The Official Chances Thread! - Page 8

kyledavid80 · 10-05-2007, 11:30 PM

drsarah: I agree with vicissitudes on this -- Berkeley's a reach.

calivla: You have a good GPA, great scores, and great ECs. I'd say it's a match. =)

shortduderay: I'd say it's a slight reach -- somewhat weak GPA, good scores (minus the SAT I), and average ECs. Being a low-income student will help (adversity, etc.).

drsarah · 10-06-2007, 05:28 PM

kyledavid, i just want to know where you get your facts from...or what criteria do you base your judgements on....only reason i ask is b/c you've chanced many people. thanks

guitarhero5 · 10-06-2007, 05:45 PM

kyledavid, what are your stats, if you don't mind my asking?

kyledavid80 · 10-06-2007, 06:56 PM

drsarah:

Quote:

i just want to know where you get your facts from...or what criteria do you base your judgements on....only reason i ask is b/c you've chanced many people.

I draw from many sources -- knowledge from Berkeley's site and its CDS, the stats profiles, the 'actual results' thread, 'chance' threads that I've searched, people who've gone through the whole process, etc. As for criteria, it's largely on GPA, to a lesser extent scores, and ECs + honors/awards. Other things are low-income status, URM status, passion/focus, etc.

knguyen142:

Quote:

what are your stats

I don't see how that's relevant. =)

drsarah · 10-06-2007, 11:39 PM

passion? focus?
i don't think there's very many people with as much passion for this school as i do...lol

kyledavid80 · 10-06-2007, 11:51 PM

You know what I mean. =p

vesper · 10-07-2007, 07:43 PM

Student: Andy

User Name: vesper
Gender: M
Location: North Granby, Connecticut
College Class Year: 2013
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes

Academics:

GPA - Unweighted: 3.90
GPA - Weighted: 5.60 (on a scale of 6, but 6 is impossible to obtain)
Class Rank: top 5 students

Scores:

SAT I Math: 700
SAT I Critical Reading: 640
SAT I Writing: 640

Extracurriculars:

Significant Extracurriculars: Computer Club, NHS, Video Game Reviewer for www.gamershell.com and www.driverheaven.net, webmaster for www.bearswim.com, started a business with my brother (formerly www.showrides.net, now www.low-hz.com)

Leadership positions: Treasurer of NHS, Public Relations work with GamersHell.com and DriverHeaven.Net.

Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Swimmer on a private swim team. I'm competitive within my state but I won't be sought after by college recruits most likely. I just received an All-American type swimming award for having good grades and making certain cuts in swimming.

Volunteer/Service Work: Habitat for Humanity. I also tutor kids in math and science in our school's learning center every week.

Honors and Awards: Meritorious award for Life Science freshman year and Accounting Junior year.

College Summer programs: None.

I plan to major in computer engineering.

srabiee · 10-07-2007, 07:47 PM

guys, could I have someone besides kyledavid chance me. My stats are near the top of page 6. Thanks!

kyledavid80 · 10-07-2007, 08:11 PM

vesper: what's your UC GPA? Since you're an OOSer, I'd say it's a reach. Average GPA, weak SAT, average (but odd) ECs, weak-ish honors/awards, applying for a competitive major, OOS status >>> reach. Raise the SAT score, take some subject tests (I'd recommend math II and a science one), and write really awesome essays. Good luck. =)

vesper · 10-07-2007, 08:20 PM

Well my GPA isn't average, I've taken the most rigorous course schedule possible and received straight A's, our school just uses a weird system so we can't even get close to 6.

I took the Math Level 1 and Chemistry subject tests saturday. I totally bombed the chemistry one because I just wasn't taught half of the stuff on there (the AP Chem class got cancelled at my school due to lack of interest). And apparently nobody cares about Math Level 1, so I'll have to take Math Level 2 and maybe Physics Dec 1 (even though I'm taking physics now).

Meh, hopefully I'll find an easier school to go to in Cali, I really just want to move to the other side of the country and be a computer engineering major, but I don't want to settle on a school that won't be challenging me enough.

srabiee · 10-07-2007, 08:49 PM

No, actually your GPA is very good. 3.9 unweighted is nearly straight As. I don't know it, but I'm guessing your UC GPA will be pretty high for a Berkeley admit. I think calling your SAT "low" is kind of dumb.... it's about average. Do well on SATIIs and I think you will be great. Of course, I'm just a fellow high schooler applying OOS (class of 12 though)... but I've been reading about this since my sophomore year.

kyledavid80 · 10-07-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Well my GPA isn't average

When I said it's "average," I mean it's average for Berkeley -- the average UW GPA is 3.9, according to the Common Data Set.

http://cds.berkeley.edu/pdfs/PDF%20w...KS%2006-07.pdf

Quote:

And apparently nobody cares about Math Level 1, so I'll have to take Math Level 2 and maybe Physics Dec 1 (even though I'm taking physics now).

Yes, Berkeley accepts only math II (of the math subject tests).

Quote:

but I don't want to settle on a school that won't be challenging me enough.

There are plenty of CA schools that can challenge you and that aren't as difficult to get into as Berkeley. Other UCs, for example, are known for their rigor, too. Hell, even Cal States can be as challenging, depending on your major, and everyone knows computer engineering is no "fluff" major (probably one of the most difficult at Cal). Then there are the privates. Have you checked out USC? It should be rigorous enough for you.

I notice, though, that you're class of 2009, so it's a bit early to tell your chances at Berkeley accurately. In your junior year, you'll probably improve your scores dramatically, get more leadership positions (or, you should try), get more honors/awards, etc. all of which will affect admissions.

srabiee · 10-07-2007, 10:14 PM

no it's not. The pamphlet Berkeley gave me when I visited last week said 3.82 is the average unweighted and 4.25 is the average weighted. They also told me that they take those, in addition to the UC-weighted GPA, into consideration. I honestly think vesper will be great if he keeps doing what he's doing

vesper · 10-07-2007, 11:02 PM

Well, I think I have other issues to work out. The fact that I put my grad year wrong in my profile is enough to indicate that I'm not ready for college yet :P

I'm actually graduating in 2008, I'm in my senior year in high school right now. It's a little late in the game for me to do anything now.

USC looks really cool actually, I'm sure a computer engineering major there would be great too, thanks for the recommendation

kyledavid80 · 10-08-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

no it's not. The pamphlet Berkeley gave me when I visited last week said 3.82 is the average unweighted and 4.25 is the average weighted.

I'm going by the Common Data Set.

Quote:

They also told me that they take those, in addition to the UC-weighted GPA, into consideration.

I never said they didn't.

Quote:

I honestly think vesper will be great if he keeps doing what he's doing

I think so, too. But again, his GPA is average for Berkeley.