URGENT!!! Please respond within the next 8hrs

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Last minute <em>argh</em>. Should have worked on the application earlier.</p>

<p>Anyway, here are my questions:</p>

<li><p>I was searching elsewhere on UCB’s website and found other essay prompts like on “Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you.” and “Consider the academic programs in the school/college you indicated above. How will you utilize them to further explore your intended major or field of interest, or general academic interests if you’re undecided?” Luckily, I’ve completed these essays too, but I was wondering where they would be submit. I hear everyone talking about the three personal responses, I’ve completed these also (discussed below), but where on the online app are these? Or, are these after you get in? Would appreciate clarification as to what these are for, where you submit them, and how you submit them.</p></li>
<li><p>I was completing the application essays when it ocurred to me that my responses might not fit the essay prompts. Here are the prompts, along with a description of what I did for each of them. I would appreciate it if you could let me know whether they fit, or, if they don’t fit, suggest an alternate arrangement. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Prompt 1:
Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California.</p>

<p>Response 1:
Begins with a description of one of my trips to Lahore, Pakistan. The experience motivates me to research pollution and possible solutions to the impending crisis. After extensive research, I learn about the hydrogen economy and its strengths and weeknesses. Reading and learning as much as I can, I derrive my own theories. Since my community cannot provide the necessary resources, I collaborate with university professors at UCB and CIT, learning as much as I can. After a couple of years of research and experimentation, I convert a gasoline powered generator to run on hydrogen. While relatively inefficient, it serves as a step towards an incremental shift in paradigm resulting in the conversion of automobiles to run on hydrogen. In the end, I conclude discussing how attending a university as resource-rich as UCB would enable me to make a difference to the world. Throughout the essay, I maintain that my research is in its infancy and far from a “solution”.</p>

<p>Note, this was the long response (about 560 words)</p>

<p>Prompt 2:
How have you taken advantage of the educational opportunities you have had to prepare for college?</p>

<p>Response 2:
I discuss my taking community college courses, attending formal and informal classes in many subjects. I talk about my unquenchable thirst for knowledge throughout my extracurricular activities (research), my summer (community college courses, and my regular classes (most AP classes out of all students in my grade). </p>

<p>Prompt 3:
Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in this application?</p>

<p>Repsonse 3:
I chose to write about my research. Actually, I wrote a few sentences which transition to an abstract from a research paper of mine. I mention that “To better convey my strong inclination towards research, I have included the abstract of one of my recent research papers. This paper might be published in an upcoming edition of The Whitman Journal of Psychology.” Then, I include the abstract to my paper on: “The Effects of Slow-Rotation Spinning on Learning”</p>

<p>I’ve also written another essay, which may or may not better fit the essay prompts. Here it is:</p>

<p>Response 4:
I’ve written on my intense curiosity. I then paint a vivid picture of my parents waking up early in the morning to see me, asleep at the work bench in our garage, surrounded by a cluttered pile of fittings and other remnants. I then discuss my interest in machines and transition to my interest in Biology. I discuss how the biological basis for life is the most complex innovation, one which can be learned from and used in technology. I conclude discussing how I want to major in Biological Engineering.</p>

<p>Note: this is a short response (250 words).</p>

<li>My last question =). In one of my essays (Response 1), I discuss how UCB would enable me to make a lasting difference in the world. The only problem is, while I want to go to UCB, I’m also applying to UCLA. How should I alter this so as to fit both. Would saying the “UC System”, instead of “UCB” be better, should I worry about this, would appreciate the advice.</li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry for such a late post! I would greatly appreciate any guidance anyone can provide.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Saying the title of one of the schools is probably a bad idea, because each campus will read the same essay. I would advise that you make it work without mentioning Berkeley, or you might get smote by the other campuses.</p>

<p>I think that the three prompts are the three essays or personal responses people are talking about.</p>

<p>As to your other questions, the responses all sound like they could fit. It really depends on how what you're describing is written, but at the very least, your accomplishments sound interesting and impressive.</p>

3

<p>I agree, I must change the name. Any recommendations? Should I say the UC system in place of UCB? I really want to keep the rest of the sentence, since it seems to conclude the essay strongly. </p>

<p>So, what are the other prompts I provided? I'm really confused about the UC System's application. It seems you apply to individual schools, etc. Do I have to complete a separate application to the Bioengineering school, please help!</p>

<p>Also, if the first response is slightly off the topic (it discusses an experience, how I was affected, and how it may enable me to contribute to the world) can it hurt me? Some schools are really strict. If your response is even a little bit off the prompt, they'll reject you for not following directions. Is UCB like that?</p>

<p>Also, thanks for your prompt response!</p>

4

<p>Perhaps changing the sentence to "The University of California system" would be the best bet. maybe even just "the University of California" would be best, or maybe something very different than these. You will have to trust what sounds best to you there. </p>

<p>Aren't there three prompts that are clearly presented as the essays? Don't they say "choose one to make 600 words, two to keep at about 200 words?" I cannot say because I don't have the app in front of me. Isn't one about academic preparedness, one about potential to contribute, and one about anything you want?</p>

<p>The first one says "Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California." You are worried that you are talking about an experience when that is one of the suggested things you talk about! What you wrote either works or doesn't, but I think, from what you've said, it can work very well, and I have no reason to think that UCB is very strict in the manner that some schools are. I actually didn't know schools would do that . . . who does do that? Anyway, you're welcome, and go here instead of MIT. :)</p>

5

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I don't know about the MIT part :-). I don't know what my chances are at MIT, but I know that my chances are a bit higher at UCB. My dad's an allumnus at UCB, so he's definitely pushing for UCB. Then again, if I get in to MIT, it would probably be a close call, but I'd choose MIT. Since MIT has an exceptional financial aid program and LOTS of research opportunities it might be a better fit. Then again, you'll never get the atmosphere of UCB :-). I'll probably go to both, if I get accepted (one for grad school the other for undergrad). I guess I'm planning too far ahead. What if I don't get into either :-/.</p>

6

<p>Well, getting into BioE at either school is quite tough, and both schools have unique atmospheres great for different people and terrible for others. It's probably true that MIT's fin aid is better, and that there are lots of research opportunities available, but I'd be surprised if there were not also lots of research opportunities available here. Whatever fits you best, of course, and whever you get in . . . well, whatever results from this match is the ideal. Whevever you go I'm sure you'll do well and continue, expand on, and move beyond your current research (which is something most high schoolers haven't even thought about doing, much less accomplished thus far.)</p>

7

<p>Thanks for your kind words...and your great advice!</p>

8

<p>You're welcome. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>Oh yah. Fin aid at Berkeley sucks. That is the one thing I hate about Berkeley.
I've been to the fin aid office 5 times and I'm getting nowhere.
Their 'conditional' fin aid offer letter that they sent me along with the acceptance letter did not resemble the actual offer at all although my situation barely changed. I have not won the lottery or anything..... Arrrr
If you are paying in-state, shouldn't be too bad... Especially since your dad is UCB alumnus and will be happy if you continue on the tradition.</p>

10

<p>where are the other parts you mentioned???? i dont see them anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! plz help!!!!!!!!</p>

11

<p>Be more specfic. What are you talking about, sachit?</p>

12

<p>im talking about this</p>

<p>I was searching elsewhere on UCB's website and found other essay prompts like on "Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you." and "Consider the academic programs in the school/college you indicated above. How will you utilize them to further explore your intended major or field of interest, or general academic interests if you’re undecided?" Luckily, I've completed these essays too, but I was wondering where they would be submit. I hear everyone talking about the three personal responses, I've completed these also (discussed below), but where on the online app are these? Or, are these after you get in? Would appreciate clarification as to what these are for, where you submit them, and how you submit them.</p>

13

<p>i dont think they want additional essays other than the three</p>

14

<p>There aren't additional after you get in. Perhaps they are trying to expand on the similar themed questions with those descriptions.</p>

15

<p>hey zking786, where did u get em from??/</p>

16

<p>hehe...</p>

<p>Sorry I confused them! Those two were from Cornell's application. I guess when I compiled the prompts on word, I didn't label them correctly. No need to worry sachit.</p>

17

<p>Oh i see...wow. that scared me.<br>
Well, i'm doing cornell's after this, so...</p>

18

<p>Argh! I can't revise this sentence appropriately. Here it is...</p>

<p>I am confident that UC Berkeley could provide a rich environment to illumine my intellect and satisfy my curiosity.</p>

<p>How could I revise this sentence to better represent all of the UCs?</p>

<p>Please advise, time's short and the website is finally working!</p>

19

<p>This is the other sentence... </p>

<p>I am confident that an enriched, multidisciplinary education at UC Berkeley would best enable me to contribute to the world.</p>

<p>One can substitute "a UC School" for "UC Berkeley", but this doesn't really sound good. Also, is it okay to use "UC" instead of writing out "University of California"? That way I don't have to use 3 extra words ~ I'm already over by about 5, which I'm working on cutting down.</p>

20

<p>It's better to say University of California than UC.</p>