Find out which of his activities he’s most interested in and have him write about it. If he decides to write about building homes, he can talk about everything he’s learned both socially and personally. Another idea is to write about an event that changed his perception or brought about an understanding he didn’t previously have.

He has plenty to write about. I think it’s advisable for him to really show that he is truly interested in what he does. Showing growth and the ability to accept and change has much more weight than having a skill he never plans on using again. (another point, his skills and what he plans on doing with them)

I wish your son the best of luck!

As for that personal statement, I would certainly discuss personal issues, struggles and/or values that inspire him to do certain types of academic work. It should touch on ideas that genuinely interest him. It should have the structure that any essay requires, and have flawless grammar. It should convey passion, rather than a mechanical work ethic.

It looks like he stands a good chance, but Berkeley is often considered the best public university in the nation, so I’m sure they’ve turned away students with similar credentials.

Basically, he’s done well enough to certainly apply, if he indeed wants to go to that school. No real use mulling over probabilities. The decision is theirs, so apply and see.