How can I get into UC Berkeley?

Question

So I have started my freshman year and I am currently taking 8 periods and cross country after school. I'm in Geometry, Honors Biology, Orchestra, Health, Spanish 2 and the rest is standard english and p.e. What are some of the things I should do to have a higher chance of getting into Berkeley? Should I join community service clubs? What classes should I take? SATs? What are the basic things that you think a college would like. And also, if I take badminton instead of cross country would colleges look at them differently or would they give the other sport more credit(since cross country leaves me really exhausted and im really tired to do my homework). Yeah thanks

Answer 1

Go over their admissions site with a fine tooth comb and send a message to their admission staff with any queries:

http://students.berkeley.edu/admissions/...

Check with them every year to ensure you are on track.

For classes - basically do the most rigorous and challenging courses you can take.  For SAT's - the higher the better.  For extracurriculars -see if you can rise to a leadership position such as president, secretary, or treasurer rather than do a heap of them.  Taking badminton or cross country will not make any difference per se - except of course you may be better at one than other other.

The order of importance is the best grades you can get in the most rigorous and demanding courses at your school.  This is followed closely by SATs.  However great SATs can never make up for poor grades, but near perfect grades will often allow you to get away with less than steller SAT's.  Of least importance, but still important, is extracurriculars.  Do not go for quantity here - go for quality.  Not only will this allow you to do better at them, but you can put your greatest effort into where it will count the most - your studies.

Thanks

Bill  

Answer 2

Do good on SATs, get a lot of volunteer and leadership activities (make sure you've been in them long enough to show you're committed), and good GPA. Also, what I've noticed is if you're a minority and not originally born in the US, you will have a greater chance of getting in.