<p>hi, I’m an international student applying to Berkeley this november 
On the UCB website, it says if you’re an out of state student you must have a GPA of 3.4, however my school does not use the GPA system. Do you know if I can submit my grades as it is or if there is some kind of conversion on the website that I haven’t found?</p>
<p>Right now i don’t know whether i should apply for computer science at L and S or EECS. My plans after graduation is to work a few years at a major software company and then start my own software firm. Apparently the BA route at L and S is better for people going into business which is what i want to do. But is there a major difference in terms of reputation? Like after i graduate, will the program I graduated from affect what my potential employers think of me?</p>
<p>What you do in the program is orders of magnitude more relevant than which program you graduate from. The EECS program admits directly while the L&S program does not. EECS therefore is more selective for incoming freshman, which leads some high school students to believe it is more prestigious. I doubt very many employers make a distinction.</p>
<p>@MelissaGordon Out of state student only refers to domestic students that still live in the U.S. International students are reviewed under according to their country’s system. I believe your school counselor should be able to provide a type of conversion. So you should go talk to a school counselor and include the information in your application in the academic additional comments section. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>If you have other questions about international student applications, this blog post may be helpful:
<a href=“http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/2014/09/admission-officer-interview-ii-geralyn-yparraguirre/”>http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/2014/09/admission-officer-interview-ii-geralyn-yparraguirre/</a> </p>
<p>I’m considering applying to UC Berkeley so I can major in English, as it is one of the best places in the world to do so. I am not a California resident, though I absolutely adore the state. I realize that Berkeley is a bit of a “reach” school for me, but I don’t see any harm in trying. However, I have a problem. The core requirements to even apply to ANY school in California include one year of visual and performing arts (I meet the rest of the requirements). I am homeschooled, and I live in a pretty rural area, so opportunities for the arts aren’t exactly glowing. Though I could have taken a theatre class at my local high school, it is a pretty rough environment, and the teacher (though very kind) isn’t really a stellar theatre teacher (he’s excellent at his subject of choice, but that wasn’t an option for me). I have, however, been taking guitar lessons for many years, but I’m not performing this anywhere but at church (on very rare occasions). Would I still be able to apply?</p>
<p>@Shirley</p>
<p>My son just applied without that requirement filled and he doesn’t even have the excuse of being homeschooled. He was stressed about it while doing research but I guess it isn’t a show stopper if test scores are high enough.</p>
<p>Are there scholarships available for out of state students (I’m from NY)? EFC comes out to $33,000 because of the added tuition for OOS students, but that is more than $20,000 that my parents can pay. I am not planning on taking out any loans either because of the financial strain post-graduation…</p>
<p>I’m an out of state applicant applying to UCB. I’m ranked 2/860ish people, so my rank should be a plus–but my academics aren’t very clearly conveyed on the UC application (because our school uses a different honors system).</p>
<p>The UC app has an “Additional Comments” section where I can “Tell us [UCB] anything else you want us to know about your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in this section.” Would it come across as prideful/arrogant if I add my ranking to that section?</p>
<p>Or is there any other place I can indicate my rank?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>@collegetime18 There are three shelves in each bookshelf that are about 1.5-2ft long. You can also put books in your desk which’ll have three drawers. </p>
<p>Mattress pads aren’t provided, just the mattress and a thin cover. I brought my foam pad with me and I’m glad I did - the mattresses aren’t bad, just firm. Most people don’t seem to mind them. </p>
<p>@MsStarlite For the most part it’s cold in the mornings then warm during the day. For the first couple of months you’ll really want your shorts and light sweaters/cardigans. The weather right now is pretty chilly, you’ll need heavy jackets and water-proof boots for winter. Basically, bring a mix of everything but make sure you have lots of sweaters. The weather fluctuates a LOT. </p>
<p>In terms of apps, I’ve found that I actually don’t use them very often for school. I probably use my calendar the most out of all the school-related apps on my ipad. But getting your bearings is great for welcome week! (you just won’t use it for the rest of your four years) </p>
<p>@ShirleyHolmes I was in the same boat last year. I was homeschooled and hadn’t really done anything art-related since middle school except play piano and work on the occasional art project. My mom gave me credit for the piano and since colleges are supposed to accept homeschool transcripts, Berkeley took it! </p>
<p>Anything that sets you apart is good! I was terrified of coming off as arrogant when I was applying to schools, but colleges need to know why they should accept you. Letting them know of your accomplishments gives them confidence that you can handle a certain academic rigor. You can show them your skills without seeming prideful 
</p>
<p>@thesmileyfan Thank you!</p>
<p>I know that UC’s ask for scores / grades to be self reported on application and if admitted then to send the actual transcirpts to UC. What about mid year grades (1st semester grades for 12 Th. grade students). How do we report these scores ? Appreciate your insights and input. Thanks</p>
What’s the reputation of Cal?
@studentandgolfer Are u kidding me ? have you not done any research on your own ? Please don’t waste others time by asking such ignorant questions. Thank you!
Are there any student groups playing recreational hockey in Berkeley? I’ve played a bit of hockey from time to time in my country, and would like to continue playing when I get to Berkeley.
Maybe UC Berkeley has an official hockey club that’s open for students of all skill levels?
I’m a student at the Graduate School of Journalism in Berkeley and I’m working on a radio piece addressing the rising cost of living expenses for students here. If you ever had to sleep in a park, in your car, on a friends couch or figured out some other way to get by I’d love to hear your story. Or if you personally know someone who has gone through this, it’d would be great to get in touch with them.
How is the tennis club team there?
I’m a sophomore in high school, and I decided to pursue Engineering (Aero or Mech). My ideal schools are UMich, Purdue, Rutgers, and UC Berkeley. So I was wondering how is UC Berkeley Engineering, and how is it compared to my other choices? Also, how is life in UC Berkeley? Lastly, how competitive is the tennis team at UC Berkeley?