UC Berkeley Application help. (I NEED ADVICE!!!)

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hello everyone!! PLEASE READ, it will mean more than life to me!!! :)</p>

<p>I'll try to keep my message as concise as I can. Excuse my bad grammar, I am typing this in a hurry. </p>

<p>So i'm going to be applying to Berkeley this fall. This will be my second time applying. Personally, I thought I had a descent chance my first time. I had 6 W's (dropped courses) and 2 C's but the rest was somewhat ok (3.4 GPA, good E.C., excellent essays, and was in the TAP program). Before everyone laughs at me for thinking I had a descent chance, i'll let you know that my sister got accepted with a 3.2 GPA (she was also in TAP). After I got rejected, my original plan was to stay at DVC (my community college) for one more year while I worked on improving my GPA and application in general.</p>

<p>Here's the deal though; I SCREWED up last semester (Spring 11). When I say 'screwed up', i'm not exaggerating. I got 3 D's 1 C and 1 W. Not only was I going through a mental breakdown, but the drama in my life was too much to handle (getting kicked out, etc). However I still want to do whatever is in my power to try to give me somewhat of a chance. My TAP counselor is allowing me to stay in TAP, which is a good step!</p>

<p>Here is how my grades are going to look like in my application. </p>

<hr>

<p>COURSE #<strong>COURSE DESCRIPTION</strong>UNITS__GRADE</p>

<p>Summer Term 2008
BIO 102 Fundamentals of Biological Science 4 C<br>
PE 124 Weight Training 0.5 A </p>

<p>Spring Term 2009
CHEM 108 Introductory Chemistry 4 <em>F</em> (Repeated, not in GPA)
DRAMA 122 Basic Principles of Acting 3 A </p>

<p>Summer Term 2009
PE 115 Body Sculpt 0.5 W (Drop)<br>
PE 150 Fitness Center 0.5 AR (Academic Renewal)
PSYCH 210 General Psychology 3 A</p>

<p>Fall Term 2009
ARABC 120 First Term Arabic 5 A<br>
CHEM 108 Introductory Chemistry 4 W (Drop)<br>
ECE 124 Child Development and Psyc. 3 W (Drop)<br>
MATH 182 Calculus for social science 3 W (Drop) </p>

<p>Spring Term 2010
CHEM 108 Introductory Chemistry 4 B<br>
ENGL 122 Freshman English 3 W (Drop)
FILM 160 American Ethnic Cultures in Film 3 B<br>
HUMAN 105 Introduction to Humanities 3 A<br>
MATH 142 Elementary Statistics with Probability 4 B<br>
PE 122 Fitness Center 1 B </p>

<p>Summer Term 2010
ENGL 122 Freshman English 3 A<br>
HUMAN 115 Humanities: American Multicultural 3 B<br>
MATH 182 Calculus for social sciences 3 B<br>
PE 106 Swimming 0.5 B<br>
PE 122 Fitness Center 0.5 AR (Academic Renewal)</p>

<p>Fall Term 2010
BIOSC 170 Environmental Science 3 C<br>
CHEM 120 General College Chemistry I 5 B<br>
ECON 220 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 W (Drop)<br>
ENGL 123 Critical Thinking 3 B<br>
PE 122 Fitness Center 1 AR (Academic Renewal)<br>
POLSC 250 International Relations 3 A </p>

<p>Spring Term 2011
CHEM 121 General College Chemistry II 5 AR (Academic Renewal)
ECON 220 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 AR (Academic Renewal)
ECON 221 Principles of Microeconomics 3 AR (Academic Renewal)
ENGL 126 Critical Thinking 3 C<br>
HSCI 124 Health and Wellness 3 W (Drop)<br>
PE 122 Fitness Center - Strength Training 1 AR (Academic Renewal) </p>

<p>Summer Term 2011
CHEM 26 General College Chemistry 5 A </p>

<p>[Total GPA= 3.25] </p>

<hr>

<p>What I've done:
- Gotten back into TAP.
- Did "Academic Renewal" (All F's and D's won't be counted in GPA).
- Retaking Chemistry 121 (will FORSURE get an A).</p>

<p>What I plan on doing:
- Getting into any other 'program' I can get into.
- Preparing my essay to explain my horrible semester, and all my W's, the best I can.
- Getting a 4.0 GPA next semester (Fall 11).</p>

<p>[[GPA is 3.25 thus far. A 4.0 GPA next semester might boost it up to a ~3.4]]</p>

<p>Besides doing academic renewal, doing well my last semester, and writing an essay to explain myself, what else can I do? ANY advice would be great!!! </p>

<p>THANK YOU so much for taking the time to read this message and I am really looking forward to hearing back from you all. </p>

<p><em>NOTE</em>: I know it doesn't look good for me, but please no "you have no chance" replies. I am working on increase the chances I do have, and I would appreciate not having to hear from people that I might as well give up.</p>

2

<p>Your chances of admission to Berkeley depend entirely on your major (which you have not told us).</p>

<p>Now a gpa of 3.4 by itself does not put you out of the running, but as your gpa starts getting below 3.7 then your chances of admission begin to plummet (at least for the competitive majors).</p>

<p>If you’re applying as a business major to HAAS, then I would have to be brutally honest and tell you that you have a near-zero chance of acceptance. Similarly if you’re an engineering applicant your chances are very low. However, from your profile of courses it looks like you’re in neither category.</p>

<p>If you’re applying to some of the “less competitive” social science / humanities majors, you might have a decent chance if your ESSAY is EXTREMELY GOOD. The best advise I can give you is to think VERY VERY CAREFULLY as to what you will write. Make sure you start it MONTHS in advance (right now might be the best), and get several people (preferably counselors and professors - at least an english professor and one from your major to edit it and give you ideas)</p>

<p>…and most importantly make sure you get that 4.0 the final semester, doing whatever it takes to get it!! (the grade trend should tie in to what you’re trying to explain in your personal statement).</p>

<p>Focusing on these 2 aspects like a laser, and forgetting about everything else is the best thing you can do right now to maximize your chances.</p>

3

<p>At this point, you can’t really do much else than what you’ve already planned to make yourself a better candidate. No one here can really guide you in any ways that you don’t already know about. If you’re looking for encouragement, you unfortunately probably won’t find it here :/</p>

<p>I’m not giving you the “you have no chance” thing because everyone always has a chance, but for your sake, I’d like to be realistic. I suggest that you stop focusing so hard on getting into UCB. Setting your sights specifically on something like this that you might not obtain can crush you later. For now, just focus on doing well in school so you can transfer IN GENERAL. If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out.</p>

4

<p>@ FutureCalBear: I think you can do it, but you’re probably going to need more time to bring up that GPA. One semester of a 4.0 is a big step in the right direction, but I don’t know if that will be enough. </p>

<p>Do get the 4.0, write epic essays about what was going on while you were doing poorly in school, and volunteer in your community (it’s good in general :slight_smile: and will also boost your app a bit). </p>

<p>Also, I would say that you should not expect to get in. It does get harder each year, and even though your making positive strides, you’re trying to do your best when time is working against you for this app period. If Berkeley really is your one and only goal, then expect to possibly apply again the following fall. </p>

<p>I suggest you look into other UC’s too! Personally I loved UCLA and Davis, but ultimately chose Berkeley because I fit in best here. Go where you fit best. </p>

<p>Lastly, I will tell you it is possible, as I failed 3 classes in CCC, but it took me 2 years of consistent, good grades to make up for it. Do your best, and you’ll be fine. Just focus on what’s important.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>