Hello guys. Today, I received an email from UCB. The admission office requested for two letters of recommendation.
"Thank you for applying to UC Berkeley. After initial review of your application we would like to invite you to submit letters of recommendation to add to your admission application. "
My Stats: 3.59W, 1270 SAT
Applied for Landscape Architecture
What is it saying? I am so curious: why do UC Berkeley ask for the below-average student like me for LOR? Thank you guys!! I really appreciated the help!
Actually, I am not below-average. You guys know the actual position I have for UCB…
Here are some of the reasons for the LOR request from UCB. Do not try to ready anything into the request. They just need more information to make an informed admissions decision.
-
Evidence of focus on an area of special talent which may have limited a student’s time to participate in a broader range of activities.
-
Evidence of character traits that imply a strong likelihood of making a significant contribution to campus life.
-
Evidence of significant academic achievement or the potential for academic achievement at the University in spite of extraordinary or compound disadvantage or learning difference, or physical disability or other unusual circumstances.
-
Evidence of significant improvement in the academic record accompanied by one or both of the following: (1) reasons for the initial poor performance; and (2) sustained and in-depth participation in educational outreach programs, which demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to succeed academically within a challenging environment.
-
Evidence of relative lack of access to, counseling about, or support to take college preparatory, honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes or required college entrance examinations.
This is your time to shine so best of luck.
Thank you so MUCH! I also have one more question. If I am going to send out the recommendation letter, which one of the following instructors should I ask:
A real famous professor from a community college ( He worked as UCB Energy Manager before) ; I took a month of CC summer school with him.- Two of my AP teachers from my high school.
The problem is:
Should I ask for one LOR from my AP teacher and one LOR from the well-known professor, even though he only taught me for a month which cause the doubt that he does not completely know me?
Should I just ask for two LOR from my AP teachers that they completely understand my personality?
Thank you
@Gumbymom I didn’t speak any English 4 years ago and I was an ELD Student. Due to this reason I only took 1 honor for my Junior year and 3 AP for Senior year. As an expert, do you think that’s one of the reason they ask for the LOR? I explained my circumstances on my application as well.
Yes, that is probably the reason you got the LOR request.
@Gumbymom Thank you!
About a dozen kids I KNOW OF at my kids high school all got asked for letters of rec this year - many more than in previous years. At only 15% asked for LORs, that’s a lot for one high school. Someone suggested that they may be targeting some high schools where there are many applicants.
I found the official policy, passed in 2017, and implemented in the 2018-2019 cycle. https://admissions.berkeley.edu/freshman-policy
Also, as Gumbymom wrote it. 
I would pick the AP teachers that know you well since you will probably get a more insightful LOR from them vs. a college professor you had for a month.
@collegeklatch @Gumbymom Thank ya
Rejected in March 26th, 2020.