I have a 3.82 GPA, I’m a poli-sci major (got a B+ in a Statistics class… and unfortunately… a B- in a social science class called Administration of Justice [very unfortunate because the prof didn’t count some of my assignments, had lost them… just a bad scenario overall - will this hurt me even though it’s not a core class (like English, math, etc requirements are) or it’s not a class related to my major?]
I work as a tutor at Kumon, assisting with reading and writing (job for $)
I work in the writing center on campus as a tutor (job for $)
Internship in 2013 (can I even include this?) at City Hall
Internship this Fall quarter 2015 at Assemblymember’s office
In Honor’s Program
On Dean’s List
Member of Phi Thetta Kappa
Volunteer work in foreign country
Part of campus campaign for Prop reform, working with other student leaders
Went to March on March addressing this, meeting legislators, rallying our cause, lobbying
Other than that, I’m a strong writer, so hopefully my essay will be decent.
What do you think about my chances with UC Berkeley? Also, how are my extra curriculars, are they lacking? What else would you recommend?
You can definitely include that City Hall internship under the ECs or work experience section of the application(I guess work experience better describes that, even though it’s related to your major). That alone is great for a poli sci major, but your other listed ECs are also very, very impressive. I think you’ve got this part of the application down and you need not worry about that.
If you are indeed a strong writer, put those skills to good use and work as hard as you can on the personal statement. All things considered, a good personal statement can make all the difference for borderline applicants. I don’t think you’re a borderline applicant, but a good personal statement is just another plus for your application.
I don’t know what the average admitted GPA is for Berkeley’s social science division(They’ll admit you into that first and not political science for some reason. You then petition to get into political science. Very bureaucratic, it seems), but your 3.82 GPA is probably competitive for it(At the very least, I doubt it’ll hinder you when you also have good ECs to mention, as said before). Also, I doubt those B grades you got in those classes will kill your chances for admission, especially if the B- grade you got wasn’t in your major.
Overall, I think you’re a very competitive applicant for UC Berkeley. Good luck.
I read GoldenCub stating a couple time that he knew Berkeley PoliSci transfers that had GPA’s that were 3.5 and slightly higher. A 3.82 with those ec’s coupled with a strong personal statement should get op into Berkeley.
I think you’ll be fine. Your GPA is competitive, and you have excellent EC’s, as they are tied to your major. Make sure to talk about them in your personal statement (and your passion for political science, future career goals, etc.)
Being a strong writer doesn’t necessarily make your personal statement good; there are many subtle nuances to the thing. I think there’s an art to it. So even if you are confident, write and rewrite it.
Personally, unless there is some unusual circumstance, I honestly don’t think PS are that vital. I just don’t. They are if you’re borderline, but I’ve heard too many cases of totally irrelevant PS and the person still gets in. (1) an applicant submitted a PS talking about his major, but unfortunately he’d changed his major entirely - wasn’t even close, but he still got to berkeley. (2) Another wrote on and on about Berkeley and he got into UCLA.
It definitely can be the deciding factor if you’re borderline, but I truly believe if the rest of your stats are good, it isn’t so important. Plus, the UCs specifically say they don’t care about writing style. They just want to get to know you as a person. I mean, have the correct punctuation and spelling, but I have never felt the PS’s have the power so often ascribed to them. There have just been too many people slapping something together at the last minute and getting in. Now, having said that write a good PS. But you seem in good shape already.
And just to add, I agree with cub - write about a specific EC that ties into your major and your future plans. Scholarship folk like to see that. So I will back pedal on my above comment if you have a high GPA and strong ECs for a possible scholarship. Then the PS is a great component.
@lindyk8 I agree that the PS is usually only a deciding factor if the student is borderline for transfer students. This should be because transfer admissions are primarily statistics based - GPA, gen ed completion, prereq completion, etc. are the primary measures of their decisions.
Still, a personal statement allows one to convey things that are not completely conveyed through everything else in an application - because of this, I do think that it is very important. It generally won’t be the deciding factor, yes, but it should be done well.
^^^ agreed. Just pointing out I think its importance is variable, depending on situation (and considering only 5 UCs even look at them for admissions). However, I always believe in doing your personal best in everything (nothing half-arsed); even a P/NP should be undertaken with the goal of getting an A in my book.
I’m amazed when I read that an applicant put some crummy PS together at the last minute. Not that they got in, but that they had such little regard for the process or how it represented them.
