UC Berkeley Transfer Student, chance me!

<p>I'm applying to UCB as a transfer student this Fall 08 and I would like to know my chances. When I apply my GPA will be around 3.5, I know this isn't too high. I have taken almost all of my pre-req's for my major and have received A's. I'm studying abroad this summer and I've been working at my current job for two years (one year full time and one year part time). I've worked almost non-stop since I was sixteen. I'm trying to get involved with a few extracurriculars that have to with my major, African American Studies.</p>

<p>I feel my only chance to get in is my essay and the fact that I have overcome great obstacles to get to where I am today (my mother is a drug addict and I helped raise my brother). </p>

<p>What are my chances if I have a great essay that isn't "woe is me" or cocky? </p>

<p>One more question, I know after the filing period Berkeley sends out an email asking about the fall grades. Do they ask all students or just the ones that haven't already been denied?</p>

<p>I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I guess it's going to depend on the competitiveness of our majors, our essays, and how much of a chance the reviewers of our life stories and grades are convinced that we'll succeed and that we belong at Berkeley. </p>

<p>I'm in a very competitive major, so I'm a bit concerned (even though I've had a successful career in my field of study for 12 years without a formal education). I was rejected from UCLA yesterday and it's hard not to feel that I'll get rejected from Berkeley as well. I already had some momentum behind me becuase I've been accepted to both UCD and UCSC (and I'm extremely happy about this considering that after all this time out of school I didn't think I'd get in anywhere), but I was viewing UCLA as an indication of whether I could gain acceptance into the most selective UC's. It's hard not to keep checking at the other schools I applied to obsessively. At this point I'm kind of hoping for UCSD. Of course Berkeley remains my top choice because I already live in San Francisco and their program is excellent, and if SD rejects me it's going to be a tough choice between UCD and UCSC. Probably UCD in that case. </p>

<p>So maybe we/you/I will or maybe we/you/I won't. I wish you the best of luck though ... good work pulling through from your challenging circumstances. Hopefully, <em>if</em> you don't get into Berkeley, you'll get into another school you'll be equally as happy with. And if you do go somewhere else, do well now that you've gotten your life together and work towards grad school because that's where Berkeley really shines. </p>

<p>I keep reading this is the toughest admission year for a long time, so if you didn't apply to other schools just keep plugging away at your local community college and give it another shot next year.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!!!</p>

<p>Well ... did you get in??? I got dumped.</p>

<p>I got accepted to berkeley!! To bad I am going to UCLA and sorry for taking someones spot :(</p>

<p>Hi, wish you all best luck. </p>

<p>olderstudent, how was your GPA when you applied for berkeley? what do you think was the maim reason of the rejection?</p>