UC Berkeley and affirmative action chancing

<p>The UCs pander abstinence from it, but I've heard of a few with around my stats getting into UCB.</p>

<p>Problem is, I'd like to get into their engineering program, which they say has a 9.7% acceptance rate.</p>

<p>Objectively, I have:
2040 SAT (taking the upcoming test, scored a 750 on the math)
4.85 UC GPA</p>

<p>Subjectively, I'm a Central American with not too many ECs. The biggest thing I've done is a video-gaming tournament a couple of buddies and I said would be fun to do, and we raised some money for a charity. I remember taking one step into the local hospital a year ago to stack up on volunteering hours, but I swung right out of there. Wasn't worth my time to sit there and do nothing with a bunch of kids, who like I was, were just there for the sake of having a pretty application. Had a blast with the tournament instead.</p>

<p>I don't really think spamming chance threads is a good way to spend time, but I just want to get some perspective. A friend of mine says that a 2100+ and my ethnicity will win some strong odds in my favor, but I say that the 10% acceptance rate is way scarier than that. I'm on the fence about whether I should get my hopes up or not for Cal. I feel as if I'd have an equal shot applying at MIT.</p>

<p>With some strong essays, decent subject tests, a 2100+ SAT, and my ethnicity, what say you? </p>

<p>Are you an international applicant? If so, you are in a different pool than a California applicant or an OOS applicant. If you are applying as an American, race or ethnic group, by California law, cannot be considered. For international applicants, I’m sure that the California schools do consider which country an applicant is from, and thus race or ethnicity as it pertains to that country’s make up weighs in, but I doubt it helps or hurts an individual applicant.</p>

<p>Just to reinforce what @twoinanddone is saying, there is a HUGE difference between policy and law. There is a large spotlight on this, and UC would be crazy to try to “wink and nudge” to nibble around the edges of compliance. They absolutely comply with this law, as far as I can tell. Repercussions for not complying with the law are just too great, and there are too many eyes on them. So, I am suggesting that UC does more than “pander abstinence” from affirmative action, they do not invoke it.</p>

<p>It is rather difficult to get a UC admissions GPA to be higher than about 4.4, since up to 8 semesters’ worth of courses can be given +1 honors points, and most high school students take 24 to 28 semesters’ worth of courses in 10th-11th grade.</p>

<p><a href=“Berkeley Frosh Class of 2018 decision summary - #10 by ucbalumnus - University of California - Berkeley - College Confidential Forums”>Berkeley Frosh Class of 2018 decision summary - #10 by ucbalumnus - University of California - Berkeley - College Confidential Forums; can give you an idea of the recent past for Berkeley admissions.</p>

<p>a 2040 is good anywhere else, but not for Berkeley. The CA thing will not fly in affirmative action schools like the UC’s.</p>

<p>I see. Apparently my school has a completely wrong number for the UC GPA–so I actually have a 4.25. And by law, I now see its just me and the numbers. So without anything truly amazing about myself, UCB is a huge stretch. Thanks everyone!</p>