Berkeley Roommate Assignments Out; Move-In Day 8/20-8/21 10-5pm

***UPDATE AS OF 8/7/11: The link to Cal's roommate assignment has been experiencing login problems. As of 4:35am, the link still does not work.]***

UC Berkeley just released their roommate assignments (housing assignment was released a month ago). You can go online to check. They also have a list of things to bring. Note: They highly recommend you bring a dolly to move-in day, as there may be a wait to get a cart. Albeit you may be going to another UC, you might want to check out Cal's list of things to bring. I imagine they will be very similar (i.e. XL twin bed sheets, etc).

For more info on Berkeley's Move-in Day and roommate assignments:

UC Berkeley Move-In Day 

To find out your Cal Rommate(s)

Do I still have to take the SAT Subject Tests for Fall 2012? Maybe...

For the UC Fall 2012 applicants, UC changed their policy and eliminated the required two SAT Subject Tests. Note, however, that subject tests exam results can satisfy an applicant's "a-g" requirement.


Note also that some campuses with some majors recommend that particular Subject Tests are taken if they are considered under "comprehensive review."
"Comprehensive review consists of more than a dozen academic and personal factors that are considered in the evaluation process. Admission is offered to students who receive the highest rankings." --UC Admissions


 For more information on this, click here: Info the on the SAT Subject Test for Fall 2012 applicants and here: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/SAT-subject-tests/index.html

So, if you took any SAT Subject Tests in sophomore or junior year, it wasn't a waste. You can satisfy the above requirements when reporting your scores. In other words, it can only help your UC application. As UC states, submitting decent scores of your SAT Subjects tests are "value-added achievements." (direct quote)

Dorm Moving Day Tips

As the middle of August looms near, your college freshman will soon be packing and on her/his way to college. I personally will be going through this myself  later on this month at Berkeley and then next month at UCLA. I found these tips helpful, as posted on collegeconfidential.com [props to that site]:


Says member "Collegeshopping":

• "Pack all bedding to make the bed that day in a heavy duty contractor bag. Pack it backwards so the bed skirt is on the top, followed by the mattress pad, sheets, blanket, etc. Put the pillowcases on before you put them in the bag and then use this bag for any trash that comes about.
• If clothes are being hung, put them in rolling suitcases already on the hangers.
• Make sure anything that is packaged is unpackaged if possible. If you are driving in a car, take the frig out of the box before you leave home and put all your towels and extra sheets inside. A dorm room is really small to be trying to get the frig out of the box.
• Put a lightbulb inside the desk lamp before you leave. Unpack that too and sandwich inbetween the clothes in the suitcase, same for an alarm clock, etc.
• If you are bringing storage drawers, take all the tape and cardboard pieces off and put in the drawers what you think will be storing inside."

"That's all she said....except this piece of just general advise. If you kid has a "suite" bathroom or shares with just one person, buy a caddy anyway. Duplicate shampoo, etc in the caddy and especially a toothbrush, deodorant, and hair brush. If your child in a hurry for a test and someone is in the shower and the door is locked, you can at least grab your caddy and head for the community bath."
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Member "icedragon" said:

• "Bring trashbags, you will enevitably need them on move in day. One will not be enough.
• Ducttape is always good to have on hand, as is sissors.
• Tools! Know where they are at, because most likely the ones the dorms have will already be 'borrowed'.
• A broom helps much after move in, especially with all the stuff tracked in.
• Remember to pack a cooler with cold drinks and whatnot.
• Lable ALL of your stuff so you don't get it mixed up with other peoples stuff.
• Things like matress pads need to be left in the packaging or else you'll loose what little space you have in the car.
• First thing you should set up in the room is a fan. Its pretty much garenteed that the room will be hot and outside hotter, and in that way you won't have to 'bake' as much."     

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Member "kaplan" says:


"Emotions will be running high, so as parents we need to be prepared to step away or slap a piece of duct tape over our mouths. Let your child determine what he/she wants you to do.
I think if you can make the bed, hang the clothes in the closest and quickly point out where the first aid kit is then you have done a great job.
Bring a roll of paper towels.
Many colleges seem to have a set time for the "big goodbye" and then they want the parents to vamoose. This was a difficult moment. I remember walking to the car and most of the moms had that "I am going to break down in tears any moment" look and most dads were looking straight ahead with a very "tight" face. Though there were a few parents doing cartwheels in the parking lot......"
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I'm wondering if I'll be the one needing the tissue or if I'll be doing cartwheels in the parking lot.--SF Mom3 

What does Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) mean? Is it really a "guaranteed spot" at a UC?

For upcoming seniors, at about this time of year, your counselor will start determining which student will be an Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) candidate. Basically, ELC is a designation that you are in the top 9% of your junior class based on your final junior year grades; hence, you will be guaranteed a spot in a UC school (your school must participate in this program.)

ELC is a program by which the University of California identifies top-performing California high school students. Unlike the broader statewide eligibility pathway, which seeks to recognize top students from throughout the state, ELC draws qualified students from among the top 9 percent of each participating high school.  Note: For the Fall 2012 applicants, UC changed the percentage to include the top 9% (it was top 4% last year.)

UD Davis tends to accept close to 100% ELC; 
this may change for Fall 2012.

Note that this does not guarantee you a spot in the top UC campuses such as Berkeley, UCLA and San Diego, because the top students apply to those schools anyway. They will certainly take your application. UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine participate in ELC, and Davis and Irvine are known to take almost 100% of their applicants. Note: For the Fall 2012 applicants, UC Merced (if you apply) is said to be the only UC that will guarantee you ELC admission. However, putting ELC status on your UC applications to other UCs will be an added plus.

To see if you qualify for ELC, here is an explanation: (taken from the University of California website)


The ELC program was implemented to: increase the pool of eligible students who meet the guideline of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, which states that the top 12.5 percent of public high school graduates will be considered UC-eligible and will give UC a presence in each California high school and stimulate a college-going culture at those schools that typically do not send many graduates to the university.


The ELC program also fulfills an important UC admissions goal: to recognize and reward the academic accomplishment of students who have made the most of the opportunities available to them.


To be designated as ELC, a student must have attended an eligible, participating California high school, satisfactorily completed a specific pattern of 11 UC-approved courses prior to the start of senior year, and have a UC-calculated GPA that meets or exceeds the top 9 percent GPA benchmark established by UC for their school. To maintain the ELC status, the student must satisfy the general admissions requirements including the successful completion of the 15 required “a-g” courses, maintain a 3.0 GPA and submit an official copy of ACT with Writing or SAT Reasoning Test scores.

Click here for a more detailed description from UC:
UC info on how to be an ELC admit

If you are a top student, be sure to talk to your counselor when you return to school this fall to see if you qualified.  If so, you/your parents will be given a letter sometime in September/October from UC.

Start getting things together for your UC application now

It's never too early to start collecting your documents for your UC application. You will need specific information when you apply online this October/November. Start collecting them now to avoid mad-dashes to your counselor and VICCI Center (if you go to Lowell).

1. Start getting your final transcripts up until junior year.


UC looks only at your 10th and 11th grade final grades. The classes you took in 9th grade count toward your A-G requirements (i.e. if you took 3 years of English etc); however, it's the final sophomore and junior year grades that matter. Once you get to school this August, start requesting a final up-to-date transcript. This doesn't need to be an official transcript, just an accurate one. This doesn't cost anything if you go to the SFUSD Transcript Office at SOTA (3rd floor), make sure you say you are a graduating senior. At Lowell 's VICCI Center, there is a $1.00 charge.

There is also a "UC GPA" with AP and UC-approved Honors classes adding extra weight to your regular GPA. This is called a "weighted GPA." [more on the UC GPA in future blogs.]

2. Start keeping a resume or running list of all your activities in these specific categories:

a. Colleges Attended While in High School
b. Coursework Other Than A-G
c. Educational Prep Programs (this does not include SAT/ACT prep courses)
d. Volunteer & Community Service
e. Work Experience (hours you worked since 9th grade)
f. Awards & Honors (esp. academic awards)
g. Extracurricular Activities
h. SAT/ACT Test Scores

This may seem like a daunting task, but believe you me, when October comes along, you're going to have to get this together anyway. Coupled with stress you may be feeling, you might forget key activities. Start your running list now and get it together before the fall.

To see what UCs require in their applications for activities, click here:
Information UC requires before you apply online

You will save yourself from a headache this fall if you get this running list going!

Take Those College Tours Now

(This is reposted from an original blog post on 8/1/2011, and is still relevant.)

Visiting USC in front of Tommy Trojan in junior year.

(When my kids toured UCLA in the fall of their junior year.)

Visiting different UC college campuses is a must if you want to get a "feel" for the school.  For some reason, once a student walks on campus, he/she tends to get a certain "campus vibe." It's hard to explain, but if your child knows the campus is a good fit, he/she will know it right away. That's why college campus tours are important.

For entering juniors and even sophomores, now is the time to start looking at campuses.

For entering seniors, it might be a wee bit late unless you tour now. Visiting the colleges during the fall semester senior year is do-able but in all honesty, your schedule will be hectic with college apps, college fairs et al. However, there still is time to sneak in a few tours, especially in you're in the Bay Area, as Cal, Santa Cruz and Davis are in the area. If you weren't able to visit colleges and you're a senior, my advice is to wait until you get accepted into the actual UC colleges next March, and visit their Open Houses in April. All UC campuses will have an Open House for newly admitted freshmen next April.

For a list of University of California Campus tours, in person and an online/virtual tour:

University of California Campus Tours Info

It's always fun watching the kids wear sweatshirts from their college visit bookstores the next day!

Let's Get Real: The UC Numbers

The entering freshmen class to the University of California campuses for the fall 2011 was probably the most competitive. Record number of applicants applied to UCLA, followed by UC San Diego and Berkeley. They predict the numbers will grow in the coming years, since a UC higher education is probably one of the best for your bucks.

Here are the official stats: Fall 2011 UC Applicants Numbers

For a listing of all the UC Fall 2011 Applicants by Campus:
Fall 2011 UC Freshmen Applicants by Campus

That being said, have no fear. SF Mom3 will help you get through this!

SF Mom3: A Wanna-be Tiger Mom's Guide to Getting into a UC ...

SF Mom3: A Wanna-be Tiger Mom's Guide to Getting into a UC ...: "Why it all began. For the past 10 months, I have been involved (okay, obsessed) with the college application process to the University of ..."

A Wanna-be Tiger Mom's Guide to Getting into a UC School

Why it all began.

For the past 10 months, I have been involved (okay, obsessed) with the college application process to the University of California ("UC") eight campuses: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Davis, Riverside and Merced (UCSF is a graduate school concentrating on medicine).

It started when I began to help my then seniors in high school on their college applications in the fall of their senior year. I had heard and read about the college application process, and disregarded it "because my kids were in 10th grade, they're not seniors yet." Little did I know, the college application starts in fact in 9th grade [more on that in later blogs].  Now it was September, and the high schools were giving out notices to seniors about college presentations, college fairs, college workshops and SAT/ACT info. Applying to college has become a reality. Now.

A site for moms helping their kids
apply to college this fall

In October, there were a lot of college presentations that we made sure of attending. I was overwhelmed with the college application process and the financial aid info. So were my kids. My kids and I attended a very helpful "Map to College Workshop", put on by UCSF, free to SFUSD students. Parents were welcome, and so I attended. There, we attended workshops on "How to fill out a UC application," "How to write a personal essay," and other college tips. By far, this is what one needs to attend before tackling the UC applications.

In November, my twins applied to their UC campuses. We tried to send it within the first two weeks of November, to avoid sending it last minute as we were told the system may crash if you send it near November 30th (the UC deadline date). Last minute SAT/ACT and SAT subject tests were taken to improve test scores, as December is the last test date UCs will accept.

And then the wait began.

March came and so did their (okay, our) anxiety. Decisions were in. Acceptances. Rejections. Disappointment. Tribulation. Surprises. More disappointment. Acceptances. Wait-listed.

In the end, to my children's jubilation, Caitlin was accepted to UCLA in the World Arts and Cultures Program with a concentration in dance and KJ was accepted to UC Berkeley as an undeclared major in the College of Letters and Sciences. They will start as freshmen this Fall 2011.

(Whew) Thank you, Jesus. (literally)

I am still in awe of their acceptances, considering the data put out that UCLA received a record high of 61,000 freshmen applicants for 4,500 spots. Cal received 57,000 applicants for about 4,300 spots.

Because I had so much information on this process, I wanted to share it with my friends who had sons in the 11th grade and will be going through this process. Tina and Lil met with me over coffee at Stonestown and I spilled with eagerness all the information I had to share about the college application process.

I then emailed some other friends on facebook who were also inquiring about my experience. I was asked for any tips. So, I decided to put out a "Joy's College Application Tips" handout I sent to a few friends whose kids were entering their senior year, and who will soon undergo this experience. I put together everything I knew, and any tips that would help them. And in some tips, I learned the hard way.

I wanted to share this information freely, sincerely and with the warmest intentions--to hold my fellow Tiger Mom's hands as they embark on assisting their child through the college application process.

Thus, this blog was born.

I will share my tips (based on that original hand-out I wrote) from a mother's point of view. The anxiousness, the excitement, the anticipation with the love only a mother can share when seeing her child go through the college admission process. After all, all we want as parents is the best for them.

Because I want to be accurate in my findings, I will focus my tips to students attending public schools in the San Francisco Unified School District (hence, the name "SFmom3"). However, you will certainly benefit from this information even if  you are not a student in San Francisco. I will be specifically addressing the UC application process, not the Cal State University applications (it's actually pretty simple), the private school applications and The Commom App. I don't feel I am astute in giving info on that process. I will also not attempt to address the topic of financial aid as that should be left to the knowledgeable financial aid counselors. All I can say, is that I am currently going through that process, signing the promissory notes as we speak--and I am still confused.

In sum, I will try to help you through this, as I know as a parent, you are just as nervous to tackle this with your child.

P.S. I loosely refer to myself as a "Tiger Mom" both as satire with some intention. :)

Caveat: I am not affiliated in any way with the University of California system or their admissions offices. I am only giving you personal knowledge based on my personal experience. Therefore, I cannot guarantee your child will be accepted to his/her choice UC school. It's still up to the admissions officers, and the state of the UC budget.

Here's to an enlightening journey together,

~SF Mom3