<p>Is receiving a supplement generally a good or bad thing?</p>
<p>It generally means that you are borderline. I am way below borderline, but received it due to my experience in programming.</p>
<p>davidthefat, did you elaborate on the specific programming languages that you know in your UC application/essay? I have programming experience as well and I’m also applying for EE but I didn’t receive a supplement (UC GPA 3.47 and a 2110 SAT + 3000 hours of various ECs). </p>
<p>I described my programming experience in the additional comments section on the app. Where did you write about your programming experience?</p>
<p>Depends on the situation. If you considered your chances very low for getting into a school, it’s a good thing. If you considered your a school as a safety, it’s kind of bad…</p>
<p>I wrote that I am the Software Engineer Lead in my robotics team. The only EC I have were 3 years of Robotics, 3 years of Football and Track for one year. I have been programming since I was 11, I started with C++ and then, for school, I did Java and learned assembly on my own. I wrote that in my EC section. Other than robotics, I have no formal experience than coding on my own. I was the youngest kid in my AP CS class (only Sophomore) and this year, I am taking Data Structures and Algorithms with the same teacher. The advanced group goes around and teaches the regular AP CS students every week. </p>
<p>In my supplement, I wrote how I was never motivated due to the crowd I hanged out with and how robotics has changed my life. My parents were never imposing on me, I pushed them away to be frank. I rarely let them make decisions for me because that is my personality. The only reason I picked up C++ so early was just the fact that I was freaking bored and wanted to create a game. That shows a trend. Just last summer, I learned Calculus, in order for me to write better algorithms for robotics. Hell, it seems like that I excel in things when just left alone. I rarely seem to do things people tell me to do. </p>
<p>My UC Weighted GPA was 3.25, and I believe 2.71 unweighted. Absolute horse **** GPA if you ask me. ACT, I got 32 comp, 30 English, 34 Math, 32 reading and 30 Science.</p>
<p>I am not the typical Korean student with a 4.35 GPA…</p>
<p>edit: I don’t know, I am not the first programmer in a similar situation as me… I know one brilliant programmer, he got kicked out of a magnet school for low GPA and had to transfer here. Another, who I had class with Sophomore year, had a 2.0 GPA or something, also brilliant. I know 2 other who have gone off to a local CC then to Cal Poly Pomona, another to CSUN… I see a pattern…</p>
<p>Also, the fact that I am from a low income immigrant family might be also another reason… I think I was supposed to talk about that in the supplement, but I didn’t.</p>