<p>I’m just curious. knowing how selective Berkeley is, it is a challenge to see who can really get in regardless of GPA.
I’m currently enrolled in Community college in CA and am following the recommended courses, though I am a B average student with only one C for a general class and one C as a prerequisite, other 4 classes which are mostly prereqs are all Bs and one class with an A in a general class.I would like to major in Business Administration.</p>
<p>I am 20 years old, I have a learning difference due to a genetic mutation, I am a pilot and I am also a flight instructor ( I teach people how to fly). I am also working with a few friends of mine getting a (better) non profit organization started for younger pilots. One of us will be speaking at a forum at this big airshow in Oshkosh late july to pitch our idea and hopefully receive donations so that we can expand. If it doesn’t work, at least we tried.
(Basically all of this will be included in my personal statement regardless where I apply)</p>
<p>I know my grades aren’t the best but I had been severely depressed through out the entire year and i’m just now barely recovering, so my academic performance just plummeted, so I didn’t do as well as i’d hoped.</p>
<p>Earning my Flight instructor certificate was by far the most challenging and difficult achievement I have ever reached for, the initial pass rate is 62% for Flight Instructor applicants. I passed a couple weeks ago and I’m profoundly proud of myself for this accomplishment, that I literally burst into tears when the examiner passed me. Hard work pays off…
Dealing with my learning difference has been an even bigger obstacle to deal with…ugh I have an IEP, so it is a documented and evaluated disability. </p>
<p>All in all, I just want to have some kind of reassurance from other people and know that it is possible to be admitted into this selective school even with my kind of academic performance.</p>
<p>I went to Utah state University for my freshman year after I graduated High school '12. I was there doing their aviation program, but a series of events made me change my entire direction. Let’s just say that I had a terrible experience there and I decided to come back home to CA. None of the classes I took over there transferred over, so I am basically starting over. Which also contributed to my depression…</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Congratulations on completing your CFI training and making it. What do you usually fly and where?</p>
<p>As for your concerns, I think Business Administration is a reach for you. However, I think you can make it to Berkeley with a different major. I depends how long you’re willing to stick it out at the community college and if you can overcome the depression and other obstacles in your life. Getting A’s from this point forward will be important in attaining your goal. Please understand that there are people with worse genetic orders than you and make it. There are people who solider on and push themselves who have depression and make it. You cannot and should not use your disabilities as an excuse, when it comes to academics. </p>
<p>Start looking for a different major that you can see yourself pursing that Cal offers. Business Administration can be something that you can work towards later on, but believe in yourself and work hard for your grades. </p>
<p>Berkeley is very very big on extracurriculars. Make sure to write about your CFI in your personal statement if you can. I’m the same age as you with only a PPL and I really think writing about it in my personal statement got me into UCLA despite having a slightly lower than average GPA for my impacted major. Congrats on getting the CFI ticket, I’ve heard way too many stories on how tough the DPEs make the checkride. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how competitive business admin is at UCB but from now on you should really aim to get as the best grades as possible. I think if you can write a good personal statement writing about your CPL/CFI, whatever certificate level, you have a good chance at getting in as long as you raise your grades a bit. </p>
<p>I’m sure there are some crazy rich young pilots out there who managed to get their CFIs by 18 but it’s a crazy realization that the FAA lets people as young as us train future pilots! </p>
<p>I would use getting your CFI in the second essay and break it down into three parts:</p>
<p>1) Who you were. Write about how you were a B student. Don’t dwell on your inconsistency since you don’t want this to be a pity party. This the SHORTEST part of the three and will serve as an introduction. </p>
<p>2) The experience of getting the CFI and how it gave you the confidence you needed. Take them through the journey. Explain how few people actually can get it at your age and how it was something that took you out of depression. You believe in yourself now because of the CFI.</p>
<p>3) This is the big part. Write about where you are now. TELL THEM you’re an A student. TELL THEM how you love teaching people how to fly. Berkeley and UCLA want you to just say it. Don’t use flowery language. They want to know what you got out of the experience. Ain’t nobody got time to decipher ■■■■ when they are told to spend two minutes on an essay. </p>
<p>@k4201505 Thank you for the feedback! Yeaa. Well I’ve been extremely fortunate and I have not once exploited my family’s wealth. Other than having college paid for I always work for what I have in my life since I’ve never had an allowance. I had a job, but that was before I left for the first school, but now that i’m instructing I have a small income so I can start saving . </p>
<p>Well as along as the flight instructor determines that you are mature, professional, knowledgeable according to the FARs, and that you are SAFE to fly, then why not! I know a few guys that Have their CFI at 19. Both guys are extremely intelligent and are wonderful pilots. I’d say they’re some of the best I’ve ever met, even for their age. </p>
<p>I’ve heard checkrides go up to 8 hours if you get an examiner from the FAA, which is what I had. </p>
<p>@calbro Typically Private Pilots will fly small airplanes like Cessna 172s or piper warriors. </p>
<p>I have been very fortunate to fly bigger and more complex airplanes with retractable gear. Like a Beechcraft Bonanza A36 and a Pilatus PC12. But, i’ve been all over the place and flying different airplanes. It’s annoying to keep track off all the hours for a specific airplane for insurance purposes! </p>
<p>@k4201505 Yup! It was only Second In command time though. But still a great opportunity. So hey, if I get this non profit organization going, It would be great if you could get involved and spread the aviation bug.! This group is specifically targeted for people our age and getting them involved. My other friend has contacts to the Higher ups at EAA and they think it is an awesome idea. </p>
<p>@calbro That’s awesome ! Keep in touch with the pilot friends, you can go on some incredible adventures with them. </p>
<p>I agree with maybe trying a different major and trying to keep those grades up as high as possible. 3.5+
If Cal is seriously your dream school I would get in contact with an admissions counselor and see what they would have to say as well</p>
<p>Always show, don’t tell. Let them experience what it is like to fly a plane. Let them see what you’re seeing. Interweave it with how you’ve grown and learned from it. Always start in the middle. That is the biggest key. Never start at the beginning. Be in the air in the first sentence describing a flight or your hands at the controls. You want to grab them with the first sentence, or you risk losing them. If you want to bring in your previous lack of confidence (or whatever), refer to it later and let them “see” how the experience of flying clearly made you a better person. </p>
<p>That’s not to say you don’t discuss your goals and strengths. But do it through the prism of a story. You want your essay to stand out from the herd. They read thousands and their eyes glaze over with the same standard A to B to C narratives.</p>
<p>I used to read scholarship essays for the Berkeley Alumni Association so I have a pretty good idea. You have a great narrative. Make it pop! </p>
<p>@Lindyk8 I think you said you were a writer. Just out of curiosity, what type of writer are you. You don’t have too be specific. Are you a sports writer, or magazine writer or what? </p>
<p>@lindyk8 They don’t want flowery language. I worked with an admissions officer from UCLA to write my personal statement (one of 13) and she told me that they want students to get to the point. You’re not painting a picture for them. My friend who just went to the Cal Summer Experience told me that the admissions officer AND readers there said the same thing to people. </p>
<p>The personal statement is not about standing out from the herd.</p>
<p>I didn’t say flowery @calbro I said tell a story. Starting with a dreary reciitation, I had bad grades blah blah is a major snooze fest. This is ONE AREA I know I am right about. You get the same message across but in an engaging manner. But having said that, anyone can do whatever they want. </p>
<p>And it is clear you don’t really understand what it is like to read 10,000 essays. </p>
<p>@collegedropout1, I used to write for LA Times and SF Chronicle on film, and had a couple of screenplays optioned, and a children’s pilot with Steven Spielberg’s company. But those all went into turnaround. :(</p>
<p>@HapyPilot94 here is a link to some UC Berkeley essays and you will see what I am getting at. You can choose to recite your story in linear fashion step by step - or you can show your journey through flying. Few people have such a great visual to use as their foundation. I would love to read how you grew by showing the exhilaration.</p>
<p>Anyway, whatever you decide to do, the very best of luck:</p>
<p>Also, FYI, don’t forget you have the additional comments to delve into any setbacks or hindrances. It’s about 500 words tops. All the UCs read that. Not all read the PS (except for scholarship info). Berkeley reads them, tho.</p>
<p>Of course it is possible, if there’s one school that greatly reviews all of the apps holistically is Berkeley. Seriously, a 4.0 at Berkeley can mean nothing if you have no life experiences or you simply don’t show you’re more than a bookworm (Berkeley has plenty of them already, so they’re looking for more than grades). I actually know of two people that got in with a 3.1!! Both of which were extremely involved in organizations and leadership roles etc, so as you can see admissions at Berkeley are more than just numbers. Just try to raise your GPA, and show them why you’re Berkeley material, I know you can do it! I hope to see you here next year </p>
I know a few guys that Have their CFI at 19. Both guys are extremely intelligent and are wonderful pilots. I’d say they’re some of the best I’ve ever met, even for their age. </p>
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