<p>Hey, I'm just trying to get a rough estimate of where I stand for Berkeley.</p>
<p>My UC gpa is a 3.73 UW and a 4.0 weighted
--In actuality my gpa is 3.8 and 4.53 but UC doesn't count freshman year or honors classes as weighted for OOS applicants</p>
<p>My SAT is 2300
Math Level 2-800
Physics-710</p>
<p>Without knowing my extracurriculars or my essays, I want to know how UC would look at my application. I'm trying to go into computer science. After looking at these stats what do you think they would think about me? I'm just looking for a rough estimate.</p>
<p>UC’s are known to care more about GPA than test scores, specially Berkeley, so this puts you in a tough spot. However, they want your OOS money, so that will be a plus.</p>
<p>Showing the OOS acceptance rate to be about 1% higher. It seems like too small of a difference, but it actually means around 150-200 extra spots for OOS. They want your $$$.</p>
<p>Do UC’s look at the rank/rigor of your high school? For example, my high school is in the top 15 by US News and the top 8 by NewsWeek in the nation.</p>
<p>^^^ Uhh coming from a top school would actually make it harder. They will see it as you having more resources to do well in school & thus expect more of you. They don’t care about grade deflation/inflation, taking a lot of kids with inflated GPAs from disadvantaged high schools (such as my old high school). It’s a backdoor for affirmative action. </p>
<p>Which schools are you looking at besides Berkeley?</p>
<p>@Lilliana330 I’m applying to other top schools but my stats for them would be 3.8/4.53 as my GPA. In addition my guidance counselor has described my extracurriculars as very good(I was the founding member of two startups and have attended a very prestigious entrepreneurship camp in Cambridge, along with a few other notable things that I’m not going to disclose)</p>
<p>Why would going to a top school hurt me? My school is EXTREMELY rigorous. Over half my class has dropped out since freshman year since they couldn’t handle my school. Students who often fail out of my school make A’s and B’s at their local school. I thought UC would factor this in.</p>
<p>Top high school may indicate that your classes are more rigorous than other schools, so your A will matter more than it would in a really crappy high school. However at the same time, as the Lilliana330 stated that the top high school is expected to have better resources…but that’s not always the case.(not sure how your school is) The school can be the best performing in the state and have crappy support in certain area. For example, my high school was 2nd in the state but it had zero support for any kind of STEM activities, zero resources for internship or external activities. It may depend. </p>
<p>However it shouldn’t hurt you so much as it would if you had bad score/gpa. GPA is a bit on the low side-many top applicants will have near perfect UW gpa. Is that 4.53 your weighted GPA in school?</p>
<p>Also OOS status barely matters in UC schools. Remember UC schools give no FA to OOS.</p>
<p>UC’s will value the rigor of your classes, but they’ll still expect a 4.0+ UC-weighted GPA. They don’t consider deflation/inflation much because they’re trying to admit a lot of CA kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, most of which go to less rigorous schools were it’s easier to get a higher GPA. Thus, the emphasis on a high GPA. </p>
<p>“All achievements, both academic and nonacademic, are considered in the context of the opportunities an applicant has had, and the reader’s assessment is based on how fully the applicant has taken advantage of those opportunities. For an applicant who has faced any hardships or unusual circumstances, readers consider the maturity, determination and insight with which the applicant has responded to and/or overcome them. Readers also consider other contextual factors that bear directly upon the applicant’s achievement, including linguistic background, parental education level, and other indicators of support available in the home.”</p>
<p>@paul2752 my highschool sounds a lot like yours. We have absolutely no resources or funds. In addition, it’s in a very sketchy neighborhood. ie- I walked into the bathroom last week and the urinal was gone.</p>
<p>Which is why OOS status could be helpful, if they really want those extra $23,000. You can actually get aid on the rest of costs, depending on your income. But not on the 23k. An OOS student with a FAFSA EFC of 0, for example, could get a price of 23k after all aid.</p>
<p>OP, while your school’s rigor can both hurt and benefit you in some way, don’t worry about it too much. Your GPA matters the most.
The problem is that your GPA isn’t near perfect. Many UCB accepted people have near perfect UW GPA, and UC schools prefer GPA>>SAT/ACT. For example, if UCB looks at another applicant with same EC but 3.9 UW GPA and 4.4 UC GPA and 2200 SAT score, the chance is that UCB will pick that one. </p>
<p>^ Regents is invite-only. However, this is where high test scores come in, with the top 1-2% scores being selected. Amount varies by campus.</p>
<p>OP, since there’s not much you can do about UC GPA, just forget about it and focus on enhancing the rest of your app. You seem like a great applicant over all, and you definitely have a shot. Just have back up schools. Good luck!</p>