iheartcake

So I have been thoroughly searching Google for chats and discussion boards on posts about getting into U.C. Berkely in an attempt to gauge my chances. So maybe my situation can help others. Here are my stats: I am applying this fall for Fall 2010. I am a transfer student attending a california community college. My current G.P.A is 3.916 (i just got my first B aaaacccckkkkk) I do have 1 W(ithdraw) on my record, but retook the class and got an A. I have been volunteering at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and when I apply, I would have been doing that for 7 months. I am in the Honors program and have won an academic award for Fall 08, I think it was the Deans Honor Roll, etc whatever Also, as soon as I get a job, I will be listing that too. I am majoring in ANTHROPOLOGY—-yeahhhhhhhh!

Ok now for some helpful educational info and tids and bits. From what I am hearing about Berkeley, IT IS NOT SOLELY ABOUT GRADES!!! Berkeley wants to know that you have passion and will be a valuable member/contributer of that educational community. So get involved in something. It so easy trust me. Remember organizations want free help and my nonprofit has been very accomodating and appreciative of my help and time. Also, it is another “something” that you can write about and give you “insight” in your application statement. But hopefully you gain more from it than that. Personally, I have thoroughly learned about Pancreatic Cancer, how a nonprofit works, that I want to help people in my life, but I do not want an office job.

Second, to get in under your major, please make sure that you are taking classes to support that major. Check your majors page on the Berkeley site. If you do not take enough classes to support your major, Berkeley will not accept you under that major and unfortunately, unlike some other U.C.’s, they will not accept you under an alternate major. For example, the anthro page merely states that my prerequisites are Cultural and Physical Anthro and Archaeology classes. However, I have gone above and beyond these requirements; I have taken many other social sciences and will be taking two more (especially ones that are anthro inclined) to demonstrate to them that I am serious about anthro. For example Native American Cultures, Sociology and the Nature of Human Language. Also, for the math requirement, while i do intend to take calculus and higher, for this fall I am taking Statistics for Social Science Majors. See what I mean? Don’t give them a reason to reject you!!!

Third of all timing is key! This little bit may be more helpful for those applying next fall, but i just found out that you need to complete your classes that you will be submitting to them by the fall semester/quarter in which you are applying. In other words, since I am applying this fall, all of my G.E. and major coursework needs to be completed by this Fall. So even though my community college has a winter and spring semester, they will not be taking those tentative classes into consideration at all. While some other colleges give you until Spring to complete your requirements, Berkeley does not. So yeah….a lot of pressure and planning….. Well I have said my peace, I will update my G.P.A and student info in the future. Good luck fellow, future Berkely-ites !!!!

Well, I purposely placed this one at the top because it is the most important. I had to quit Ross because it was too far from my house and took a severe toll on my car, which then subsequently broke down. I have only been applying online, but have received no feedback or calls or anything. Now I am going to start going out to apply.