Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Would I have a better chance at getting into UC-Berkeley?

I would really like to get into UC-Berkeley and I am working very hard through my high school courses to receive good grades and test scores. Also, I have been wondering if being a fifth generation uc-berkeley student (two of the four previous generations were professors) and also being a first generation student as well. You see I am mixed, half White, half Mexican. So, do you think that my interesting background will help me receive admission?

Race/ethnicity is not considered for UC admissions. Neither is legacy (having relatives who attended Cal).

Berkeley is general achievement oriented (academic or extracurricular), meaning admissions is willing to overlook bad grades/test scores when excellent extracurriculars and/or extraordinary hardships are in the equation. Berkeley is especially interested in students who will take advantage of what Berkeley has to offer and become the engine of social change.

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2 Responses to “Would I have a better chance at getting into UC-Berkeley?”

mila Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 am

Your ethnic background will help you in admissions, although it shouldn’t based on Bakke v. UC Regents. Affirmative action still exists in the UC system so that will work to your advantage if you play it up.
Otherwise, the UCs don’t ask you to list family members that attended the school on your application, so legacies do not matter. The fact that you had family that TAUGHT there, on the other hand, may present an advantage if they were friendly with the admissions folks or if you can write about how being related to UC professors has shaped who you are.
Remember that the UC application is one for all campuses, so talking about only Cal in the app won’t help. Write an application that is good for all schools.
References :

Ms. Sun Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:40 am

Race/ethnicity is not considered for UC admissions. Neither is legacy (having relatives who attended Cal).

Berkeley is general achievement oriented (academic or extracurricular), meaning admissions is willing to overlook bad grades/test scores when excellent extracurriculars and/or extraordinary hardships are in the equation. Berkeley is especially interested in students who will take advantage of what Berkeley has to offer and become the engine of social change.
References :
I am a college admissions consultant specializing in the admissions process of highly selective California public universities. Aside from advising students, I volunteer with Berkeley and UCLA on high school admissions outreach (I attend college fairs to promote the schools). I also volunteer to score Alumni Scholarship applications and interview the applicants (in the Los Angeles area) for both campuses. I received my BA from Berkeley and I was in a PhD program at UCLA.

I offer free and fee-based services to high school and transfer students who are interested in attending highly selective California public universities. You can contact me thru my web site if you need help planning your academic curriculum, choosing extracurricular activities, writing your personal statement, or applying for scholarships: http://www.AskMsSun.com/

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