text: I would recommend taking the ACT at least once to see if you can get a better score.\n\nIf you are classified as resident, then you should definitely apply as a freshman.  Don't exclude yourself prematurely by forfeiting your freshmen application and going directly to a community college.  You can always decide to attend a community college after you are accepted or rejected.  You can find out more about residency here: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html\n\nThe UC should only look at your two highest SAT II scores.  I believe if you are not majoring in hard core science, your low chem test score should not have any significant impact.\n\nAny student applying to the College of Letter and Science is competing against other students applying to the College, regardless of the chosen major.  So it doesn't matter if you apply to Molecular and Cell Biology or Philosophy, the competition is the same.\n\nConcentrate on doing well in your AP courses but don't feel pressured to take the AP exam if you are not confident. Not taking the AP exam does not count against you in the application process. Scoring well on your exam (4 or 5), however, will give you a small advantage.  Take the ACT before December and submit the score, the UC will only look at the highest combine score regardless of how many times you've taken the tests.\n\nMost importantly, focus your energy on producing a well-written personal essay.  You can find a guidelines on writing your personal essays from Berkeley: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Personal_State_07.pdf\n\nFor your essay, please: 1) do not submit what you wrote for the "college essay" assignment for your senior English class; 2) do not have your fellow students or your teachers proofread it; instead, ask your parents' coworkers or friends, someone who doesn't know you very well to give you feedback and proofread. The reason is that the essay is supposed to give the admissions officers a complete picture of who you are, what you have done, and where you want to go/how you want to get there. Only someone who doesn't know you very well can evaluate whether your essay has accomplished that.