The University of California - Berkeley

“If you belong to the "disadvantaged" group, you'll getJan 06 2004Economics
If you belong to the "disadvantaged" group, you'll get in easily.

If you're a prospective engineering major who just happens to be Asian and you attend a super competitive school in a rich city, TOUGH LUCK... but once you arrive, you'll belong to the smartest group of people that really makes Berkeley shine.

Look:

If you're of "disadvantaged" race, you live in a low-class city, you're HS's average SAT is a strong 800, 1% of your class go to college (mostly community college or state colleges, etc...), and you took that ONE AP class in your junior year and got that GOOOOOD 3 while working full-time + overtime and taking care of your 13 siblings and your sick mother/father. Your GPA just happens to be a 4.99 (reference: ur classmate who got a 4.98 went to a community college. ur sister who got a 4.97 even got rejected from a local community colllege and therefore is working as a full-time babysister). CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY ADMITTED TO CAL! WELCOME TO THE BOTTOM 30%!!! yay!!!

Case 2:
You're a hard-working son/daughter of a doctor+lawyer parents living in a respectable $6.8million house in an upper class neighborhood. ur HS's average SAT is 1410, and you got a 4.2 GPA after taking 12 APs, on which you received 10 5's and 2 4's. O yeah, ur Asian and u got a 1540 onthe SAT.
YOU'LL GET INTO BERKELEY, BUT ONLY AFTER BERKELEY ACCEPTS THAT "underpriviledged/HISToRicalLY DiSaDvanTAGed group" but once you get in, you'll be in the top 4%.

and the final result comes out to be...
11% acceptance rate for the ultimate asian major: EECS (electrical engineering and computer science)
13% acceptance rate for undeclared-engineering
overall 15% acceptance rate for engineering.

and easy% acceptance rate for anti-asian arts/humanities majors.
SAT: 1580 Male

“If you are asian and from a large publicOct 27 2003Cultures/Civilization
If you are asian and from a large public school, to have a minimum shot you gotta get above 1500 on your SAT. To have a real shot, go for above 1550. If you went to a small catholic high school, your chances are much better with 1400 range. Good luck.
SAT: 1600 Male

“Honestly, there is not much you can do toOct 21 2003Undecided
Honestly, there is not much you can do to get in besides really good grades and good test scores. The essay is important, but it is not as important in the admission process as they make it out to be.
SAT: 1400 Female

“Do lots of extracirricularApr 06 2003Computer Science
Do lots of extracirricular activities, especially community service. SATs and grades are important too, but your admission essay and other community activities are just as important.
ACT: 28 SAT: 1370 Female

“Get good gradesNov 28 2002Computer Science
Get good grades. Get a good SAT score (use prep programs- I used Ivy West and Princeton Review). Do extracurriculars. Basically do everything your counselor tells you to.

The second most important thing to keep in mind (after doing everything your counselor tells you) is that stupid people will get in to Berkeley. Smart people will be rejected. This is Admissions.
SAT: 1330 Male