UC Berkeley

[Anonymous]

Friend was oos, national merit, Val, tons ap and rigor, sport- got zero ivies but did get ucla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

My kid is at Cal and frankly your kid sounds great. The school likes a lot of community involvement so make sure that stands out in her essays. I think she has a great chance and good luck.

Thanks for your kind words! I really appreciate the vote of confidence!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

Meh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

They also like kids who work.

[Anonymous]

DC is a sophomore there now - similar stats and superlative essays - 100% think the essays were critical, so worth the effort imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

So play up any of this stuff that is strongly beneficial to the local community. That is going to help you most. A scattering of accolades are slightly less enticing when they focus so strongly on giving back, doing good, making a difference in a really concrete way. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My fresman son’s suitemate at UC Davis graduated from St. Albans. I found that intriguing. I thought DC Big 3 looked down their noses at UC’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

Berkeley's OOS acceptance rate is about 3-4% for the past several years.

All you can tell her is this^, and leave it at that.

My DC with a 4.92 wgpa, 4.0 unwgpa from a magnet program was rejected at UCLA and Cal. TBF, DC's major is CS, which is probably the most competitive major.

My DC with 4.61 wgpa, 4.0 unwgpa from TJ was accepted at Cal with EE/CS.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on her major. What's she thinking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a sophomore there now - similar stats and superlative essays - 100% think the essays were critical, so worth the effort imo

Is he/she happy there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

So play up any of this stuff that is strongly beneficial to the local community. That is going to help you most. A scattering of accolades are slightly less enticing when they focus so strongly on giving back, doing good, making a difference in a really concrete way. Good luck!

Definitely focus on Best Buddies and Morgan's Message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

So play up any of this stuff that is strongly beneficial to the local community. That is going to help you most. A scattering of accolades are slightly less enticing when they focus so strongly on giving back, doing good, making a difference in a really concrete way. Good luck!

Definitely focus on Best Buddies and Morgan's Message.

I've never heard of either of those organizations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

Berkeley's OOS acceptance rate is about 3-4% for the past several years.

All you can tell her is this^, and leave it at that.

My DC with a 4.92 wgpa, 4.0 unwgpa from a magnet program was rejected at UCLA and Cal. TBF, DC's major is CS, which is probably the most competitive major.

My DC with 4.61 wgpa, 4.0 unwgpa from TJ was accepted at Cal with EE/CS.

goes to show how much of a lottery it is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to convince DD not to spend time and energy on the UC Berkeley application. She's a fantastic kid with a 4.3, strong leadership, paid job, community service, etc. But there is no way she's going to stand out and get into Berkeley. But her counselor keeps telling her "you never know". The application is separate from common app and there are 4 supplementals. Just feels like a waste of time. Sorry - no real question, just venting.

What exactly do you mean by "strong leadership"? I'm not being snarky at all just curious. It might be just what Berkeley is looking for.

Actively involved in Best Buddies, president this year; started a Morgan's Message chapter at her school; SGA rep all 4 years; Varsity FH & Lax for all 4 years; coaches adapted field hockey, works part time at a gym two mornings a week, played club lax through end of junior year. NHS, Psych honors society. Just a pretty well rounded, involved student.

So play up any of this stuff that is strongly beneficial to the local community. That is going to help you most. A scattering of accolades are slightly less enticing when they focus so strongly on giving back, doing good, making a difference in a really concrete way. Good luck!

Definitely focus on Best Buddies and Morgan's Message.

I've never heard of either of those organizations.

That's irrelevant.