<p>I have been reading CC for a long time and this is my first post.
So I applied to UCB for fall 2011 and was denied admission. From the moment I saw the rejection thread until know I still can't understand how and why this happened.
Here are my stats:</p>
<p>Major: Computer Science (B.A program at the L&S college)
GPA: 3.98
Major GPA: 4.0
Prerequisites: Almost all of them except 2 that are recognized by UCB not to be articulated (all the courses that were offered in more than 4 CCs I took more than anyone else I know)
L&S Requirements: All courses taken (required + the 7-course breadth)
ECs: Internship at the IT department of San-Francisco based DMD architects (4 hours/week), volunteer tutor of math at local CC (9 hours/week), High School graduate with honors, PTK member, TA for computer science instructor, and long-time TA for my CCs math department chair, co-founded and provided IT support for local global awareness club, member of many international IT seminars and exhibitions, etc.
PSs: 8-9/10. Essays were checked by 2 english instructors and 2 admission officers at UC Berkeley one at the Transfer and Re-Entry Center and second during the Starting Point Mentorship Program. Both admission officers told me that the essays are great and that This is exactly what Berkeley is looking for.
Comments: I am an international student</p>
<p>A couple of my friends got in - I have seen their entire application, and objectively, I don't see why I wasn't offered admission.
I applied to Berkeley and Santa Cruz. As mentioned above I got rejected from Berkeley but I got into Santa Cruz with an Undergraduate Dean's Award. Even though I am very thankful for the scholarship UCSC is simply not an potion, so I am considering an appeal on the following grounds:</p>
<p>1) The L&S requirements include a section for 2 semesters of foreign language, which I never took here at a CC, because I have verified with admissions that high school instruction in a foreign language satisfies this prereq. But I noticed that nowhere on the application did I actually mention that I speak 4 languages fluently and have had more than 12 years of instruction. Even the Languages spoken section says only English. If this is the case I am ready to provide official high school document verifying the language of instruction.
2) I made a couple of minor mistakes on my application. E.G I forgot to mention 6 units (ESL and PE) in myBerkeleyApplication so my total transferrable units were at 60 not 66.
3) Since the beginning of the spring semester due to financial difficulties in the family I was forced to pay for my own tuition (out-of-state) whilst taking a bigger course load (15 units all As so far) and taking up a job as a tutor (9 hours/week at school + 6 privately) and IT consultant (5 hours/week).</p>
<p>If anyone was patient and interested enough to read this entire thread - I would love to read your comments and suggestions :)</p>
<p>I think you actually have a shot of getting in through appeal. I would DEFINITELY try in your position. I know two people who appealed their decisions at UCLA and Cal, and both of them made it in! It’s not as impossible to get in through appeal as they would like you to think. I encourage you to appeal. You sound like you have the stats needed for a successful appeal. TRY!</p>
<p>Thank you deanzatransfer for your encouraging words! I will definitely try, because I think I have a decent chance.
Do you (or others) know if I should send in letters of rec? I couldn’t find anything on the website, and I’ve seen conflicting messages on this forum - so the question still remains.
Also, how carried away should I get with sending official documents? For example, should I send a document from my school confirming the language of instruction? Should I send statements from my employers showing that I work there? Or is it all really about the letter of appeal itself? I am confused.</p>
<p>berkeley does not want you to send any letters of recommendations </p>
<p>in fact they don’t even want you to appeal unless you have “significant information after you placed your admission.” But it looks like you do with regards to the errors that you accidentaly made.</p>
<p>So, I have a lot of new information that might be useful
I just spoke (personally) with a person at the Undergraduate admissions office (Sproul Hall).</p>
<p>Basically, I told her the story and my suggestions (with an emphasis on the foreign language requirement) and she told me that when I was doing the “Transfer academic update” there was a section for a waiver of the FL requirement where I should have mentioned my 3 years of high school experience (I never noticed that section). She told me I could include an official, notarized document from my high school verifying the language of instruction and send it along with my appeal letter. </p>
<p>She also said that the appeal letter should be 1-2 pages, even though there is no max.</p>
<p>But I still cannot understand the rejection, because them mistakes I made were really minor (6 unrelated units) and I did mention that I speak many languages in my PS, even though never “officially” mentioned it in any other part of my application. Is it possible different people read the PS and go over the application?</p>
<p>The appeal deadline is the 15th of may and decisions come out on or after the 1st of June.
I will definitely let you guys know about any news.</p>
<p>It would be just fantastic if you could go over my appeal letter! I will let you know as soon as I have a final draft. </p>
<p>2 talebi818:</p>
<p>Thank you! I hope it works out as well. It’s just so discouraging when something you have been working on so hard doesn’t happen because of some Kafkaesque bureaucracy. </p>
<p>Btw, did you guys transfer this semester as well?</p>
<p>You have stats to get in and you have exactly what they’re asking for “new and compelling information”. Although the information is not new to you, it is to them. It’s pretty obvious you were rejected because you did not fulfill the language requirement on your application and you did not show the required 60 units. </p>
<p>You got this!!! I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Good luck on your appeal, I also do think you have a solid shot! </p>
<p>PS-…this is really weird and sorry for me pointing it out…it just doesn’t make any sense to me. When you said…I spoke to an Admission Officer in the Undergraduate Admissions Office (Sproul Hall)…what was that? Undergraduate Admissions (also Graduate) is in Murphy Hall. </p>
<p>Sorry, I was simply confused! Regardless, good luck! :)</p>
<p>Oh and Sproul Hall is where Housing is, and a big set of dorms, just if anyone was wondering!</p>
<p>I feel ■■■■■■■■, hahaha. Yes, you’re right, you’re right! My friend works there! I was thinking of here at UCLA. It’s funny because I was up there during my Spring Break.</p>
<p>Why do the UCs have the same names for the buildings?! </p>
<p>Regardless, if I get a chance to talk to my friend (who works for them, hey! maybe you even talked to her?! haha) about appeals, I’ll ask her about the appeal process up at Berkeley, she’s super busy but who knows! Good luck on your appeal! :)</p>
<p>PS-This happens when I don’t sleep at night, hahaha.</p>
<p>I am going to appeal, too…Applied math student, 3.95 GPA, only got 1 B in my esl writing class at the first semester of my college. I think they rejected me because i did not finish my last math class. However, I have already tried my best to add the class. I even sat in the floor for 3 weeks to see if somebody drop the class. and my counselor says I have good PS. I have “new infor” to add, too. my mother got laid off in Jan, at the time I study, I need to works 3 jobs to support my family. </p>
<p>I don’t understand. Another applied math reject? I’m starting to think something went wrong. You’re like the fifth I’ve seen (counting myself) and I’ve yet to see an applied math acceptance.
I’ll be appealing as well.</p>
<p>That’s funny they have the same names for buildings It would be great if you could get some information! I don’t remember the name of the person I spoke to, but she was blonde and really young (looked like a student there) - might be your friend She was really helpful and patient. </p>
<p>2 citusguy:</p>
<p>Yeah, classes get full really quickly and some are just impossible to get in!
Indeed, good luck to all of us. We’ll need it.</p>
