The University of California - Berkeley

“Good grades in high school + a really kick assJul 04 2017English
Good grades in high school + a really kick ass essay
SAT: 1400 Female

“Although I took AP's in high school, I onlyJun 19 2011Biology
Although I took AP's in high school, I only took five, and some of my friends at Cal took 14...so I don't think it was the rigorousness of my schedule (academically) that allowed me to attend this university. And while my test scores were pretty good, they were not spectacularly exceptional. So, I guess that leaves extracurriculars. I was really involved with music during my time in high school. My senior year, for example, I was in three orchestras and two quartets (some were youth orchestras in the community, and one of the quartets was through a performing arts school). I had leadership positions within the orchestra and my section, and made sure that I wrote about that in my essay. I was also on Varsity tennis and did some biomedical research at a nearby university. So, it wasn't just my classroom and test taking experiences that got me into Cal--it was what I was doing when I wasn't necessarily studying.
ACT: 33 SAT: 2070 Female

“I got good grades and spent a year abroadOct 16 2010English
I got good grades and spent a year abroad volunteering with children, but I think the essays really sealed the deal for me. Don't underestimate the power of your individual voice! The essays give you an opportunity to prove that you're more than a series of numbers.
ACT: 31 Female

“Spend a lot of time beefing up yourNov 12 2008Other
Spend a lot of time beefing up your essays. Connect what you've done to what you plan on doing later in life. Show that your extracurricular activities have some application, prove that they weren't just resume fillers.
SAT: 1980 Female

“Make yourself seem well rounded and write a strongAug 18 2007Mechanical Engineering
Make yourself seem well rounded and write a strong essay.
Male