<p>I’ve completed all of the core required courses for UCB EECS (Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Lower Division B.S.), but I’m missing the third Physics for UCLA CSE (Computer Science and Engineering/B.S.), which I will complete this fall '13 semester along with other strongly recommended courses. Here is the list of my completed courses from ASSIST.org:</p>
<p>UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Lower Division B.S.:</p>
<p>Subject/Units/GPA</p>
<p>MATH 1A Calculus (4 units): 4.0
MATH 1B Calculus (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
MATH 53 Multivariable Calculus (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
MATH 54 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
PHYSICS 7A Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
PHYSICS 7B Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
ENGLISH R1A Reading and Composition (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
ENGLISH R1B Reading and Composition (4 units) equivalent: 4.0
CHEM 1A General Chemistry (3 units) & CHEM 1AL Laboratory (1 unit): 4.0</p>
<p>Will take next FA13 semester:</p>
<p>COMPSCI 61B Data Structures (4 units)
COMPSCI 70 Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory (4 units)
PHYSICS 7C Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4 units)</p>
<p>(Above applies to UCLA Computer Science and Engineering/B.S. requirements.)</p>
<p>I have completed at this point exactly 60 CC units, both required courses and GE’s. GPA: 4.0.</p>
<p>My problem is that I have zero extra-curricular activities, which I will tackle next semester by joining the STEM Club and trying to win programming and engineering related contests.</p>
<p>My questions are:
- Are there reports of students with a 4.0 GPA getting rejected by Cal or UCLA?
- I am currently a legal permanent resident, but I am eligible to apply for naturalization right now. Are US Citizens prioritized over legal immigrants in admissions?
- What other extra-curricular activities can you recommend for my chosen major?</p>
<p>A little background: I’m a legal immigrant from the Philippines. I started from zero (possibly below that), being treated like a slave by my aunt (I won’t write this in my personal statement because it just sounds like I’m trying to get sympathy, as if I don’t deserve my accomplishments) to restore her abandoned house infested with rats (she used to hoard boxes of perishable goods to send back home). There was no floor not covered with rat feces that was not already taken by a dead rat’s body. The smell has made me vomit the first days I was forced to sleep in there, and I never got used to it. It would’ve cost her several thousands of dollars to restore that house (and there were other valuables in there that she didn’t want strangers to touch), but since I owe her my green card, and since I don’t know anything about how to live in America, and since I was given a place to stay (in that very sewer of a house) if I cleaned it, I just had to do it. My first night in America I had to clean a good portion of the floor to sleep on. I just had to let this out I’m sorry (I DO ask for sympathy in here for people to help me in this particular post haha). I left upon seeing an ad from a temp agency in a far away town, and landed a factory job as an assembler. That job was far better than holding signs on street corners and working in fastfood service, both of which I did. I stayed as an assembler for two years (I tried applying for higher jobs, but we’re talking about California here) before getting laid off. Of course I tried to see if I could study while working, but the job was exhausting. Each day I come home from work and do nothing but rest. I knew I would just botch up my classes if I were to work and study. After getting laid off, I went straight to CC. And here I am. I became an avid reader when I came to the US, desperately using my 10 minute breaks for reading. Watching free lectures online made me want to pursue Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the details of that desire will be left in my personal statement. The feeling of going home after work and seeing school kids cross the street every day was the worst. I’m really glad I’ve gotten over that, although I still feel for people who experience that nightmare everyday. I hope to read many inspiring stories in here.</p>