UC Berkeley Class of 2030 Official Thread

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
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D26 accepted!

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: College of L&S (applied as Poli Sci)

UC Unweighted GPA: (maximum 4.0) 3.96

UC Capped Weighted GPA: (maximum 4.4): 4.28

UC Fully Weighted GPA: (maximum 5.0): 4.88

Number of UC Approved Honors courses: 2

Number of AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses): 15 APs and 4 DEs total; 10 with scores, mostly 5s; 5 pending APs and 1 DE. Took toughest science, math and non sci-APs at school except Physics. All As save 1 B first semester of AP Chem.

1520 SAT in one sitting (for private schools)

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none, local, school and regional awards though.

SUBJECTIVE::

Extracurriculars: Lots of leadership and activities to underserved communities for which she won awards, regional recognition and won grant funding for. GS Gold Award, NHS, mock trial attorney etc.

Personal Insight essays (details): Good enough I suppose

Supplemental/Augmented Review: No

DEMOGRAPHICS::

State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): SoCal large public

Applied for need-based financial aid? Y

First Generation? N

Weaknesses: Strong ECs for many schools but not outstanding.

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/denied: Accepted to UCI, UCD, UCSB, UCSD, Pomona, Haverford, Davidson, Connecticut College and Emory. Rejected by Amherst and WL at UCLA (which stung as that’s her parents’ alma mater and where S23 attends). Pretty happy with overall results and will decide in the coming weeks.

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My son’s decision: accepted for engineering physics

UC UW: 4.0

Weighted: 4.6 (I think?)

11 or so APs including AP Physics 1, 2, Physics C through a different program (Stanford OHS), multivariable calc and differential equations. All 5’s and 1 4 on tests.

in state

not first gen

strengths: 2 significant summer STEM programs, and 1 published peer-reviewed paper (first author) for astrophysics

President of high school affinity group with significant fund raising

Lots of volunteer tutoring and TAing

Worked part-time job for 5 years

accepted at UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCI, Cal Poly SLO, Stanford.

Waitlisted at Johns Hopkins.

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Decision: Accepted

Major: EECS

Merit awarded: None

GPA: 4.0 / 4.33 / 4.67

ELC: yes

AP: 13: Calc BC (5), Stats (5), Physics 1 (5), Physics C:Mech (5), Physics C:E&M (4), CSP (5), World History (5), US History (5), Micro (5), CSA (IP), Chem (IP), Macro (IP), Gov (IP)

DE: 3: Calc 1, Multivariable Calc, Linear Algebra

Major Awards: USAMO & USACO Gold

Extracurriculars: Various activities, hobby projects and club leadership positions, all connected to interests in Math and CS.

Job: Part-time summer work related to major.

Community service: Tutoring, volunteering. Earned PVSA-Gold.

State/location of HS: Public HS in CA.

Applied for need-based financial aid: No. Did not submit FAFSA.

First Generation: No

Accepted: UCB, UCSD (full ride), UCLA, UCI, UCSB, UCD, UCR, Georgia Tech, UW-Madison, UMD, UNC, Purdue, ASU, CalPoly, SJSU

Waitlisted: CMU

Rejected: UW-Seattle, UIUC, UT-Austin, USC

Pending: Stanford, UMich

General comments: Had applied for COSMOS after 9th and 10th and was rejected both times.

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Accepted: EECS

Merit awarded: None

9-12 Unweighted GPA: 3.98

UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.2

UC 10-11 Weighted GPA: 4.68

ELC: yes

Honors courses: 3

AP: 10: CSP (5), CSA (5), Physics C (5), Calc AB (5), Psych (5), Micro (IP), Macro (IP), Calc BC (IP), Bio (IP), French (IP)

DE: 13, GPA 4.0

Extracurriculars: secretary NHS, CSF, president key club, president tutoring club, captain robotics, president science club, vp CS honor society, president volunteering club, TKD second degree…

Job: yes related to major

Community service: 300+ ( tutoring, services, nhs, csf, key club)

Summer Activities: cosmos ucsc cluster 11

State/location of HS: CA, Bay Area, Public HS

Applied for need-based financial aid: No

First Generation: No

Accepted: USC (CA), UCSC, UCD, UCI, UCSB, UCSD, SJSU, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, Santa Clara, UMD, Purdue, UW Madison , Ohio State, Penn State, RPI, WPI, UF, CWRU, CU Boulder

Waitlisted: UIUC, UW Seattle, UCLA

Denied: MIT

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Daughter accepted! In-state, applied for English. We’re in SoCal, but flying up tomorrow to visit campus and walk around. We’re thrilled. It’s been a long process, but it ended with a pleasant surprise. Go Bears!

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Accepted in state for Poli Sc.
4.0/4.5 - 12 APs (7 5’s, 5 In-progress), few DEs

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S26 rejected for EECS, in state

GPA: 4.0 UW, FW around 4.7

SAT:1560

8 APs (all 5s, 2 in Sr year), Lin. Algebra from college

ELC: yes

Competitive SoCal high school

ECs: avg/good, one state level stem competition award

Acceptances so far: NYU, UCSD, UCI, UCD, UCSB(with reception invitation), UMass AMHERST($18k merit), UMN ($30k merit with National Merit Finalist status)

Waitlisted: UCLA, Georgia Tech

Rejections: Stanford, UCB, Brown, Dartmouth, UW, UT Austin, UIUC, MIT, JHU, Yale, University of Toronto (applied for CS everywhere)

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Showing just how random the UC dispersion of results can be. Shocked my DS ended up on the waitlist (entire family, including him, was expecting a decline). In retrospect, I think his PIQs were strong and relatively unique, so maybe that’s the difference?

Decision: Waitlisted

Intended major: Physics

UC UW/ CappedW/ Fully W GPA: 3.75 / 4.08 / 4.17
Number of a-g courses taken 9-12th: 22
Number of UC approved Honors/AP/IB or DE classes: 7 AP, 1 DE

Location: SF Bay area

First Gen?: No

Accepted: UC Davis, UCSC, Cal Poly SLO, Santa Clara, Chapman, UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, SJSU, SFSU

Waitlisted: UC Berkeley, Occidental, UCI

Declined: Harvey Mudd, UCSB, UCSD, UCLA, USC

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I have long said that I believe the PIQs can make the difference in getting admitted. I think they are far more important than the common app essay in admissions, but most people don’t fully understand their importance. They are your job interview. You sell your candidacy in the PIQs.

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I would agree that the PIQs are important. But for those students who were NOT admitted, it’s important not to blame yourself and beat yourself up about whether you should have done something different on your PIQs. My daughter was rejected, and at times she has been going back and looking at her PIQs and picking them apart, which is just making her feel bad. In reality, you will never know why you were admitted or not admitted. Perhaps my daughter’s PIQs came across well (I think they are strong!), and it was a different factor that tipped the balance for her towards rejection. The UCs consider many factors, and the PIQs are just a part of the decision.

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Your daughter has some great acceptances. She shouldn’t over scrutinize her essays. I know you know this, but focus on the schools that feel she is right for them and that they are right for her.

Reading through the UC acceptances, I saw very few (if any) students who were completely shut out of the UCs.

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Yes! My point was just that it’s really useful for students to focus on PIQs before applying… but not as useful in hindsight, and can be counterproductive :slight_smile:

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My ds was rejected as well. The top 8 or 9 kids (unofficial ranking) were all rejected from UCB

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Decision: Accepted
Major: Statistics

ACADEMIC STATS:
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.56
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.74
ELC (top 9% CA HS): Yes
Comments about course load: Heavy emphasis on Dual Enrollment courses at local CC
Number of a-g courses: 25ish
Number of UC Approved Honors courses: 4
Number of AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses): 5
Number of IB courses/exams (score in parentheses): 0, but 7 CC Dual Enrollment
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

SUBJECTIVE:
Extracurriculars: Heavy on musical theater and Choir, Soccer, Track and Field, a few clubs
Job/Work Experience: Tutor for Chemistry and Statistics
Volunteer/Community service: She and her friend did a neat project handing out “cooling packages” last summer at the local homeless encampment (this was their own idea - I was extremely proud)
Personal Insight essays (details): Particularly strong essays. She focused on how musical theater taught her lessons that she then applied to other aspects of her life.

DEMOGRAPHICS:
State/location of HS: In-State large public high school in Central Valley
Applied for need-based financial aid? No
First Generation? No
Accepted: CSU Fullerton, CSU Monterey Bay, Westmont, St. Mary’s, UCD, Cal Poly SLO, UCSD, UCI, Occidental, NYU
Waitlisted: UCLA
Rejected: USC

Reflection: We’ll be visiting Cal Poly, UCSD, UCD, Cal and NYU and she’ll choose from there. It’s starting to get very real that our youngest child will be leaving the nest in a few short months. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

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Daughter accepted Civil Engineering. CA resident. 3.9/4.5 gpa. 8 Aps. 3 duel enrollments. Captain and 4 year varsity dance team, ranked #1 at this time. Rejected by Cal Poly, her dream school. She’s probably gonna go to Davis unless someone can convince us otherwise.

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why? Cal is the #1 undergrad civil engineering program in the country. Unless she is getting a huge scholarship from Davis i’m scratching my head here. Congrats :tada: and good luck with the decision.

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One word. Fear. It’s big and intimidating. She is highly considering it and struggling to make her decision. My concern is campus life and surrounding area.

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Every student needs to find their happy place so if she is happy then she will be a successful student. Berkeley can be a great option for some students and Davis can be a great option for others. Wishing her the best of luck on her decision.

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I hope she (and you) visit Berkeley before making a decision. I love Davis and if that’s where your D26 feels happiest, that’s wonderful. But it sounds a bit like you both are describing Berkeley based on stereotypes. It’s a work hard, play hard school with tons of spirit. It’s a gorgeous campus with hiking trails right in its backyard. Tons of live music, record shops, bookstores, thrift shops, cafes and a strong community right at your door. It’s not a perfect place but it has much to recommend it.

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That’s all true. We are going to visit for Cal Day before deciding Davis after reading here.

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