<p>I keep thinking my chances of getting into Cal are slim, but people and even the admission officers say I should still apply. I mean Cal was my top choice, but I don't want to get my hopes up so I dunno what's my top choice anymore. And frankly I'm getting a bit irritated by Cal because they keep inviting me to to admission meetings and even a chatroom that can help students with their personal statements, I mean they keep getting my hopes up! Anyways, I'm not the brightest student and I haven't tried my best so far. I'm a Latino student at a competitive private school, My weighted GPA is 3.85 weighted/3.65 unweighted I have 1790 SAT scores and 1570 SAT II's (800 spanish, 770 Math IIC), some activities with one leadership position, I can write a good an essay but I doubt it will "Stand out" or be "extraordinary," I have some community service hours but not much. I asked an admission officer about this, and they just said "we do a comprehensive review, so just don't complain and explain!" So then, why should I still apply if I'm anticipating a rejection letter?</p>
<p>you'll kick yourself in the face later if you don't....</p>
<p>if you truly want to go to cal, all you can do is apply and see what happens. even if you believe your chances are slim, it's better to have that hope of maybe making it in than not turning in an application to avoid a possible rejection.</p>
<p>otherwise you can transfer....</p>
<p>You will never know if you don't try.</p>
<p>Your SAT II scores are awesome! Nice job.</p>
<p>they want your application money :P
j/k</p>
<p>I know how you're feeling. I'm feeling pretty hopeless at applying to UCB (which USED to be my top school). My rationale is that "If UCB doesn't want me, they didn't even deserve me in the first place." <em>add snapping fingers in an S-shape and bobbing head</em> </p>
<p>Whatever. I'm just going to try to do my best and see what happens next year.The only thing you can do now is fill out those boxes and hit "Submit."</p>
<p>Apply. If you get in: great. If not, o well. It's not the end of the world or anything like that. the Dalai Lama once said " Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."</p>
<p>I'll give you a small reality check in the opposite direction. At my school in Stockton, Cali, we have had many students get accepted with old SAT scores of 1190 and a high SAT II score of 680! Your GPA might hamper your chances a little bit but definately apply.</p>
<p>Well, even though my chances are slim, I guess I'll just go ahead and submit an application. I could explain in the open-ended essay why my GPA is low due to certain issues in my junior year. I dunno if this matters now, but I have 14 semesters of AP/H classes and I passed 2 out of 3 of my AP exams. Yea I dunno if that adds much, but I'm still adding it. It just sucks they won't even look at my senior year grades because I'm doing wayyyy better this year (I think I can pull off a 4.33 weighted this semester) but oh well. If I get rejected, would it still be worth writing a letter of appeal? I know I'm thinking ahead but whatever. Thanks for the advice anyways</p>
<p>
[quote]
It just sucks they won't even look at my senior year grades because I'm doing wayyyy better this year (I think I can pull off a 4.33 weighted this semester)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Definitely include that in your essay! Berkeley likes to see improvement over 4 years, that is very important.</p>
<p>Yea but I would have to self-report that wouldn't I? And it's not like the semester is over yet, so I'm not 100% sure if I am going to pull off that GPA (even though it's likely). And will they just take my word for it by me writing about my progress in the first few months of senior year?</p>
<p>"Why should I apply to Berkeley if I'm most likely going to get rejected?"</p>
<p>Chances of you getting in after applying:
x%
Chances of you getting in after not applying:
0%</p>
<p>x > 0</p>
<p>You have decent chances at Berkeley, why are you worrying? Write terrific essays and don't worry about it. What is $60 to you after you get into Berkeley? Similarly, is $60 any consolation to you when you realize you'll always be painfully wondering if you could have gotten in to your dream school?</p>
<p>what if x = 0? Then x is not greater than 0 and you would not be accepted anyways. I think you should have added that x is not defined at any real number equal to or less than 0, then your inequality would have made sense.</p>
<p>but your assumption is incorrect: you have a chance of getting in if you apply, some chance higher than 0. But not applying definitely is 0.</p>