Chances at UCLA or Berkeley?

Question

Weighted GPA: around 4.29 to 4.31
Unweighted: around 3.92 to 3.95
SAT I: 580 (RC), 610 (W), 640 (M)
SAT II (they're low, I know): 640 (Math II), 570 (French).
CA resident
ELC-status
Asian- which may hurt my chances.

I've gotten all A's in high school so far except for the two B's that I had in Calculus BC (man that class was hard).

I am rank 10 out of 973 students of my HS senior class.

As for extracurriculars, I'm the treasurer of the French Club, the treasurer of IHA (international humanitarian assistance), and one of the editors of my school's daily online newspaper. I also have an afterschool job.

I never took any AP exams (b/c I feel that the college board is ripping us off) but I took two classes at a junior college (Algebra 2 and Calculus 1) and recieved A's and college credit in both classes. I am also currently taking Sociology 1 at a JC.

Also, I've already been accepted to UC Davis and I think I have guaranteed admission to UCSD b/c of my ELC-status.

To answer the 1st answerer's question, being asian can hurt may chances b/c UCLA and UCB are rumored to lower their standards for non-asian minorities while increasing their standards for asians and whites. It's even more difficult for an asian applicant to get in than it is for a white applicant. This is to "diversify" the campus.

Answer 1

Being Asian will definitely not hurt your chances for admission this year, because Cal and UCLA are both still race-blind in their admissions.

In terms of how your stats fare against the usual for UCLA and Berkeley, I've found this site really helpful: http://admitspit.wordpress.com/2006/10/24/typical-sat-scores-for-specific-top-schools/ and http://admitspit.wordpress.com/2006/09/18/admission-statistics-for-top-colleges-2006/.

Honestly, I think your SATs are a bit low, but your GPA is rather stellar. I think your resistance to taking APs is very interesting. I've always been told that UCs want you to take APs, so maybe it won't look too great that you didn't take them... unless you turn it into something positive... The last personal statement essay allows you to tell them anything else about yourself or your academic record, and you may (if you don't have anything more important to write about by the third essay) want to explain your stance about AP exams, and how instead you opted for classes at community college and how you think that experience was better, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 2

For Cal, your essays play a much larger role in the admissions process. They read each essay at least twice while UCLA number crunches.

People tend to get in to one or the other unless they are really good, in which case, both will accept them.

I think that Cal would be a better choice, because of its cultural history, many contributions to the world of science, Coach Tedford and our football team, and is the top public university in the world.

The London Times Higher Education Supplement ranked Cal as the #2 university in the world in 2004 and since then, Cal has remained in the top 10. I think US News and World Report ranks Cal as the #20ish university in the nation.

Answer 3

Yes, being Asian will hurt your chances. The SATs are pretty low. Your extra currics aren't spectacular. You have a slim chance, but if you get in, it will only be to one. I can't see both accepting you. It's those really low SAT scores. The ones in the 500s mainly. They're on the extreme low end of the scale, but just high enough where you can't clearly say that they are too low.

I'm not sure what ELC status is, so I didn't factor that in.

Answer 4

Jian Li of Yale has filed a suit against Princeton that says they discriminate against Asians in order to help other races. You can look at some of those articles if it interests you...

As for the UCLA and Berkeley admission. I think you have a decent shot. Your GPA is fairly decent and you seem to have decent extracurriculars. I guess it will all depend on how well you presented them in your essays. I also think that being in state will help a great deal, but I'm not 100% sure.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

One could argue that since majority of the UC campuses (excluding Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, each has about 15%-20% Asian student population) has about 40%-50% Asian student population, that there is no discrimination against Asians (which only consist of 10-15% of the state population).

Answer 6

why would being Asian hurt your chances. I don't see why you think that.