The Official Chances Thread!

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1701

Hey! I’m an Indian, and I will be applying to U C Berkeley in 2016. I will be applying for EECS.

UC GPA: (I am not sure about how it’s calculated) my GPA is 10/10.
Class Rank: 1/315
SAT-1: M-800 W-780 and above CR- 750 and above (all projected, I’m taking the November SAT but I’m pretty confident)
SAT-2: 800 in Physics, Chemistry and Maths (projected - I’ll be taking them next year. My course load is rigorous so I’ll get 800s)
AP: AP Physics C: M (5) AP Physics C: E&M (5) & I’ll probably take Calc BC too.
(AP courses aren’t offered in my school)
Senior Course Load:

English (literature, writing & composition)
Mathematics (includes an advanced level of all possible topics of calculus, algebra, geometry etc.)
Physics (covers all possible topics)
Chemistry (covers all possible topics)
Computer Science (advanced C++)
Arabic

Special Stuff:
-Distinguished speaker at Toastmasters, I have more than 15 city level 1st/2nd place trophies. Avid debater too. Elocution speaker - best in my school and in an inter-school contest.
-Winner of an environmental competition in my city.
-Karate black belt, trained kids, have a bronze medal in city level tournament.
-Merit Certificate for the Green Olympiad, A+ in Sastra Prathiba (these are various science contests)
-Vice-President and future President of the Debate Club, vice-captain of my school.

  • Social movement volunteers including Operation Smile
    -Will code in Android SDK to make an app aimed at improving the environment. Hoping it to be a big success.
    -Learning nXT - hopefully I’ll be winning in robotics competitions.
    -Distinguished academic awards.
1702

Please Chance me and give me more information regarding the Rhetoric or Middle Eastern Studies major. I am a current transfer student.

Major: Currently History but will change to Rhetoric or Middle Eastern Studies, whichever is less competitive.
GPA: 3.7
Major GPA: 4.0 for history
EC: President of chess club, History 7 honors, member of Muslim student association, Psych club, Alpha Gamma Sigma honors society,
Volunteer: 200 in a hospital, 200 at local mosques, 50 at democratic headquarters, volunteered at the Afghanistan Embassy under the Ambassador of Afghanistan in Spain
Hooks: First generation college student, poor, minority (Afghan), been working since I was 14, a very rough life with experiences of racism, homelessness, poverty, death in family, moving often, identity crisis, etc

Bad: I got a B in religious studies nature of islam, ENG 1A and Eng 4. I got a W in math 55, and a NP in math 55. I got a P in 65, and currently working towards a P in 55. Will take math for liberal arts majors when I am done.

Good: I can write a a very good personal statement. My great grandparents and grandparents were servants in Afghanistan and my parents are illiterate. I am the only one to ever attend High School. Would writing that I am only interested in CAL help? My parents are in poor health and I can’t move out, I need to be there for them. I live close enough to UCB to live at home and commute. I also play a lot of basketball but I got injured during try outs for my local jc. Had I made it, I would have been the shortest Afghan American to every play college basketball. Would this be good to mention or is it irrelevant because I did not make the team? I also intend on going to law school at Cal, does this make me look better?

Please chance me for all three majors, if I don’t get in I will probably have to commute to Davis, or wait a year and reapply.

1703

International
GPA 3.98, SAT2180, TOEFL 109, SAT2 Maths Level 2, Physics and Chemistry 800.
I got an AMC 12 diploma, and some maths contests awards in my region.
My school don’t offer AP or IB.

President of the robot club
made an epilepsy aiding device
Made a dress that can change colors
overseas research on labs
President of Maths club
Badminton, Volleyball player

I’m applying for cs in CLS. Chance me?

1704

Unweighted GPA 3.8
Weighted GPA 4.0 ~ (will be higher at the end of next semester)

California Resident

SAT Reasoning Scores (by section)
Math 660
CR 700
Writing 720

ACT scores (highest)
Comp 33
English 36
Reading 36
Math 29
Science 33
Writing 31

Which college are you applying to? (Letters and Science, Engineering, Chemistry, etc.)
Engineering (Biomedical or Electrical)

List a few of your most important ECs (a list of 20+ items is not needed)
Marching Band (Section Leader/in charge of social media 2 years)
Jazz Band (Lead saxophone/in charge of social media 1 year)
Academic Talent Search participation through middle school and freshman year
Academic Decathlon (highest scoring alternate regional, most work completed (in club), likely a member of competing team this year)
CSF/Key Club Member
Not an EC, but I skipped a year (7th grade)

APs
World 4
Bio 3
USH 5 (self study)
Lang 5
Lit
Environmental
Microecon
Macroeconomic
Calc AB

1705

UW GPA: 3.82
UC Capped GPA:4.18
UC Uncapped GPA:4.36

SAT I
CR:650
Math:740
Writing:690
Composite:2080

Major:Economics (School of Social Science)

AP’s
AP Euro:3
AP US:3
AP English Language:4
AP Chemistry:1
AP Calculus (AB):5
AP Macroeconomics: (TBD)
AP English Literature: (TBD)
AP Statistics: (TBD)
AP Calculus (BC): (TBD)

EC’s
Class Officer (3 years)
Debate Club (1 Year)
NHS (2 years)

Community Service: 100 hours

Essays
I talked about growing up with ADHD and how I overcame that in Prompt 1.
I talked about the beginning of my sophomore year and how I missed several weeks of school due to surgery and how catching up taught me the value of having a work ethic in Prompt 2.

1706

GPA (unweighted): 3.82
ACT Comp: 30
English: 35
Reading: 32
Math: 27
Science: 25

English as an intended major

Wisconsin Resident

5 APs:
APUSH (5)
Bio (4)
Ap Spanish
AP Psych
AP English

Tons of ECs…

1707

Lol, wtf, everybody is just posting chance threads after chance threads without chancing others. LOL

1708

Submitted my app to Berkeley and San Diego a couple days before the deadline - Penn’s my ED first choice but I’m really looking at UC as an alternative. Do you guys think I’ll make it?

Personal info:

Gender: Female
Race: White
Location: Delaware, United States
LGBT status: Trans woman, bisexual
Applying with Undecided major

Academics:

SAT I: 2040 (Rdng 760 Math 640 Wtng 640)
SAT II: Bio E 660, Physics 530, Lit 710
ACT: 34 (Eng 35 Math 32 Rdng 35 Sci 32)
Class Rank: UnWgt 13th, Wgt 12th
GPA: UnWgt 3.913, Wgt 4.239

Activities:

  1. Student Aide (11th, 12th) (11h/w, 36w/y)
  2. Community Library Volunteer (10th, 11th, 12th) (2h/w, 9w/y)
  3. German Saengerbund, Day Camp Assistant (9th, 10th, 11th) (15h/w, 2w/y)
  4. Gay/Straight Alliance (10th, 11th, 12th) (2h/w, 34w/y) - Vice President
  5. Chorus (12th) (4h/w, 36w/y)
  6. Robotics (12th) (4h/w, 36w/y)
  7. Youth Group (9th, 10th, 11th) (2h/w, 30w/y)
  8. Choir (9th) (2h/w, 36w/y)

Personal Statements: My first essay discussed how in my first few years of high school, I had little opportunity for socialization, save the internet. Being involved in internet communities allowed me to connect to many people who changed my life and my personality for the better. My second essay detailed how I came to realize I was transgender, and how this aspect of my personality has driven my life and impacted me. My additional information mentions my preferred name and gender identity, and how I attended my local university’s summer program for college credit. It also tries to explain my lack of strong extracurriculars in more depth. [http://■■■■■■■.com/stellauc]

1709

UC GPA: 4.33
Unweighted GPA: 4.00
Weighted GPA: 4.174

Out-of-state resident
Asian Male

ACT: 34 (32 E, 36 M, 35 R, 34 S)

SAT II: Math 2: 770

Which college are you applying to? (Letters and Science, Engineering, Chemistry, etc.)

Engineering - Mechanical

List a few of your most important ECs (a laundry list of 20+ items is not needed)

  • 6A Varsity Swimming (Senior Swim Captain)
  • Club Swimming
  • FIRST Robotics
  • Engineering Academy Engineering day chaperone
  • FLL volunteer
  • Schedule Pick up volunteer
  • Library summer reading volunteer
  • National Honor Society

Other stuff:

Essays were very good, I spent a lot of time and really did pour my heart out on them :slight_smile:

I wrote all three personal statements, I used the third to discuss how the engineering academy program I currently attend has shaped my interests and helped me

Both my recommendation letters were also superb

1710

UC W GPA: 4.22
UC UW GPA: 3.93
HS Weighted GPA: 4.247
CA Resident

SAT Reasoning Scores (by section) or ACT scores: 770 CR, 740 Math, 760 Writing (superscored:770 780 760)
SAT II Scores: Math II 800, Bio M 730 (retaking next week)
ACT: 35 Composite (36 English, 34 M, 34 R, 34 S)
APs: 5 Calc BC, 5 APUSH, 4 APCS, 4 APEURO, 4 APLang

Taking Advanced Computer Programming: Data Structures and Linear Algebra this year (each are 1 semester)

Which college are you applying to? (Letters and Science, Engineering, Chemistry, etc.): Letters and Science CS

2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, went to tons of tournaments, assisted classes 3 days/week as member of Special Team of Role Models, on Demo Team, and much more
Secretary/Treasurer of Interact, which I’ve been in for all 4 years
Treasurer of Healing Humanity
Secretary of Investment Club
3 month internship at JibaSoft Inc. (a startup) as a tester of their software
Played on school basketball team in 10th and 11th, was starter/co-captain in 11th
National Merit Commended Scholar
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine (summer after 10th grade)
Went to Punjabi school at temple for 6 years

First Personal Statement was about my Advanced Computer Programming class this year (not a very good essay) but my second one was really good; it was about the effect HSM has had on me since I watched it for the first time as a kid.

Can you guys chance me for Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD?

Thank you!

1711

UC GPA: 4.31
Unweighted GPA: 4

California Resident, Out-Of-State, or International: International

SAT Reasoning Scores (by section) or ACT scores: CR 800, M 770, W 720,
SAT II Scores: US History 790, Lit 770
APs:
10: APUSH (5), Chinese (5)
11: Lang (5), Euro (5), Government (5)
12: Lit, Bio, Stats, Psych

Which college are you applying to? L&S (Poli Sci)

ECs: Student Council (VP, President, all 4 years), Writing Center Tutor (Historian, President, 10-12), Youth Leadership Team (10-12), Tutoring (9-11), NHS, MUN, Soccer,
Volunteer Work: Habitat for Humanity, interned for an MP,
Other Accomplishments: Published some of my writing in legit literary magazines, academic awards for English and Social Studies, REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD ESSAYS

1712

UC GPA (How do I calculate my UC GPA?) ?
Unweighted GPA ?
Weighted GPA?
From Canada so I have no idea how the GPA works. Canadian average is ~95%

International (Canada) , also Asian male

ACT Scores: 36 Math ; 31 English ; 33 Reading ; 32 Science ; 33 Composite (not that competitive for international…)
SAT II Scores: 800 Math 2 ; 790 physics
APs:
Comp sci: 5
Calc BC: 5
Physics C E&M: 4

Which college are you applying to?: Computer Science, engineering

List a few of your most important ECs (a laundry list of 20+ items is not needed):
-President of some clubs at school, participates in various community clubs. Paid tutor. Section leader in school band. Grade 10 RCM alto saxophone. SHAD summer program. Internship at research centre at local college for computer related work, Volunteer at local programming club.

Not too sure about my essays. Kinda meh

1713

@sarangooL I would say a good chance. Your ACT is above average, but more importantly your Math and Science ACT scores are good, which is what matters for College of Engineering (I presume).
Robotics is definitely a MechE thing, and your engineering academy program also helps.
If what you say about your essays is agreed upon by admissions, I would say a good chance!

1714

@SuperTop123

Thanks! I was already accepted to my dream school though so I have to withdraw now. But at least I know I had a decent shot!

1715

SAT 2270, 720 Math, 800 Reading, 750 Writing
34 ACT Cumulative - 34 English, 33 Math 35 Reading, 35 Science, 11/12 on writing (Last Year)

GPA - 3.689 UW, UC GPA 4.27, IB Diploma Candidate; Hardest Curriculum available and an additional 7th period all 4 years.

Senior Year Curriculum - TOK, IB Chinese 4, IB Chemistry, IB Biology, IB Lang/Lit, IB History of the Americas, IB Math HL, Chamber Orchestra.

Extracurricular Activities (highlight of application)

• Member of Tri-M Honor Society (Sophomore-Senior); Varsity Letter in Music
• Elected PR Representative of Tri-M Honor Society (Senior Year)
• Member of National Honor Society (Sophomore-Senior)
• Junior Varsity Wrestling @ 170 lbs weight class (Freshman)
• Member of Chamber/Orchestra (Freshman-Senior)
• Elected Viola section leader of Chamber Orchestra (Sophomore-Senior)
• Viola Section leader of local Youth Symphony Orchestra (Freshman-Senior)
• Violist in WMEA All-State Orchestra (Freshman)
• Violist in WMEA All-State Chamber Orchestra (Sophomore and Senior)
• Violist in NAFME All-Northwest Orchestra (Junior)
• 2nd Alternate for State: solo Violist at Regional Solo/Ensemble Contest (Freshman)
• 2nd Alternate for State: Large Ensemble at Regional Solo/Ensemble Contest (Freshman)
• Regional Winner & State Participant: Solo Violist at Solo/Ensemble Contest (Sophomore)
• 3rd Place in State: solo Violist at State Solo/Ensemble Contest (Junior)
• 1st Alternate for State: Large Ensemble at Regional Solo/Ensemble Contest (Junior)
• 2nd Alternate for State: Quartet at Regional Solo/Ensemble Contest (Junior)
• Violist in string quartet for one-night performance with traveling theatre “In My Life- A Musical Tribute to the Beatles” (Sophomore and Senior)
• Volunteer Pit Violist for Madrona Children’s Theatre “Seussical” (Freshman)
• Volunteer Pit Violist for Madrona Children’s Theatre “Wizard of Oz” (Sophomore)
• Volunteer Pit Violist for Edmonds Driftwood Players “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum” (Junior)
• Volunteer Pit Violist for local amateur theatre original production “Katie’s Hope” (Junior)
• Part-Time Dishwasher at a local restaurant 20 Hours/week, June 19th 2015 to November 8th 2015.
• Contract musician for Mosaic Choir and Orchestra (Sophomore-Junior)
• Contract musician for Olympic Ballet Theatre (Junior)
• Contract musician as part of local Edmonds string quartet (Sophomore-Senior)

Counselor said my essay was 9/10 ish.

My biggest worry is the GPA. I’ve got decent-ish test scores, but Math is my weakest subject.
Thanks!

1716

k

1717

SAT 2320, 800 Math, 760 Reading, 760 Writing

GPA - 3.98 UW, GPA 4.73 W

Freshman Year: Chemistry, Biology, Honors Alg 2/ Trig, Spanish 2, Beginning Journalism, Volleyball

Sophomore Year: AP Euro, AP Chem, Honors Pre-Calc, Concert Band, Volleyball, Honors BritLit, AP Biology, AP Art History,
Summer: Physics, DNA to Organisms (UC Biology Class)

Junior Year: AP United States History, AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Lang, Advanced Pre-med II, Volleyball
Summer: self-study AP Mechanics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Cal-State Fullerton

Senior Year: AP Stats, AP Eng Lit, AP Gov, AP Art 2D Design, Wind Symphony, Advanced Premed I, AP Comp Sci, AP Spanish, Volleyball, AP Spanish
Summer: Cosmos at UCI

ECs: USAMO, USAJMO, CHHMC, Marchingband, Volleyball, Top Band Senior Year

Recieved ALL A’s Except for AP Chemistry Sophomore Year (Got a B+)
I doubled on Science and Blew it…

Want to Major in Bioengineering? but blew it with AP Chemistry. I blew it so bad.

I got a B in the most important Science Class I needed for this major :frowning:

1718

Hello
I used to think I had a somewhat okay chance at Berk but now looking at everyone else’s amazing stats, I’m not so sure!! Let me know what you think! Don’t be afraid to be harshly honest
So here are some things on my app (not everything, of course)

(Letters & Science)
-Mexican, female
-CA resident
-GPA: 4.47 weighted and 3.94 unweighted (on my transcript, im not sure what the uc gpa is)
-SAT: 1900 (critical reading: 570, math: 680, writing: 650)
-ACT: 26 (bad, i know)
-AP scores: spanish lang: 5, english lit: 3, chem: 3
-Extracurriculars: theyre okay, nothing super special though

Also, they didn’t request a letter of recommendation from me, so I’m not sure if I’m going to be seriously considered.
Thanks to anyone who takes the time to give me their honest opinion, I appreciate it!

1719

I am an out of state applicant- applied to UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. I applied to engineering- eecs (major)
I come from a highly competitive Jesuit/Private High School where A-'s count as 3.7’s, limited AP courses b/c coursework is designed by the school (you dont really choose electives or courses).

UC GPA- not sure, couldnt find it, however my UC unweighted GPA is a 4 (not sure how to calculate the weighted gpa)
GPA unweighted- 3.97/4
weighted- 3.99/4.02 (b/c of limited AP’s available and ap’s weighted as 4.5)

ACT- 32 (one sitting) (33 math, 34 science, 30 reading, 32 writing)- 33 superscored (doesnt matter though)
SAT- accidentally submitted, because when I submitted my subject tests, it submitted all my scores
sat 1990, Math II 780, US History 620
AP- BC Calculus 5 (AB subscore-5), AP US HIstory 4

Varsity athlete (5 letters) and captain in track, xc, and swimming/ Eagle Scout/ Seminary religious graduate
Currently take Multivariable Calculus (1st semester-98%), AP Bio, AP Gov, Religion course, Dante
Was an intern at Stanford my Junior Summer- Cardiothoracic summer internship

Letters of Recommendation were requested- sent Physics and History Teacher

1720

SAT - 1400 (Terrible, I know.)

ACT - 29
English - 23, Math - 29, Reading - 32, Science - 30, Writing - 20, ELA - 25, STEM - 30

GPA - Unweighted 3.97, Weighted 4.03, UC 4.8

Involved heavily in Key Club, FFA, CSF, Choir, and have been the president of a social club for high schoolers with and without down syndrome for the past three years.

Built a website at 13, and it has now received a total of 3.9 million views. (Important for major)

Senior classes - AP Bio Received 106% first semester, APEG received 94% , AP Lit received 99%, ASB Leadership 100%, and took American Sign Language 2 at the local community college and received an A.

Attended California Girls State, ran for governor.

Letters of recommendation were requested, sent in by APUSH and APEG teacher, and my counselor.

I’m really not sure if I will get in, but I feel extremely passionate about this school. I think my test scores will harm my chances the most.