Hi guys,
I am an incoming senior in high school who really wants to go to UC Berkeley for L&S Computer Science next year. So far, I have a 4.0 Unweighted GPA and a 4.5 Weighted GPA. However, what bugs me is my SAT score. I have a 2200 composite score (650 English, 770 Math, 780 Writing). I have received 800 on Math II, 760 on Korean (even though I’m Korean), and 760 on the Physics subject test. For my AP tests, I have received 5’s on all AP Computer Science, AP Calc BC, and AP Physics C:Mechanics. Will my scores be good enough?
I also have attended COSMOS at UCSC for Video Game Design and Production (basically CS) this summer. This program admitted 23 students out of the 200 that applied.
I have received 2nd place at the State Leadership Conference and 7th at the National Leadership Conference for FBLA. I created a website for artists to sell their artwork.
I have received 2nd place at the State Leadership Conference for FBLA. I created a social media mobile app specifically made for FBLA members.
I have done Track & Field for all 3 years of high school, and have done Taekwondo for 10 years.
What are my chances of being admitted to UC Berkeley’s L&S Computer Science program?
Thanks guys.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary indicates that, for 2015, 46% of frosh applicants to Berkeley with HS GPA >= 4.20 (UC-weighted, yours is probably in the 4.3ish range if you took lots of UC-approved honors and AP courses in 10th-11th grades) were admitted. This is for the whole campus, not accounting for divisional differences (e.g. College of Engineering is generally more difficult and admits by major), but L&S is the largest division, so it should not be that different from the whole campus.
@johnlimster
In your case, you apply to the school itself not to the major as everyone who applies to L&S enters as undeclared. If admitted, there are certain lower division requirements that need to be completed with a certain GPA as @ucbalumnus has explained. So far, your stats do seem competitive. Make sure you maintain your academic performance and prevent yourself from developing senioritis!
@johnlimster
In my opinion, your stats are outstanding and you’d be a competitive applicant. I said “seem” because you never know whether your stats are “good enough” when you are competing against thousands of other very qualified applicants. I am also a prospective applicant for UC Berkeley’s L&S Computer Science program. I guess we just have to hope that our application stands out
Looks good, but the Berkeley admissions office seems to put a lot of weight on community service. If you have any, make sure to list them on your application.
I’m not sure why you need to ask if all 5’s are good since that’s the highest score you can get assuming you took all the APs your school offers. Subject test scores are fine. Your SAT I CR score is pretty low (just above the 25th percentile for admitted students), but other than that everything should be fine.
If you have the time, I would retake for a 2300+ especially if you’re planning on applying to schools that are more test score-conscious than Berkeley. Even if you don’t, I don’t think it’ll be a deal-breaker. Good luck.
I have seen many STEM major applicants to UC Berkeley with almost perfect GPAs from very competitive high schools and test scores get denied, especially if the applicant falls within a group of students who are well represented at UC Berkeley. You need good ECs or volunteer hours or something. All I know is that GPA and SAT/ACT test scores for STEM majors are much higher than non-STEM majors at UC Berkeley. I think you will get into UC San Diego though. Not trying to scare you, but this is the reality.
Now that UCs have changed to prompt questions rather than open-ended personal essays, I don’t know what the effect will be.
Hi! I just started as a freshman at Cal. I am also in L&S CS. So basically you are applying for the College of L&S not directly for CS. You can indicated that in your application but that has no effect on admissions. It only depends which college you are applying to (aka EECS is harder to get in). Your stats look spectacular. My grades were similar to yours but yours are slightly better and your extracurriculars are way better than mine. So you’re basically in a better situation than I was but i got in. So hopefully you will too! Good Luck!
@StevenToCollege Yes, I am taking CS61a now. My midterm is today So far, it’s pretty challenging…but it’s doable. I didn’t have much programming experience, but the more experience you have the less difficult (and less time you spend) on this class.
That’s good for you.
My son used to hate programming in high school, and that’s why he applied to Mechanical Engineering.
After taking CS 61A, he fell in love with CS and is currently doing EECS/ME double major.
By the way, Berkeley L&S CS is very strict in terms of their 3.3 GPA requirement.
I heard that there’s a guy received 2 B+ and 1 B on CS 61A, 61B, and 70, and he was denied admission.
When he filed the petition, he was turned down again.
Right now, I am a senior. I’ve kept a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.5 Weighted GPA throughout high school. However, this semester, I am having trouble in AP Government (I currently have a B). If I end the semester with a B, will it hurt me for Berkeley? Is it true that UC’s look at your senior year grades too?
Senior year grades will be seen when you send your final high school transcript if you are admitted and decide to enroll. Admission is conditional on doing well enough in your in-progress courses.
So far, it’s pretty challenging…but it’s doable. I didn’t have much programming experience, but the more experience you have the less difficult (and less time you spend) on this class.