<p>Also, do you think that other than the personal statements, which are required for all UC’s, I could write a letter of intent to explain my personal situation why why my application isn’t perfect?</p>
<p>thank you! xxx</p>
<p>Regarding the letter of intent, do you mean why some of your scores aren’t perfect or if there is some underlying, personal issue that caused discrepancies in your grades? I think that at the end of the application there is extra space for you to talk about anything like that :)</p>
<p>As for me, my scores weren’t “low” but they also weren’t super high xD Other than my essay, I was really proud to be able to talk about my volunteer work and the things I’d done to help my community</p>
<p>Yes I had quite good grades up until sophomore year…then some of my grades weren’t that good, especially in science. I had a hard time concentrating because of what was happening at home…</p>
<p>I want to write about my volunteering experiences on my personal statements too. How many essays do we need to write for Berkley by the way? to my knowledge we only need two personal statements right? I read it on the university of california website :)</p>
<p>thank you for your answer. xxx</p>
<p>I got in with a pretty bad SAT scores, but my GPA was around 3.9 UW/ 4.6 W.</p>
<p>Considering that my SAT was pretty bad, I thought that my essay & extracurricular really pushed my app. There will be 2 essays (and if they didn’t change it): (a) a biography about you and your goal, (b) talk about a meaningful experience.</p>
<p>Although it might sounds unnecessary, but try to integrate the reasons why you were struggling in your sophomore year. Then link it to how regardless of such ordeal, you still succeed due to determination, etc… </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I met a girl who had a flat 1500 composite but was val in her class of ~250. This seems to be pretty rare but definitely shows GPA can compensate for low test scores. In fact, most of my friends have scores 2200+ and yet Berkeley’s average SAT is only in the 2000s. I want to say that the test score distribution is skewed left by infrequent examples such as this (GPA or EC wise).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t bother actually writing a letter separate from the app because there is so much you can say within the personal statements if you can write concisely.</p>
<p>UC applications are processed in huge, really huge numbers and basically anything that is not part of the requested list of items is likely to not make it into your file at all. You are sending in an electronic applicant, with no space for an introductory letter. Transcripts are only sent if you are offered a spot and commit to attend Cal, not with the application process. Standard test scores are electronically sent directly from the testing agency. Letters of recommendation are not accepted. No physical mailing, no way to send it, and the general rule is that if they don’t ask you for it, you are wasting postage and time trying to send it to them. The only exception to this is with a small fraction of applicants where for various reasons, admissions will send you a ‘supplemental request’. It is a web form to update midyear grades, answer a bunch of additional questions, and to give a URL to one teacher or guidance counselor who will electronically file one letter of recommendation for you. Only if you selected, only with the special URL that is unique to the one application, otherwise it is not like admissions to other schools where a physical pile of papers is received and kept in a physical folder by the admissions committee.</p>