Spring Admission Stigma?

[GMTplus7]

2nd tier relative to the students who were admitted for fall.

FYI
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/education/11accept.html?referrer=&_r=0

Some admissions officers suggested in interviews that deferred admission had also provided an edge in college rankings. Because the rankings are based in part on the SAT scores and high school grade-point averages of freshmen entering in the fall, the scores — presumably lower — of students who are to begin later are not included. Deferring the admission of some students also lowers the college’s admissions rate, making it appear more selective.
…
But life was not easy at N.Y.U., where, as fate would have it, she also missed the cut for standard admission. Instead, she was admitted to the university’s Liberal Studies Program, a two-year track for slightly weaker applicants, who are guaranteed enrollment in a bachelor’s program their third year.

For whatever reason, stats or yield, the college gave preference over you to a fall admit. Maybe UCB felt that with your high stats that you were a yield risk?