what are my chances for CAL or UCLA? please

<p>CCC Transfer
GPA 3.43
Major GPA: 3.5
Major: Sociology
*A.A. in Social Behavioral Science (Probably doesnt even help)
IGETC: completed
pre-req: completed
Extra: part-time/full-time work at CCC bookstore (4th year)
gonna apply this coming November, I am in my 4th year in CCC due to variety of issues</p>

<p>I know my GPA is less competitive..but I gone through variety of issues throughout CCC which I will explain in the "additional information" section
-Death In Family
-Income situation
-<em>a few more family matters that prolong my CCC stay, its a bit sensitive so i wont be posting it</em> sorry</p>

<p>I know my GPA is less competitive, You guys can be straight forward, i am open to all opinion and comments, Thanks :)</p>

<p>As you said, your GPA is not very competitive… In addition, sociology is a heavily impacted major at UCLA, so I’d say your chances there are very low unless you are in TAP. Berkeley’s sociology major is semi-competitive as well.</p>

<p>You might have a chance if you write an incredible personal statement that reflects on the experiences/struggles you mentioned. Good luck!</p>

<p>Sources:</p>

<p>[Profile</a> of Admitted Transfer Students by Major, Fall 2011 - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm)
<a href=“http://students.berkeley.edu/files/admissions/12626_5.info_transadm.pdf[/url]”>http://students.berkeley.edu/files/admissions/12626_5.info_transadm.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your chances are almost non existent</p>

<p>Almost non existent? Take a look at previous years UCLA and UCB admittance threads-several people got in for sociology with a GPA lower than 3.5. I believe I saw someone get in with a 3.3. I would say 50-50, depends on how well your grade trend and essays are.</p>

<p>Those were the exceptions, not the rule. His chance are still pretty low. Average accepted for Ucla was 3.8. I can only assume that it’s higher for UCB.</p>

<p>Give it a shot but don’t apply thinking it’s a given. Even 4.0’s get rejected. If you have a strong upward trend with a valid explanation for the GPA then I’d say you have a small chance. If you have a roller coaster type of GPA then I am not sure. I’ve been reading a ton of threads on people who get into Haas just for curiosity, and the lower GPA entries have a very strong upward trend, lots of work experience, and a great essay. And by lower GPA I mean 3.5, 3.6. Believe it or not that is considered below average for Haas lol! I know its sociology and not Haas but closest thing I could compare it to.</p>

<p>Change your major to Anthropology NOW! It’s similar to Sociology and the acceptance rate is better.</p>

<p>On first glance, you have about a 3% chance at either school. Lucky for you, that’s merely at a glance.</p>

<p>The thing about Berkeley and UCLA is that they, unlike the other UCs, actually read your application essays and give them a good amount of consideration. They’re the top UCs and thus can be competitive. This means that they let in a lot of people with great GPAs, as well as a lot of people with okay GPAs who balanced it out with real world experience. You have no idea how many people I bump into on campus who say that they applied to Berkeley while in prison or jail. Their GPAs weren’t amazing, but they have lived and learned and that’s the main reason the Berkeley admissions team loved them. So, as long as you write a killer essay (that isn’t too “Please let me in because you pity me my experience” because the admissions teams get this all the time and hate it) you may have a higher chance than you expect. I think Berkeley may actually like the “experienced” student a little more than UCLA – and looking at our history, is there any question why?</p>

<p>That being said, please don’t rely solely on the success of your essays. These schools also like to see students who have joined clubs and become officers in them. You don’t have to join many (the fact that you work will be taken into account), but one or two (and becoming an officer in them) goes a long way.</p>

<p>Lastly, I want to re-emphasize: NO PITY-PARTY ESSAYS. If they even suspect for a second that that’s what you’re trying to do, they will scorn your app. Bluntly stated: your chances just went down to 0%.</p>