<p>So for Public Health and Nutritional Sciences you’ll be applying to L&S. I personally know of 3 students that got in to Berkeley without super high stats. One of my son’s really good friends had decent stats (but rather low for top UCs) … about 4.1 weighted and 30 ACT. He didn’t submit any subject tests. Had really great ECs and lots of leadership. I read his essays and they were good. Not urm or first to attend college or any hooks like that (middle class/upper middle class asian male). Bio major. Accepted to UC Irvine, UC Davis, UCSB. Rejected from UCSD. Waitlisted UCLA. Accepted UC Berkeley L&S. The other two had very good grades, but one took only advanced math/science classes (no AP English or humanities … applied to Mechanical Engineering) and the other took only AP English & humanities classes (no advanced math/science … although he took math and science all 4 years, just not AP … psych major). All three got into (and are attending) Cal, so people get into Cal lots of different ways. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Hi mothergoldenbear, </p>
<p>Thanks so much for your response! It is encouraging to know that one does not have to obtain super high stats to get into Berkeley! I was surprised that your son’s friend did not take subject tests. However, it is true that they are not required and he must have shown great leadership skills. As for the other friends, it was great that they had APs in certain subjects to show their skills and preferences. In my case, I decided to take different subjects regarding APs as I love all subjects and would like to raise my GPA. In addition, it was good to know about L and S as I did not know much about it until you mentioned it. Your help is greatly appreciated… Thanks again! :)</p>
<p>Myths about UC Berkeley admissions:
You must have near a 4.0 GPA un-weighted (Not true, but it helps)
You must have high test scores, 2250+ SAT or so (Not true, but contrary to official pronouncements from UCB that test scores are not as important as other factors, it definitely helps)
You should write amazing personal essays (helpful, but unlikely to trump all)
You should have outstanding EC, AP and such (depends, and not detrimental)
From my kids high school (CA public, strong feeder school) two who were admitted to Harvard and one to Cal Tech last year were not admitted to UCB. A bunch that didnt get into any ivies did get into UCB and UCLA.
Its a bit persnickety, the HOLISTIC admissions process.
Its a great public university. DS has been happy there, and our instate pocketbook is also.</p>
<p>Try, even if your numbers are not perfect, and dont count on acceptance even if they are. Our experience is anecdotal, but encompasses at least the last seven years.</p>
<p>205 mom: Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and encouragement! 
Congratulations to DS for being accepted to UC Berkeley! Wishing the best of luck!
I found it weird that those accepted to Harvard didn’t get into UCB and vice versa? If you don’t mind, could you please tell me more about this ‘holistic admissions’ ? I think I have a clue but am not sure… so is it when admissions officers accept applicants based on who they already accepted to ensure a diverse class. For example, if they are already accepted a bunch of braniac valedictorians, would they then resort a little more into accepting athletes or musicians?
Your reply back would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again! :D</p>
<p>Bump 10char</p>
<p>AtypicalAsian: Bum 10 car on the personal statement??? If so…definitely! :D</p>
<p>Just commented so it’ll be added to my “participating threads”. Lol</p>
<p>Berkeley admissions have not been based on the old straight-point system that the rest of the UC campuses followed for sometime, and now the de-coupling from the points formula has spread to other admissions at some of the UCs. This means that UCB, UCLA, UCSD (as of last year, I think) and possibly one other are using the same method all selective private universities use: they have readers who are trained to look at the “whole picture,” and every application is evaluated by at least two readers and often more.
In the past this has yielded some strange decisions for the Ivies and like-ivies, and by “strange” I mean ones that don’t make sense in terms of grades, scores and the rest. Not even in terms of URM. Just the sort where you can neither figure out why someone was turned down, or why someone was admitted. The formula just didn’t deliver, because it was no longer there. So conventional wisdom on this didn’t apply.
As far as an inside look into this, the links provided by the replies on this thread, specifically #12, will give you the gist of how holistic admissions work, or not.</p>
<p>The bottom line it to put forth the strongest application you can, to try even if others dismiss your chances, not to count on others who chance you as a sure thing, and to accept whatever happens. What better option is there? Admissions to UCB are competitive.</p>