UCB Transfer chances?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I've lurked CC for a good couple months now looking and students with comparable stats to mine, and I figured it's time to toss a line out and see what my individual chances might look like as far as transferring to a competitive school. I just learned that I qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity, so UCB is now my number one pick. I am also super-reaching for Stanford. </p>

<p>My intended major is Development Studies (with a possible double major of Anthropology), within UCB's CL&S. </p>

<p>I am currently on the back-end of 2 year break from a California Community College (I currently have about 50 transferable units) that I took in order to serve with an AmeriCorps program. I will be returning to a CCC in Spring to finish my last semester before transfer.</p>

<p>My GPA is currently at 3.68, but it has been a 4.0 for the last 2 years solid. I had one year of lackluster performance, as a result of general malaise and personal struggles with direction. </p>

<p>As far as extracurriculars go, before AmeriCorps (which as an EC is probably my biggest boon - I will have about 4000 hours of community service logged, 2 x Presidential service awards, and 2 x Congressional service awards), I was:</p>

<pre><code> -Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society (Chapter President, former Communications Officer)

-Anthropology Club (Vice Pres for an academic year)

-at one point working three jobs (supervisor at a retail store, English tutor at the college, and TA/Grader for a history prof). Besides that one point, I was generally working one or two, with an average of 20-30 hours a week.
</code></pre>

<p>I haven't started my UC specific personal statements yet, but they will probably be adaptations of my Common App statement, which draws heavily from my volunteer experience, specifically how disaster recovery work in New Orleans made me interested in the realm of Economic Development, and how living in poverty-stricken communities has made me aware of the disparity between American poverty and poverty in a global context.</p>

<p>Thank you all in advance for any advice you may be able to give me on how to succeed in this endeavor.</p>

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<p>Actually had another semi-relevant question pertaining to the foreign language requirement. Development studies requires more language courses than the typical LS degree, and I was extremely limited by what my community college offered. I have one semester of German, but I want my major language to be either Arabic or Mandarin, neither of which are offered by my CC. Does this preclude me from applying or severely hinder my chances?</p>

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<p>Hi cwood0554, </p>

<p>I think you have a very, very good chance at being accepted to UC Berkeley. You should be proud of yourself! Those are excellent accomplishments you listed. I have a friend who applied to the Development Studies, I believe she got in with a 3.7-3.8 GPA and accepted at UCLA as well into the Anthropology (B.A.) major. </p>

<p>As for the language requirement, have you taken two years of any foriegn language in high school? That would count. Also, see if your college offers Advanced Placement examinations for fulfilling a foriegn language - I know mine does so yours could probably too. Also, I recommend you complete your studies in German (because you need four semesters of a foriegn language for that major).</p>