Just had my RCSA Interview

AllanjYu
Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:57:34 +0000

I had my Regent Scholarship Interview today in LA. I can understand the pressure, so let me lighten the load by walking you through my experience.

First of all, I wasn’t very nervous at all, mainly due to my low expectations. Berkeley chose a lot of candidates based on essays. I don’t have the CC ridiculously high numbers (2180, rank top 5%, didn’t have some sort of immense impact on the world), but I think my essays were a pull. One was about my living in the porn capital of the world, the other about learning humility.

Because I was sure I wasn’t going to have a chance at the scholarship, my main concern this morning was attire. I couldn’t find my black slacks! I ended googling what they meant by “business casual” and went by that. (I wore khakis instead).

When I registered at the location, the kind lady said she wanted to congratulate me and be the first to tell me I’ve been admitted to UC Berkeley. Thank goodness, I underwent a bit of senioritis, wasn’t sure if the rumor of candidacy=acceptance was fullproof.

The room I went into after registering had several tables, refreshments, and a table of Berkeley information (on the different majors and departments). A video was playing but it was too rowdy to hear. A handful of regent scholars were sitting at tables, prospective scholars with their parents (in my case, sister), sat and asked questions. My sister was a Cal graduate, not a regent scholar, but she ended up answering a few questions too. I was maybe an hour early for my interview, but it was nice meeting some other students from all over. Plus, talking about yourself with other people is great practice for the actual interview.

The interviewers come in and call out names and lead you to another small room to have 1on1. I was interviewed by a Professor of Journalism, graduate school professor. He was a really great guy, and I was extremely happy to find out that he was a musician himself (I’m a band geek).

I think overall my interview went well. After walking around, seeing the other prospective scholars under the wing of their parents and not really engaging in the conversations, it really puts things in perspective. I don’t have the best work ethics, I don’t have perfect numbers, but I am very sociable, and I think Cal wants interesting people that have explored life outside text books. I have a personal problem with the studious students that only have numbers to offer. Be charming, and be able to hold a conversation with your interviewer. If he puts your file and his pen down and leans back just to listen to you, it’s a good sign. Often times, I digressed on topics that I didn’t even prepare for. Take a look at your application, what he knows about you is in that file. Be a person, not a prospective scholar.

Fingers crossed for the scholarship, but just happy to have been accepted! Probably going there next semester, so see all you Class of '08s there!