The Official Chances Thread!

[vicissitudes]

vesper: your GPA's okay, SAT scores are a bit low though. Some SAT II scores would help if you have them (if you haven't taken any SAT IIs, it's probably too early to be asking for chances). The fact that you're OOS and interested in EECS hurts you a lot though, because those two pools tend to be very competitive. Honestly I haven't met a EECS with lower than 2100-2200 SAT score, and they're in-state. I'd guess your chances are 10%. Consider looking into some other schools with a focus in CS. Most colleges can be as challenging as you make it (take more classes, take upper-div classes, graduate classes), so don't worry too much about not being challenged.

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

srabiee: your GPA is a little low, especially for OOS. Your SATs are okay. I think your stats are certainly within range. Again, no SAT II scores yet probably means it's too early to ask for your chances, but based off of what you have I'd say ~30% chance. Sorry about not chancing you earlier, but I'm not on CC 24/7, and most people who post here are either in high school or don't want to chance people (it's not the most fun activity in the world), so if you don't get many people chancing you, sorry, that's just how it is. However, since I started the thread with the intent of helping prospective students relax a little and know where they stand, that makes me sound a bit like a hypocrite, so if I missed you, feel free to PM me and I'll try to get back to you.

To both kyledavid and srabiee: please cool it with the arguments. A chance thread means someone posts his stats, ask about his chances, and other people give their opinions of what his chances are. You can agree or disagree, but people are only giving their opinions, so take it for what it's worth. Don't start arguing about it because it just clutters up the thread and distracts from other people who are actually trying to get help/input. That's not the point of this thread. Do it somewhere else or take it to PMs.

[kyledavid80]

please cool it with the arguments.

Er, I didn't sense that it was an argument -- simply a disagreement on fact (which I sourced).

Don't start arguing about it because it just clutters up the thread and distracts from other people who are actually trying to get help/input.

I think it's only you who's thinking it's an argument -- we're simply talking about the average GPA for Berkeley and another person's chances at Berkeley. That isn't irrelevant to the topic, vicissitudes.

[srabiee]

Thanks vicissitdes I appreciate you taking the time to chance me.

I wasn't intending to argue. I just believe vesper had a better chance than kyledavid implied. KD, I'm just going by the most updated information that Berkeley gave me when I visited last week. Those were the the stats from the class admitted for 2007. 3.82 and 4.25.

[kierkier]

Hi everyone...
I don't really want to post my full stats because then everyone will laugh!

My test scores and my GPA are both obnoxiously average (when compared to all the other AP kids).

But, I just have one little question.

I'm just a little Asian girl... But, I race go-karts competitively. I'm a sponsored driver and I received a $4,000 scholarship to test in formula racecars (not F-1.. But, a couple notches below it).
I've raced for charity for the Make a Wish Foundation and the Pediatric Brain Tumor foundation.

I'm just curious if that will give me an "edge" during the application process.

[forgottenhawk]

Well, take my opinion with a grain of salt since I am also a current applicant, but I'd certainly say that that would be a unique hook. If you talked about it in your essays the "edge" might be emphasized more. Few people race go-karts competitively after all.

[kierkier]

Actually, I wrote my entire essay on the subject.
I spoke about the prejudice I face about being a girl in a "man's sport".

One of my teachers who read my essay said it was very good... But, eh, I don't know of the people at the administration offices will think the same.

I hope so though...

[kyledavid80]

kierkier: I'd say that probably will give you an edge, because it's very unique.

[vicissitudes]

kierkier: I think that would definitely help, so if your stats are average, that might give you a boost.

[salpert]

Try me!

Class of 2008
Arizona resident
Jewish (yeah, since every school is lacking Jews... psh)


Academic:
Rank: 40/600 at VERY competitive public. Would be higher but some classes from my semester abroad could not be weighted. 93rd percentile.
SAT: 2100 (straight 700s--- just retook, I think I may have gotten a 2300 plus!!!)
ACT: 32 (35 E 29 M 35 R 28 S)
W GPA: 4.6
UW GPA: 3.86
7 APs by end of senior year
Most rigorous schedule available at school
Taking a Hebrew class outside of school
Did a semester abroad as a junior (in Israel)
National Merit SF

ECs:
Semester Abroad in Israel 11-Spring Semester
8 Hours a week at inner city school teaching English to Spanish-speaking Children 11 12
Regional Historian for SW region of youth groups 12
Temple Youth Group (TYG) 9 10 11 12
Communications Vice President of TYG 11
Programming Vice President of TYG 12
Spanish Honor Society 10 11 12 (Community Service Vice President 12)
Leadership Camp Summer 2006
Day Camp Counselor Summer 2007
Hebrew High 10 11 12
NHS 11 12
Held job for two years at postal store

Note: Because I did a semester abroad, it was difficult to expand my ECs because I was away from all of them. My TYG ECs take up most of my time in the year, and I was able to continue with those while in Israel.


Thoughts?

[vicissitudes]

GPA and SATs are decent, but being OOS makes it a little tougher for you. ECs are decent enough. Some SAT II scores would help. Based on what you have I'll say ~30-40%.

[hellohelloduh]

UC GPA: 4.21
Unweighted GPA: 3.75
Weighted GPA: not sure, in between UW and UC gpa

California Resident, Out-Of-State, or International: cali resident

SAT Reasoning Scores (by section) or ACT scores: total: 2330, cr: 740 math: 800 writing: 790
SAT II Scores: bio m: 740, math2: 750 (projected)

Which college are you applying to? (Letters and Science, Engineering, Chemistry, etc.) letters and science

List a few of your most important ECs (a laundry list of 20+ items is not needed)
soccer (about 13 seasons; both school and city)
track (2 years varsity)
co-founded nonprofit "bakery" to raise money for class (3 years)
wildlife rehabilitation (2 years)
link crew (2 years)
a few clubs; some more volunteering stuff


Any other significant accomplishments in a specific field
national merit commended
ap scholar
scholar athlete (multiple seasons)

thanks

[kyledavid80]

hellohelloduh: You have average GPA (for Cal) and strong test scores, with average ECs and honors/awards. I'd say match.

[tomo88]

Foreigner here

UC GPA
Unweighted GPA
Weighted GPA
The above doesn't really apply to me. All I can say is I'm Indonesian student studying in Singapore under scholarship. Am in the 3rd best junior college here (the high school equivalent here). Taking maths, physics, chemistry, economics, modern physics. Rigour of curriculum, I would say quite rigorous, I've exhausted all my available credit and can't take anymore subjects. Taking A-levels at the end of the year, current result for final year exam should put me in 95th percentile thereabouts with all As for predicted grade.

California Resident, Out-Of-State, or International: International

SAT Reasoning Scores (by section) or ACT scores
CR 700/M 780/W 600 (one seating, not so stellar i know)

SAT II Scores
Physics
Chemistry
Maths Level IIc
don't know result yet. should be in 780-800 range for all 3

Which college are you applying to? (Letters and Science, Engineering, Chemistry, etc.)

Letters and Science, Pre-Business. Applying for regular decision (30 nov)

List a few of your most important ECs (a laundry list of 20+ items is not needed)

Photography Club President
Harmonica Band member, gold award for national youth festival central judging, performed for charity concerts
Multimedia Club member, silver award for website design competition
Performed for Chingay procession (annual international parade held in Singapore)
Mentoring for maths
Various volunteer work and community service camps

Any other significant accomplishments in a specific field
3rd placing for interschool photography competition
1st placing for islandwide engineering quiz
maths olympiad bronze awardee
distinctions for various other science/maths competition

Any comments would be appreciated

[kyledavid80]

tomo88: Since you're an international, Berkeley's most likely going to be a reach. You have a shot, though. However, one of the most important parts of your app is GPA or some derivation of it. Do you receive marks in your classes?

[tomo88]

Well they do use a point system. Out of 90 (the maximum) i got 85 for final year exam, got predicted an 88/90 for the A-levels. Maybe you can derive GPA from there? I dont know.The place doesnt really rank students but like what I said, I would probably be somewhere in the 95th percentile in terms of the points. Oh well, thank you for answering