Does Berkeley look at SAT scores for transfer students? I’m looking to transfer as a junior (CCC student currently), and I know the SAT is not required or even asked for from transfer applicants. However, I’m taking the SAT in a few weeks because it’s required for a few out-of-states and privates that I’m considering. I know that for Fall freshman admission, December is the last test date that UC accepts. Would it be worth it to send my scores to Berkeley or should I not bother - will it make any difference?
@sleepystudent no.
Hi! I transferred from SDSU (a CSU) to UC Berkeley this year as a chemistry major. If you have any questions about non-traditional transferring let me know!
Hey guys, does anyone know if Haas only looks at major pre-reqs and the 7 course breadth for admissions purposes. I ask this because I took “harder” courses that were not required (Data structures, C++) and I got a B in them.
I have a 3.87 UC gpa but a 4.0 major GPA with all the pre-req’s already completed.
I know HAAS makes us do a separate supplemental application where we to fill out this thing:
http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/Undergrad/files/combinedsar.doc
along with a resume and another essay.
I was just wondering if that’s what they focus on primarily to give students the opportunity to explore other areas of interests without any penalty.
@Hardworker223 They mainly focus on major pre-reqs. Your 3.84 is competitive and I’m sure they will be quite happy to see coding in the mix. You’ll probably get an extra point for that.
@Hardworker223 They like diversity. I agree with lindy, the CS classes seem to make you a more interesting applicant.
@themightybicycle Sorry I’m only getting back to you now. I got into UCSB as a Freshman a few years ago but couldn’t afford it so I’ve been at a community college for the last 2 years. I’m hoping to get a bachelors degree so I can pursue a career that utilizes mathematics, something I’m passionate about and enjoy utilizing. Currently actuarial work seems most likely.
Hi @ChemTransfer14 , I’m coming from a CSU (SFSU) and looking into transferring into a UC! Would you mind sharing your stats?
@goldenclub @lindyk8 Thanks for the quick response guys.
Would it be worthwhile to write that I want to minor in computer science in the additional comments box?
Also, as I am finalizing my UC essays, I am faced with a dilemma: in the first statement, I never specifically wrote “I want to major in Business Administration because XYZ…”. as that would be redundant (and quite boring to read). I asked this question and @lindyk8 answered it, however, I cannot get over the fact that I am not directly addressing the prompt. What do you guys think?
Also, does it look bad that I took SOO many pre-reqs in one semester? In the spring semester, I took: Micro Econ
Macro Econ
Business
Stats
Philosophy
and lastly English 1B.
I got a 4.0, but it looks like I was in a rush to finish lol
@hardworker223 I’m not sure mentioning minoring will do anything. Minors don’t mean much. Maybe say you want to combine CS know-how with business (not in those words). You always have room for electives, which could be CS, so maybe just a nod to utilizing that avenue as you pursue business.
I answered something? I have no idea what I said. You did make it clear in the PS that you’re majoring in business, correct? Did you connect your passion, plans, etc.? If what you are asking is if you have to specifically say “I want to major in business because xyz;” in other words, bluntly spell it out with those words - no that is not necessary. But obviously you’re getting it in somewhere in other wording. You’re making it clear somewhere, right? If not and you feel more comfortable saying it, then say it.
Lastly, taking so many pre-reqs in one semester and getting 4.0 shows you can handle a tough load. Again, that will probably add you points. (You wouldn’t want to do that final spring when they can’t see the grades, though.)
Chance me?
I’m applying to UCLA, Berkeley, SD, and SB.
This is my first year as a CC student, but I’m completing all 60 units this year (came in with 30 from APs).
Will the UCs see my grades from this semester when making their decision? I have above a 100% in three of my five classes—a really safe 4.0.
Political Science major.
Average accepted GPA for this major at UCLA: 3.75.
President of the Current Events club.
Part of a debate team.
President of a debate team in (HS).
This summer was Creative Writing head specialist at my summer camp for nine weeks.
I help students with disabilities by taking notes for them.
AP Scholar (HS).
Tons of non-academic awards (HS).
Winter Camp Counselor (HS).
Prereqs completed (Berkeley and SD): 3/3
Prereqs completed (UCLA): 2/4
with next semester, 4/4
American Government and Politics: 104%
International Relations: 97.4%
Western Civilization: 96%
English Critical Thinking: 101%
Introduction to Theater: 112%
Comparative Government
Elementary Spanish 1
Political and Social Philosophy
Improvisational Comedy 1
Introduction to Logic
Biological Anthropology
My IGETC will be completed with my Spanish class next semester.
Personal Statements: slightly above average 6/10 (might be a little modest with this assessment. I’ve heard various reactions. Some people absolutely loved it, some stressed improvement. I’m unsure where it stands).
Thanks so much for the chancing, buddies!
@Hardworker223 @lindyk8 “does anyone know if Haas only looks at major pre-reqs and the 7 course breadth for admissions purposes”
I was actually at an application workshop last week and Sojourner Blair, the Assistant Director of Haas Admissions was answering questions. Someone asked about major pre-reqs and how they were weighted against everything else, or if they were broken into a separate “major pre-req” GPA. She said they aren’t looked at separately, i.e. finding a GPA relating to JUST the major pre-reqs. Obviously it’s important that students do well in these classes, but I always hear about pre-req GPAs and it just isn’t looked at as its own stat.
" I cannot get over the fact that I am not directly addressing the prompt. What do you guys think?"
ANSWER THE PROMPT. Another point she made. Make sure you actually answer the question.
Interesting, because they seem to always say to really go all out on the major GPA. Maybe she meant they don’t break it out specifically, but I suspect they are still eyeballing it. Although I will say, calculus probably leads to a lot of dives… Thanks for those updates @briank82.
Hey there! Media Studies major here stressing over the application especially the personal statement. Stats are below
School: A Seattle Community College (Freshmen) A California Community College (Sophomore)
Major: Media Studies
Overall GPA: 4.0 (That’s the only thing I’m not insecure about lol)
Pre-req: 3/4 when applying
Units when applying: 70 quarter units
ECs (Most impressive ones are in high school… do they really care about high school EC?)
- President of ORBIS club (HS)
-Vice President of English society (HS)
-Debate Team (HS)
-Communicate Committee of my church (HS)
-President of my church’s summer camp (HS)
-Fish Club (College)
-Student Government activity board agent (College)
Volunteers: Average, not too outstanding but did quite a number of them
Awards: Couple awards in badminton (HS), AT Diploma in Flute, Scholarship from my college
So, what’s my chance? And also I am applying to UCLA’s communication major but both department’s are very different as Berkeley’s more focused on research and analytical studies while UCLA is more innovate and practical, any suggestions for my personal statement prompt#1?
@sumner My daughter applied to both, got in this fall. She was also 4.0. Her second essay was the wrong one - she submitted the freshman prompt, haha. (Don’t ask how that happened. I don’t know!) They obviously didn’t care.
When you say you have 3 out of 4 pre-reqs completed, I assume you’re missing MS 10. Don’t worry. Most CCCs don’t have it. My daughter added her volunteer stuff from junior/senior year of high school. She had no leadership from high school, although she did have two internships that were PR-related after hs and also was on the associated student association at the CCC (which is probably a yawn to them).
So I guess the only real diff is she had some outside work associated with major, but you also have other leadership she didn’t have. I would definitely add the last couple years of high school.
Has someone gone over all coursework from the seattle CC and verified transferability? Also, will you have 90 quarter units by end of spring?
BTW, she’s enjoying media studies. There are actually opportunities for coursework in marketing, game theory, social media, entrepreneurship, etc. The major is extremely inter-disciplinary.
@blsUCtransfer so do you think my chances are reach, high-reach?
@briank82 @hardworker223 I just woke up, couldn’t sleep, so spent some looking on Haas.
I knew it was written somewhere because we all thought it. This is what bugs me - the UCs always contradict themselves. 
Yeah, it’s never simple. Moral of the story I guess is to just do great in these pre-reqs. They obviously look at them, but they don’t calculate a specific pre-req GPA.
I’ve done well in them all, but there are a few B’s. Sadly there’ll probably be a B in calculus as well.
@briank82, exactly. I have a hunch a lot of people get Bs in calc.
Thank you for going out of your way @lindyk8. You actually showcased an important haas principle of “beyond yourself” haha. And yeah, the haas admissions process is very “random”. Looking at the previous year’s threads, most people had 4.0’s or high 3.9’s, so I am pretty under qualified in terms of GPA. However, college confidential users are more “ambitious” than the normal applicant, so I think my 3.87 gpa is pretty borderline. Our essays and EC’s will make-or-break us. @briank82