<p>I am currently at a community college hoping to finish with a 3.7-3.8 cumulative GPA next year and hoping to be accepted into UCB under a rhetoric major. I was wondering what my chances are of getting in? For those of you who have transferred, I was also wondering what the transfer dorms are like. I just want to gain some sort of insight on what the campus is like and if anyone has any pointers on writing the essay to get in I would appreciate it. I hope to tour the campus soon.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>As far as your GPA goes, that’s pretty good. You didn’t say anything about clubs/activities you’re in, so I can’t say much in terms of that. If you aren’t on any clubs, I would suggest you join Phi Theta Kappa (PTK; honors society) and some kind of debate club. </p>
<p>The Phi Theta Kappa is a club that is usually on every community college campus and it’s important to get a leadership position. It is one of the oldest honors societies in America and very well respected. </p>
<p>Joining a debate club would help show that you are pursuing your interest in rhetoric outside of the classroom. I am just assuming that debate club is the closest thing you might have to a rhetoric club. And if there is no such club, make one! Make a club and get a few friends to join you and make it official. That would of course be the best thing you could do.</p>
<p>Personally, I relied heavily on my personal statement and extracurriculars. I was accepted with a 3.03GPA. If you are interested in what kind of stuff I wrote about for my personal statement, check here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/berkeley-2014/1143561-accepted-ucb-3-0gpa.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/berkeley-2014/1143561-accepted-ucb-3-0gpa.html</a></p>
<p>Definitely put A LOT of thought into your personal statement. Your GPA is really good, but there will be hundreds/thousands of kids with 3.8+ GPAs trying to get into Berkeley, so you’ll still have to separate yourself from them with your personal statement.</p>
<p>I transferred with a 3.86 (and I know someone who just got in with a 3.6) and NO clubs or honors societies or any of that nonsense. And really no community service. These are the typical things we think good schools select for. Berkeley is comprehensive and knows that their best students don’t necessarily fit this “typical profile”. I feel like it was my personal statement which did it. Plus I had been working since I was 15 years old and did two years of culinary school. Don’t get caught up in trying to fit the typical student profile, and work on showing why your application shows that you have a unique student profile. </p>
<p>PS, most transfer students live off campus (cheaper, more fun for the older transfer crowd) or in co-ops.</p>