p><a href=“http://admissions.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/docs/Transfer_Flier.pdf”>http://admissions.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/docs/Transfer_Flier.pdf</a></p>
<p>@bluebottle
Good question… from what I’ve heard so far, you’re reviewed by the people who do the applications in general in the L&S college, and then you declare your major afterward.</p>
<p>@music1990
Derp… I only had a 3.64 gpa at the time of my application, and I applied to the Media Studies major under interdisciplinary studies in L&S… I’m really depending on my personal statements to get me through… all the more reason to be extra, extra nervous. At the very least, I make the cut in the pool of average GPAs that are considered, but not competitive. </p>
<p>By the way, if anyone wants to send me their personal statements, I’d be down to read em haha.</p>
<p>@Anxiety94 </p>
<p>Media Studies isn’t ultra selective. You for sure have a shot, especially if you have a good PS. </p>
<p>@bluebottle Here’s an interesting article I read while back: <a href=“http://www.nytimes”>http://www.nytimes</a>. com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/lifting-the-veil-on-the-holistic-process-at-the-university-of-california-berkeley.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</p>
<p>The basics of it is the holistic review system rates students on a rating of 1 to 5. If you’re a 1 or a 2, you’re in. If you’re a 3, you’re a borderline applicant and likely to be admitted for spring or admitted pending the college. If you’re a 4 or 5, you’re likely rejected. This admission report is from 2005, check out page 26 in particular and you can see how the admission is rate is for each score and how it’s distributed: <a href=“http://academic-senate”>http://academic-senate</a>. berkeley. edu/sites/default/files/committees/aepe/hout<em>report</em>0.pdf</p>
<p>@music1990
Yeah I’m just really banking on their holistic review process. I finished the IGETC, all of the articulation requirements for my major… the only reason my gpa is trash, is because I slacked off my first semester of JC. Buckled down this past year and got all As across the board though; hopefully they notice the upward grade trend :’(</p>
<p>@music1990 </p>
<p>Yes, I was looking at the same thing a little while ago. I think you are right and I wish it’s reviewed by majors… I don’t think my essay skills can’t compete with those who applied to Arts and Humanities or Social Science. I just might have a chance competing with people majoring in Science although that’s just a huge assumption. </p>
<p>@Anxiety94 </p>
<p>I’ve been reading your posts and I have the same issues! It’s driving me crazy. Yesterday morning, my eyelash fell off so I made a wish (acceptance to Berkeley of course) and blew it but it stuck to my finger and I was so desperate!!! And the car switching lane thing…I couldn’t agree more. Everything I do, I think it as a way to tell if I will get in or not. If I get to the microwave before it beeps, I am in! I shop groceries and the total doesn’t go over $30, I am in! I throw this tissue and it makes it in the trash can, I am in! If I see 7 cars with letter C on their plate, I am in! Yeah talk about turning into a psycho…haha</p>
<p>@bluebottle
Oh thank god!! I was starting to think that it was only something that was unique to me. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. Wow… we should be best friends.</p>
<p>@onehandedred </p>
<p>Yup I read that article too… I think someone posted it on here. Do not test my attentiveness to this thread! haha yeah it’s pretty scary that they would rate us 1-5 but I wonder if that applies to non-engineer majors as well.</p>
<p>@Anxiety94 </p>
<p>I am glad I found you too! Only 2 more days to go… I am so nervous, can’t sleep, can’t focus on anything. Do you have other back up schools? I got into UCLA couple days ago but my heart is set on Cal!</p>
<p>@bluebottle
My second choice is Davis… I am REALLY looking forward to going up north, which is why I’m crossing my fingers for Cal. We shall see.</p>
<p>@onehandedred
Holy cow! I’m reading those articles now, and it’s definitely an eye-opener. No wonder Berkeley’s admits are SO random.</p>
<p>@music1990 </p>
<p>I can tell that UCLA got a lot more holistic with its admissions process this year—lots of people got in on the strength of their ECs and personal statement where their grades may have been lacking. UCLA has done the right thing by emulating Berkeley’s admissions process this year.</p>
<p>So seeing all these posts about tricks to find out if you got in early reminded me of a thread I saw from a few years ago. People were using tricks to find out if they got into Standford. Stanford ended up finding out and wasn’t happy about it, and supposedly decided not to accept someone who was going to be accepted because of that. That would be the worst. </p>
<p>@Cayton </p>
<p>Yeah that makes sense, because I saw a lot of people with really high GPAs getting rejected, and low GPAs getting accepted. Although I have to admit, sometimes I it just came down to numbers, so you would already pretty much know if you were going to be accepted. But in the long run holistic reviews is probably the way to go.</p>
<p>@music1990 </p>
<p>Definitely.</p>
<p>@Cayton </p>
<p>Did you read that thread about the Stanford applicants I mentioned in my last post?</p>
<p>@Anxiety94 </p>
<p>Oh god same here. I am done with this LA same ol’ same ol’. Where are you from? I would love to live in the bay area… I got into Davis as well but I’ve never been to their campus though. I am waiting for midnight tomorrow to come so I can check my horoscope for 25th. </p>
<p>@music1990 @Cayton
I honestly love the idea of the holistic review process, but my god… I’ll definitely admit that it’s the single most confusing, intricate process that I have ever seen in my life. I’m reading an article from the nytimes that onehandedred just posted; it’s REALLY interesting…</p>
<p>@bluebottle
I’m from the Orange County area, so it’s only natural that I have such a strong desire to go up north, as I’ve been down here my entire life! Wow we’re just a bunch of superstitious nuts… I never usually act this way to this extent.</p>
<p>@Anxiety94 </p>
<p>Oh yeah I was born in OC as well but grew up in LA area. I never thought about wanting to go up north until I visited San Francisco and I just fell in love. There are so much to do and so many places to go. I am a city person and I don’t want to stay in the suburbs. UCLA is okay but like I said I’ve been to most places in LA and I don’t got time for that 405 traffic. As the day is getting closer, I keep go back and forth from “don’t have to worry, I got this” to “I am gonna get rejected and my life will be over.” </p>