How to spice up my application???

carloshz
Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:50:18 +0000

OK, I’m diggin’ this resume you’ve built up. The GPA is solid, the Extra-Curric’s are awesome and the involvement is smart.

However, I like your chances of getting into Stanford over getting into UCLA and UC Berkeley. And since Stanford is freaking difficult to get into, do not get upset if you don’t get into any of the three.

In these times, everything is impacted. UCLA and UC Berkeley have received record applicants; transfer students are priority for them, and they’ll take freshman when there’s space. This is because the entire re-entry demographic is rising among college students – average age at my community college is 27, I think.

If you keep it up for your senior year, I am diggin’ your chances.

To answer your question: Keep doing exactly what you’re doing. To spice up your application, nail those SAT’s. I’m talking 2100 range. Also, nail the ACT’s. (For these, I’m talkin’ 31.)

Schools are competitive right now, so it only makes sense you have to work harder. And while you’re going to school in your senior year, do something that other kids aren’t doing – concurrently enrolling at your local community college. See what you can do to get involved there, somehow, someway. Take some classes and make your schedule rigorous as hell. The worst-case scenario? You get denied by all schools you mentioned and you’re one leg up on everyone else.

So yeah, get involved in a community college. If you can show you can compete at that level, I’m sure they’ll take it into consideration. (I am thinking applying for the ASG at your community college, get to know some professors, etc.)

And in case you didn’t know, MiraCosta College has one of the top transfer rates – including to top UC’s like UCLA and Berkeley.

[Carlos Sandoval’s Student Blog](MiraCosta College | 404)