Dear Berkely friends,
I am looking for advice on how to overcome the inability to take more AP classes at my high school. I am part of Bio-Med Academy at Dublin High School and we have some mandatory courses which leave me with not many choices in selecting AP subjects. I am not sure if any of those mandatory bio-med courses will be considered as AP or not. I was hoping to get into at least AP European History class in 10th grade but couldn’t get in at the last moment.
Listed below are my grades for my first 2 semesters and the proposed plan for future 3 year plan that i worked out with my counselor. If i continue with this plan and achieve similar grades , would i have a chance to get into Pre-med at UC Berkeley ?. As you can see my summer is completely filled. How can I improve my chances to get into UC Berkeley?. I would appreciate any recommendations - Tammy
Here are my 9th Grade results
Semester 1
Algebra 1 - A-
Biology with research - A
English1 Advanced - B
Frosh PE - A
Health - A+
Principles of BioMed Academy - A
Spanish 2 - A-
Grade Average: 3.86
Semester 2
Algebra 1 - A
Biology with research - A
English1 Advanced - A-
Frosh PE - A
Freshman Seminar - A
Principles of BioMed Academy - A
Spanish 2 - A
Grade Average: 4.0
Summer 2016 Classes
Geometry
Future 10th Grade Classes
Algebra-2 / Trigonometry
World History
Spanish-3
Honors Chemistry
English-2 Advanced
Human Body Systems (Continuation of Bio-med Academy)
Proposed Summer 2017 Classes
SAT rigorous Summer course
Proposed 11th Grade Classes
English Honors American Literature
AP Psychology*
Trig/Pre-Calc
AP Biology
Medical Interventions*
US History
Proposed Summer 2018 Classes
Neuroscience at UC Berkeley
Proposed 12th Grade Classes
Science Fiction Literature
AP Music Theory
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
BioMedical Innovation*
Economics/Civics
Leadership
Extracurricular: (Community Service, Activities, Internship)
- Swimming: Varsity
- HOSA: Member
- UNICEF: Member
- GETSET club: member
- CSF Club: member
- Medical Explorers Club: member
- Almeda TUPE Youth Advisory Board: member
- Girls Scout: Pursuing Gold
- Sutter Health: Summer Volunteer
Awards & Honors:
-Girls Scout Silver Award
-Certificate of Merit 2015 for Piano Level 2
-Certificate of Merit 2015 for Piano Level 3
Pre-Med is not a major, it is the pre-req classes you take as an undergrad at UCB which are needed to apply to Medical school. You can major in anything as long as you fulfill the Med school course requirements. You want to take the a-g course requirements established by the UC system with a rigorous HS courses if available.
One year of biology
One year of physics
One year of English
Two years of chemistry (through organic chemistry)
To find school-specific requirements for each U.S. and Canadian medical school, see the Medical School Admission Requirement website.
In addition to challenging coursework, applicants should look for opportunities to demonstrate a range of competencies. To gain experience, applicants should consider volunteering at a local hospital or clinic to gain practical experience in the health professions. A well-rounded sampling of extra-curricular activities or work experiences, both related and unrelated to medicine, will help broaden an applicant’s knowledge and development.Chapter 7 of the Official Guide to Medical School Admissions, “The Admissions Decision,” describes the evaluation process in to further detail.
If you are a California resident, you can look up your a-g courses here:
https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution
I would look at taking a Biology/Chemistry and Physics class in HS, along with a year of a Visual/Performing arts course (a UC requirement).
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/a-g-requirements/
At the end of Junior year, calculate your UC GPA: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Prep for the ACT and/or SAT and then compare your stats to the average Freshman profile. The more competitive the major, the higher the stats you want.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/
Thanks for responding to my query. Because of the Bio-med program, I am limited in taking AP courses. I am currently planning to take 2 years of chemistry (Honors in 11th and AP Chemistry in 12th), 1 year of AP biology in 11th grade so, I don’t have any scope for taking Physics or AP physics and they wouldn’t let me outside in a community college as the course is offered at school. so would that be okay ?
If physics is also important, I could take AP Physics instead of AP Biology.
As for Biology, since I am in Bio-Med program, I would have completed the following courses in my 4 years - Biology with research, Human body Systems, medical interventions and biomedical innovation. Also, I plan to take neuroscience at UC Berkeley in summer 2018 which will be considered as AP . Would they be comparable in place of AP biology. What would be your recommendation ?
As for English, I am assuming you are recommending that I take AP English instead of English Honors then ?
So here is how i have adjusted my 1th and 12th grade.
11th Grade
AP English Language
AP Psychology*
Trig/Pre-Calc
AP Chemistry
Medical Interventions*
US History
12th Grade
Science Fiction Literature
AP Music Theory
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics
BioMedical Innovation*
Economics/Civics
Leadership
Thanks again for your recommendation
This looks like a very good schedule.
Did you finish Spanish 3 this year?
(UCB will expect you to have Spanish 3, or Foreign Language level 3).