<p>Hi, I'm an incoming sophomore at UC - Berkeley and I'm thinking about transferring to a few schools, like: Columbia, NYU Stern, and maybe Yale/Stanford. My GPA is currently a 3.8. My biggest problem about applying is that I don't know who to ask to write a letter of recommendation for me. UC - Berkeley is big and impersonal, most of my classes are 300-600 people and I don't really have a chance to communicate with the professor. I also never really asked for a letter of recommendation even in high school because I only applied to the UCs. Can anyone give me some advice?</p>
<p>Your academic adviser would probably be the best bet if you don’t have a relationship with any professors. Not only does he/she have access to your grades, but you’ve probably had a few conversations about your goals and likes/dislikes when choosing classes for the upcoming term. If not, just make a point to visit them during office hours or make an appointment to discuss transfering. Not only will you forge a better relationship with them, but they will also help you through the process.</p>
<p>Hey, I recognize you from the Berkeley board. I applied for transfer last spring, and I asked a high school teacher I kept in touch with (probably wouldn’t work for you, since you’re transferring as a junior) and a grad student who taught my R&C class. If you can’t go for a prof, definitely ask a grad student instructor who has actually interacted with you. Or think about the instructors who have taught you in a smaller class - eg. an R&C or a language class or a frosh/soph seminar. I’m guessing you’re applying for fall 2011? You still have another full semester to make a good impression on somebody. Profs are sometimes okay writing a letter for you even if they know nothing about you besides the grade you got in the class, but that’s definitely not a boost.</p>
<p>Where were you applying to transfer to, and where did you end up going, birdhouse?</p>
<p>Maybe some outside recommendations would be of use here? If not alone, then as a supplement to any “impersonal” academic recommendations, at least.</p>