What are my chances? Barnard, Boston University, USC, UC Berkeley, UT Austin

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I’m an incoming senior from Texas applying to the following schools for a Psychology major.

I will be applying Barnard ED and the remaining schools Early Action.

I finished the year with a 4.0 GPA. but my cumulative GPA is a 3.72.
I am top 16%, ranked 83/522.

SAT: 1360

I took one AP as a sophmore, I am taking 4 as a junior, and I plan on taking 5 as a senior.

I had straight A’s my freshman year when I took 4 honors classes, but I had 3 B’s as a sophmore when I took only 1 AP and 1 honors course. I plan on writing my essay about the circumstances I was under when my grades dropped.

My first semester of junior year ended with 5 As and 2 Bs, both of which I raised. The only reason I had 2 Bs is because I live in a Harvey affected area and we had missed a solid 3 weeks of school which caused some chaos.

AP Scores: Human Geography (5) Psychology (4) World History (5) Language and Composition (3)

Senior Course Load: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Environmental Science, AP Cal AB, AP Spanish, Entrepeneurship

Awards:
Academic Achievement Award 2016, 2017, 2018
National Honor Society 2017- Present
National English Honor Society 2017- Present
National Social Studies Honor Society 2017- Present
AP Scholar with Honor

ECs:
Starting a mental health non profit this summer.
Model UN: 2017- Present
DECA: 2017- Present; participated in DECA States 2018
Historian of African Student Association 2017- Present
Mock Trial Team Manager 2015-2016
Debate Team member 2016-2017
Young Women’s Leadership 2017- Present

Volunteer/Community Service Work:
I have completed 100 hours of service working with an equestrian therapy program that focuses on the rehabilitation of people with special needs. I continue to volunteer with them till I graduate, because a lot of what I want to do in the future has been inspired by my experiences at this program.
25+ hours teaching children English, Math, and Hygiene in India
Recorded audio books for a digital library for the visually impaired in India (for a non profit)
25 Hours with National Honors Society

Additional:
I expect my recs to be 10/10.
I attended Barnard PCP this summer and had an interview that went very well.
I am both a California and Texas resident.
I know I haven’t continued any club for a long time but that’s because I had personal issues that interfered with extracurriculars and I hope to convey that even though I can’t take back the past, I am taking control of my future and trying to ensure I’m being the best student and member of society that I can be.

2

For UC Berkeley, have you calculated your UC GPA which includes 10th and 11th grade coursework, including up to eight semesters of honors courses (no more than 4 from 10th grade).

Not sure you would be considered a California is resident by UC Berkeley’s criteria. UCs require that applicants live in California for a year before school starts.

3

My mother lives in California and I attended my freshman year there, so according to their website I am a California resident. And yes, my UC GPA is 3.8 unweighted

4

GPA and SAT are likely to limit your chances at Berkeley.

5

What about the other schools?

6

GPA is risky, but SAT is definitely too low for Berkeley. ECs look good so don’t worry there. With strong recommendations and by writing about why your GPA is a little on the lower side, you should be fine for most of these schools. If you have time, definitely retake the SAT or take the ACT. Here is my prediction:

Barnard - No, primarily due to SAT
Boston University - Yes
USC - Definitely yes ( I know people who have gotten in for a psych major with way worse credentials)
UC Berkeley - Possibility, once again the SAT is a problem
UT Austin - Yes

7

I’d double check the residency thing, if your hoping for instate tuition. I don’t think it works that way. All three of my kids attend or attended UCs and I’ve read a lot about “residency for tuition”.

Good luck.