My hat is definitely off to people who can work full time, get amazing grades and have EC’s as well.
Well youll get one more chance in January since Haas requires a third essay.
@CoreyL You are in good standing. I had friends who got into both UCLA and UCB with pretty “bad” GPA’s. One got into both with a 3.5 and the other got in with two C’s in his calculus series. It is not the end of the world or bad news if you do not have the average GPA when applying. A lot of things are considered into your application, especially when applying to a school like Berkeley. It literally says on their website that they “hug your application”, which means they are going to take great care into getting to know you in all aspects of your life, and not just your GPA.
Some people may believe this is a “lower standard” by using your life experiences as an excuse for your “poor” grades, but it’s real life. Some people have other duties to attend to. I am pretty sure every good student has the will to get straight A’s, but some things just get in the way of that. Also, take into consideration that GPA is very relative. A 4.0 for the semester says nothing about the professor you took the course with (it could have been the easier of the professors) and also says nothing about how much you learned in a course.
Just believe in yourself and your application and don’t worry about the competition.
@CoreyL Your spring grades won’t be considered. If accepted, you need to pass them with grades that they specify, but they don’t affect your transfer GPA. Applicants are accepted before a student even sees their spring grade.
As said by MikeSauce, a supplemental essay will come out in January.
@RAHforHEE Your example of friends getting into random majors at UCLA and UCB with decent grades isn’t exactly comparing apples to apples. The trouble with Haas is that the number of admits for transfer is so low, only accepting around 80 total transfer students each year. That’s 33 less transfer spots than there are community colleges in California. A lot of programs at Berkeley are hard to get into, like EECS, but they also admit far more than 80 transfers.
Obviously people with lower GPAs make it into Haas as well considering the middle 80% GPA range of transfer admits is 3.55-4.0, so those on the lower end found some way to really make them as an applicant stand out and shine amongst a sea of 4.0 students who are the president of a dozen clubs while working full time, etc. It’s good to be positive and optimistic, but random and irrelevant anecdotes don’t really help anyone.
You’re absolutely correct that Berkeley takes the holistic approach though. Not everyone need to have a 4.0, an investment internship, and be on the city council to get in, which is good.
@briank82 The majors were not random, they applied to @CoreyL because they applied to Business Economics and Business Administration; they are completely comparable to the poster. Also, my examples of friends are not anecdotal because it’s what actually happens in the application process; people are considered not just because of their grades. The application process is dynamic, and I am glad my the stories of them two are not apples to apples; they were completely different people, which also shows the Berkeley looks at people individually.
I am not trying to put stories into peoples head and giving them false hope; all I am trying to do is bring awareness to people. Because Berkeley looks at people holistically, I believe it is absolutely relevant to bring up these stories as everyone is different. Does it mean that person will get in? NO! Does it mean they are automatically disqualified just because they have a lower GPA? NO! This is why I share this information; nothing is anecdotal about it.
UCB looks at applicants holistically and I was giving comparisons of two people that show Berkeley indeed does do this.
@RAHforHEE “The majors were not random, they applied to @CoreyL because they applied to Business Economics and Business Administration; they are completely comparable to the poster.”
And he, and others, are supposed to read your mind that you’re talking about business? There are hundreds of majors between UCLA and UCB, a little context is useful. To refresh your mind of what you said, it was: “I had friends who got into both UCLA and UCB with pretty “bad” GPA’s.” You’ve made it obvious that clearly conveying ideas isn’t your strong suit, but this would have let us know exactly what you were trying to say: “I had friends who got into both UCLA and UCB for business with pretty “bad” GPA’s.”
You believe the information you’ve provided isn’t random, is comparable, and isn’t anecdotal? Well, that’s not a shocker.
@briank82 The guy listed his major as Business, so of course I was talking to him in regards to Business majors. If he wasn’t sure what I was talking about, he could have taken it up with me and I would have happily explained to him that the two students applied as Business. You seem to only bring it up because you already have an issue with me from losing the last argument we had (watch this get under your skin).
Also, the information is not anecdotal because it is backed up by UCB’s holistic approach. The information is provided with factual evidence, so how could this possibly be anecdotal?
I am not sure if you’re trying to pick a fight with me or not, but I am on here to help others. If you insist on pointing out things that irk you and try to correct me on them, do what you please. I will always be here to defend myself.
Sorry man, “I had friends who got into both UCLA and UCB with pretty “bad” GPA’s.” doesn’t equal “I had friends who got into both UCLA and UCB for business with pretty “bad” GPA’s.” I knew we were talking about business and it still wasn’t clear enough that’s what you were conveying.
Me saying it was anecdotal was under the impression you simply had two friends get into UCB and UCLA, as you made no mention of business. You’re wrong about the holistic approach. I disagree with your findings because they are not true.
If you don’t want people to question what you say, find a better way to convey what you’re trying to say. It’s not that hard.
@briank82 If you knew I was talking about business, then what are you trying to argue with me about then? Is it too hard for you to put two and two together? Also, it does not matter if their major was business or not because the process, regardless of major, is STILL holistic. It doesn’t pertain to any individual major, therefore, my information given is still not anecdotal.
I think you have an issue and need some help, because you’re clearly still upset about that argument you lost the other day. I conveyed what I needed to say accurately, whether or not you get is your own problem. Get some help.
Learn to read dude. I knew we, in general (and not talking about you and I) were talking about business. I didn’t know you were talking about business as your post discusses UCB and UCLA with no context.
“Also, it does not matter if their major was business or not because the process, regardless of major, is STILL holistic”
Transfer admit rates vary from 5.6% to 47.6% depending on the major/college, genius. Regardless of it being holistic, a 3.5 GPA could be above average for one major and significantly below average for a capped and highly competitive major. That matters, even more so when the biggest factor considered at Haas is GPA and coursework. Period. I disagree with your findings because they are not true.
@briank82 You just said, “I knew we were talking about business but it still wasn’t clear what you were conveying”. You agree that you said this, right? You knew what I was talking about, but still had a problem with it, doesn’t make much sense to me.
Like you just explained, the percentage does not matter, because the process is STILL holistic. Percentages of acceptance rates, average GPA’s of admitted students does not take away from the fact that the process is still a holistic review. It doesn’t matter what the average GPA for each major is because the process is still holistic. People can get in below the average GPA for a major and vice versa. Holistic review is embedded in every single major, independent of what the GPA may be from major to major. Also, percentage of acceptance has to do with the FREQUENCY of people that apply versus how any people get in. The people that get in are evaluated HOLISTICALLY.
You can disagree all you want to, but you know you are wrong. We can go through this back and forth stuff again if you’d like.
@briank82 I think everyone know GPA and coursework is very important to getting into a school, but it still does not take away from the fact that the process is holistic. Sorry, bud, you cannot win this. All UCB applicants are looked at holistically within each major, regardless of the average GPA. It’s good to be in that average, but it does not mean you will get denied if you’re not within it, because they do not only consider course work and GPA.
@RAHforHEE UCB does pride itself on its holistic admissions. However, GPA and coursework are especially important for impacted majors. Haas is very picky - they want the best of the best, and often cast away students with subpar GPAs. I’m not saying that the other poster’s GPA is subpar. But they regularly turn away 3.9+ students - again, they want the cream of the crop. It’s holistic in that they take all factors, including ECs, employment, PS, etc. into consideration. But Haas has their own requirements and things that they like to see in an applicant. Put simply, one cannot get into Haas with a “bad” GPA, unless they had a major upward trend, cured cancer, that sort of thing. Getting into Haas is more difficult than getting into UCLA’s BizAdmin. Definitely on par with applying to EECS in my opinion, if not more difficult.
Also, just because schools like Berkeley offer a holistic review of an application does not mean that an applicant with a bad GPA is likely to be accepted. This is the #1 public university in the world - while they consider the application holistically, they still expect excellence.
Additionally, I think your friends who got into UCLA should be viewed as exceptions, not the rule. Just my two cents.
“You agree that you said this, right? You knew what I was talking about, but still had a problem with it, doesn’t make much sense to me.”
No, I don’t. We does not mean you and I, which is why I said “(and not talking about you and I)” in my last post. It was the dialogue between the person asking the question and myself, prior to you randomly telling some anecdotal story of some random friends who got into random majors at UCLA and UCB.
The GPA does matter. The GPA matters more than anything else in admissions. Regardless of it being holistic, that is indisputable. As released by Haas, applications are based off of 50% grades and coursework, 35% essays, and 15% resume. The holistic approach is considered in this approach in the essays and resume. GPA is THE biggest single determining factor at Haas. Talk about the holistic approach all you want, but GPA is still king at Haas. I personally love the holistic approach as it helps me immensely as an applicant, but GPA still reigns supreme.
“I think everyone know GPA and coursework is very important to getting into a school, but it still does not take away from the fact that the process is holistic. Sorry, bud, you cannot win this. All UCB applicants are looked at holistically within each major, regardless of the average GPA.”
And that still doesn’t take away from the fact that GPA is weighted the highest out of the holistic admissions process at Haas (and other highly selective majors). I’m not arguing that the holistic approach isn’t used, because it is, so I’m not sure what you’re trying to say I’m wrong about. I’ve heard this directly from Haas’ Assistant Director of Admissions, among others, and it’s indisputable. Keep talking about the holistic process though, which I know and agree UCB uses … newsflash: that’s not something they keep a secret.
@goldencub I agree with everything you said! In no way am I trying to say that a lower than average GPA is going to get you in, but I do believe you still have a chance, thanks to the holistic review process. Call them exceptions if you want, they were ultimately admitted which means they’re worth something.
@briank82 You are confused. You are talking to me as if I said GPA was not important. I never said that the GPA did not matter, nor did I say it was less important than anything in the application. You just posted that 50% is grades and 50% is the opportunity for the applicant to explain themselves as an individual through a personal statement and a resume. This clearly shows that factors other than grades have some sort of influence in the admissions process. I never said the GPA was not important, show me where I said that.
This ENTIRE time, I have been trying to bring light to the subject that the holistic review does not look 100% at grades. This DOES NOT mean the GPA is not important in the process. I never said this. The only thing I have been saying is that the holistic review process is indeed, real!
The one who wants to know his chance for Haas had already got his answers. This is completely useless argument.
I never said you said GPA wasn’t important.
“It doesn’t matter what the average GPA for each major is because the process is still holistic.” This implies that it doesn’t matter where an applicant falls in regards to the average GPA because of the holistic approach, which isn’t true. Highly selective majors pride themselves in admitting students with the best GPA (and most well-rounded as well, with respect to the holistic approach), so if the GPA of the applicant is outside of some ideal range they’re looking for and the program’s average GPA is around a 3.8 … and here comes an applicant with a 3.1 but a great story and ECs, he’s probably not getting in. Holistic approach doesn’t save him, and GPA wins, even if technically the 50% weight for GPA is equal to the combined 50% of essays and resume.
“This ENTIRE time, I have been trying to bring light to the subject that the holistic review does not look 100% at grades.”
Uh, congrats? I already said it counted 50%. But … thanks for the clarification? Furthermore, nobody has denied that Berkeley uses a holistic approach, nor has anybody suggested that Berkeley–even the most selective majors–look at GPA 100%. So you’re trying to bring to light things that nobody has denied, argued, or questioned? That’s an interesting approach.
@Hiroaki0422 You see, that’s what I’M saying. @briank82 is trying to find something to argue about and falsely accuse me of letting the whole forum know that GPA means nothing in light of the holistic review. This is a total lie! I have never said that. All I have said is that the holistic review process may help an applicant get admitted with a lower GPA. As a matter of fact, the holistic review process helps out EVERYONE in the admissions process. It’s not a situation in which high GPA’s do not need the holistic review process and low GPA’s need it. I don’t understand why we are arguing about something that can benefit everyone.
And I want to repeat: I have NEVER said that GPA is unimportant. Grades are important, but I know for a fact that the holistic review is indeed used to evaluate applicants in terms of things other than grades. Never have I said it is more important than grades.