does uc berkeley require an essay

First-year requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a first year

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines

Personal insight questions

• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
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• Apply for aid
• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

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How to Get Into UC Berkeley: 4 Steps to a Stellar Application

Wondering how to get into UC Berkeley? Getting accepted to Berkeley can be tough. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? In 2022-2023, Berkeley's acceptance rate was 15%.

This makes UC Berkeley a "strongly competitive school": it's not quite as ultra-competitive as Ivy League schools , but you'll need to have a strong application across the board in order to get accepted. In the rest of this guide, we'll explain:

• The UC Berkeley admissions requirements, when and how you should apply
• Exactly what Berkeley looks at when they review your application

All UC Schools Going Test Optional

Additionally, the University of California system of schools has decided to make one major change that extends beyond the Fall 2021 admissions season. UC schools will no longer consider SAT/ACT scores for admission or financial aid . Instead, they’re used for placement after you’re admitted). For more information about what that means for you, check out this FAQ .

How Does UC Berkeley Evaluate Applications?

Compared to many other schools, Berkeley is pretty transparent about what they're looking for in applicants and how they evaluate applications. They first make sure you meet the minimum UC Berkeley admissions requirements, then they assess your academic history, and then they do a holistic review where they take other areas into account, such as your extracurriculars and responses to essay questions.

UC Berkeley states that they use a "broad concept" of merit, which means no one part of the holistic review is automatically worth more than the others. Below are the factors UC Berkeley evaluates for the minimum requirements, academic assessment, and holistic review.

Minimum Requirements

• History: 2 years
• English: 4 years
• Mathematics: 3 years required, 4 years recommended
• Science: 2 years required, 3 years recommended
• Language other than English: 2 years required, 3 years recommended
• Visual and performing arts: 1 year
• College-preparatory elective: 1 year
• Have a 3.0 GPA in A-G courses taken in the 10th and 11th grade years (3.4 GPA for non-California residents)

Academic Assessment

• Your weighted and unweighted UC grade point average (calculated using 10th and 11th grade UC-approved courses only)
• Your planned 12th grade courses
• Your pattern of grades over time
• The number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have completed
• Your grades in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your school
• Your scores on AP or IB exams

Holistic Review

• Number and rigor of high school courses taken and grades earned in those courses
• Personal qualities of the applicant, including leadership ability, character, motivation, insight, tenacity, initiative, originality, intellectual independence, responsibility, maturity, and demonstrated concern for others and for the community are considered
• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus. In addition to a broad range of intellectual interests and achievements, admission readers seek diversity in personal background and experience
• Achievement in academic enrichment programs, including but not limited to those sponsored by the University of California. This criterion is measured by time and depth of participation, by the academic progress made by the applicant during that participation, and by the intellectual rigor of the particular program
• Other evidence of achievement. This criterion recognizes exemplary, sustained achievement in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor; accomplishments in extracurricular activities such as the performing arts or athletics; leadership in school or community organizations; employment; and volunteer service

Changes to UC SAT/ACT Testing Policy in 2021

As we mentioned earlier, UC schools are now test blind , which means they do not consider SAT/ACT scores for admission or financial aid.

So what does it take to get into Berkeley? Basically, you need to have good grades in difficult classes and show that you'll have a positive impact on campus. In the rest of this article we'll explain exactly what you can do to meet each of the expectations Berkeley wants to see in applicants.

UC Berkeley Application Deadlines

If you want to know how to get into UC Berkeley, you first need to know all the major application deadlines . Berkeley states right on their website that they almost never accept late applications, so don't miss any deadlines! UC Berkeley doesn't offer early action or early decision options, so everyone applying has the same deadlines.

The most important deadline you need to be aware of is November 30. This is the last day you can submit your Berkeley application.

How to Apply to UC Berkeley

There are four main steps to applying to Berkeley. The earlier you begin your application (as early as August 1) the more time you'll have to complete all the steps and the less pressure you'll be under to meet the deadline.

The steps are the same regardless of which UC school(s) you're applying to since all UC schools use the same application (and you only need to submit one application, even if you apply to other UC schools in addition to Berkeley. Below is an overview of how to apply to Berkeley. For more in-depth information, check out our complete guide to applying to UC schools.

Step 1: Create an Account

First you need to create an applicant account. This step will only take about a few minutes since you just need to fill out basic information. You’ll need to enter a valid email address to create an account, so be sure to use an email address that you frequently check.

Step 2: Complete the UC Application

After creating your account, you'll be immediately sent to the beginning of the application. Some of the key parts of the application include:

• Answering demographic questions
• Entering information about which UC school(s) you're applying to (you'd choose UC Berkeley, but you can also apply to other UC schools with the same application) and what you plan on majoring in
• Filling out your eligibility for scholarships
• Filling out your academic history (what classes you took, the grades you got in them, if they were honors or AP, etc.)
• There are eight personal statement questions , and you'll need to answer four of them. Each response needs to be between 250 and 350 words or less.The prompts are listed on the UC admissions website

Step 3: Pay Admission Fees and Submit Your Application

Once you've finished each section of your application, you can submit it, as long as it's between October 1 and November 30. You'll also need to pay a $70 application fee for each UC school you're applying to ($80 each if you're an international student). This means that if you apply to UC Berkeley and one other UC school, you'll pay a total of $140-$160. Then you'll click submit, and your application will officially be sent to Berkeley!

Step 4: Submit Your Standardized Test Scores

While UC schools have gone test blind, you may wish to submit your scores for placement purposes (for example, a high SAT Math score can help you place into a higher math class). If you're still planning on submitting your SAT/ACT scores, we have guides specifically on sending ACT scores and SAT scores to colleges if you need more information.

What You Need to Get Into Berkeley

Berkeley wants top students so you need to make sure your application is strong across the board. Below are the five most important categories Berkeley evaluates when they look at applications. If you stand out in most or all of these areas you'll have a great shot at getting into UC Berkeley!

The classes you took in high school are often the most important part of your college application. When UC Berkeley admissions officers look at your classes, they're looking at two things: the actual courses you took and how difficult they were.

For the first category, they want to make sure you've taken the classes you need to succeed as a college student at one of their schools. This means taking the A-G courses that we mentioned above.

Remember that the A-G courses are the minimum UC Berkeley admissions requirements; most applicants will have gone well beyond these requirements. Some majors, especially those in math or science, recommend or require additional classes before you start college.

For example, if you want to major in chemistry, Berkeley requires you to have taken one year of chemistry, one year of physics, four years of math, and two to three years of a foreign language. Research your intended major on Berkeley's website to check the specific requirements you need to meet.

In general, it's best to take more classes in the fields you plan on majoring in. Berkeley also looks at the difficulty of the classes you took. They're specifically looking for honors, AP, or IB courses since these are more difficult than regular-level classes.

If your school offers these classes, you should take as many as you can without overloading yourself and still maintaining a high GPA. Taking difficult classes shows them that you're focused on your studies and can handle the challenge and workload of college classes.

Also, Berkeley specifically mentions that they look at the "quality of your senior-year program," so don't be tempted to slack off senior year with a bunch of easy classes!

It's not enough just to take the classes Berkeley wants. You also need to do well in them. Your grades and overall GPA are another critical component of your Berkeley application.

For Berkeley, as well as all UC schools, you need to have at least a 3.0 GPA in your A-G classes if you're a California resident, or a 3.4 GPA if you're a non-resident. Additionally, you can't have gotten below a "C" in any of the A-G classes.

However, you should aim higher than this. The middle 50% range for weighted GPA of accepted students in Fall 2022 at Berkeley is 4.17-4.31 . That means 25% of admitted students had a GPA lower than 4.17, and 25% of admitted students had a GPA higher than 4.31.

To give yourself the best chance of getting into UC Berkeley, you should aim to have a weighted GPA of 4.3 or higher. This means you'll have a higher GPA than the majority of accepted students which gives you a great chance at getting in. To get a weighted GPA of 4.3, you'll need to get As in most of your classes, and you'll also need to take advanced classes like honors or AP that'll further raise your GPA.

The University of California system has made some accommodations for students who may have had their GPA affected by COVID-19 as well.  

Pass (P) or Credit (CR) grades earned in spring, summer, and fall 2020, as well as spring and summer 2021, will meet A-G requirements for any student who was enrolled in high school during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. This includes students currently enrolled in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. 

If you took the modified AP exams during spring 2020: UC will award course credit consistent with previous years for the 2020 AP exams completed with scores of 3, 4, or 5. You should report 2020 AP scores on your UC application in the same way that you’d report scores from previous or subsequent years.

Test Scores

While Berkeley doesn't require any AP scores or IB results, having at least a few of these will further strengthen your application by showing you can score well on tests that cover different topics.

Your goal should be to submit three AP or IB scores, with at least one related to the area you want to major in (so a math/science score if you want to be a biology major, a social science score if you want to major in history, etc.). For these exams, you should aim to get at least a  4 on the AP tests and a 5 on the IB.

You'll need to answer four of the UC personal insight prompts , and your responses should show:

• Who you are
• What you'd contribute to the Berkeley community
• What causes/topics/hobbies are important to you
• What your intellectual interests are

Maybe you've always been fascinated by space and want to attend UC Berkeley and major in aeronautical engineering, or maybe you dream of being a writer and want to major in English or Creative Writing.

Whatever your story is, this is the place for Berkeley to hear it, and it's the best place in your application to show them who you really are as a person. This is the part of your application where you can really show Berkeley who you are, so be sure to put time and thought into your responses.

Berkeley also specifically mentions that the personal insight section is one of the parts of the application they look at most closely. For a more in-depth look at how to stand out with your responses, read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays.

Extracurriculars

Your extracurriculars are another important part of your Berkeley application. The best extracurriculars show your leadership skills and passion for whatever the extracurricular focuses on.

Exactly which extracurriculars you choose, whether they are related to sports, academics, arts, volunteering, etc., isn't that important. What will make your extracurriculars stand out is if you can show that you're passionate about them , have dedicated significant time to them, and have taken on a leadership role or important responsibilities.

Some factors Berkeley states they're specifically looking for in extracurriculars include:

• Special talents, awards, or achievements
• Leadership experience
• Significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus

They list the following examples of strong extracurriculars:

• Special talent in visual and performing arts, communication or sports
• Intensive study and exploration of other cultures
• Significant community service
• Significant participation in student government

Don't feel like you need to have all or even any of these experiences; they're just given so you can get an idea of what Berkeley is looking for. Pretty much any extracurricular that you're passionate about, skilled in, and have shown some leadership potential for is a great extracurricular to include on your application.

Note that, even if you send in additional materials, such as an art portfolio, Berkeley won't take these into consideration when evaluating your application, so be sure to do a good job describing your talents and accomplishments within the application. You can also use the Additional Comments box in the Personal Insights section (see the next section for more info on this).

What If You Have a Weak Area in Your Berkeley Application?

Not sure how to get into Berkeley if you flunked math freshman year, couldn't participate in extracurriculars for an extended period because you had mono, or something similar?

If there's a weak area on your Berkeley application, don't think it automatically means you won't get in. The majority of Berkeley applicants will have at least one part of their application that isn't as strong as the others, and very few candidates have a stellar application across all areas.

One way you can reduce the impact of these weak areas is to discuss them in the Additional Comments boxes. There are two Additional Comments boxes in the UC Berkeley application, one under Academic History and one under the Personal Insight section. It's in these boxes that you can explain any information you'd like the application readers to know.

For the academic history box, you could, for example, explain why some of your grades are lower than what you wanted (and what you did to raise your grades in future classes), or explain you didn't get to take as many advanced classes as you wanted to because your school didn't offer many.

For the personal insight box, you should include any relevant information about your extracurriculars there wasn't a spot for in the application, such as a time you showed exceptional leadership, took initiative, solved a serious problem, etc. Strong extracurriculars can help reduce the impact of a low grade or test score.

If you have a weak area of your application, do your best to explain what you've learned from it and how you've improved. Your maturity and self-awareness will impress the people reading your application.

Conclusion: How to Get Into UC Berkeley

How hard is it to get into Berkeley? Each year, Berkeley admits only about 15% of the students who apply, but you can increase your chances of getting in by understanding how to apply and knowing what the admissions officers are looking for. You can begin the Berkeley application in August, and you have until November 30 to submit your application.

Berkeley wants students who are intelligent, leaders, passionate about what they're studying, and will have a positive impact on campus. To show Berkeley that you're the type of student they want to admit, you should aim to take difficult classes and get good grades in them (aim for an unweighted GPA of about 4.3). You should also have strong extracurriculars and answer the Personal Insight questions thoughtfully.

Keep in mind that Berkeley's testing policies have changed as well. All UC schools are now test blind.

If you're not sure how to get into Berkeley, Berkeley admissions may seem overwhelming, but if you plan ahead and work to make your application as strong as it can be, you'll give yourself the best chance of getting into UC Berkeley.

What's Next?

Applying to other UC Schools? Read our guide on how to apply to UC schools for everything you need to know about the UC application.

Want to learn more about the University of California schools? We have an in-depth guide to the UC schools to make it easy for you to compare the schools and see which is best for you.

Working on your UC essays? Check out our guide on how to answer every UC essay prompt to get great writing ideas.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Entry Level Writing Requirement

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by satisfying the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).   Students admitted as transfer students will have satisfied this requirement via the English composition courses completed for transfer admission eligibility.

The UC Entry Level Writing Requirement website provides information on how to satisfy the requirement by one of three options:

Standardized Exam option

See the link above for acceptable minimum scores on standardized exams.

Berkeley Writing Assessment (BWA) option {formerly known as the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE)}

Admitted students who have accepted the offer to attend Berkeley may take the Berkeley Writing Assessment  in May of their senior year. 

Freshmen who have not yet satisfied the requirement prior to fall enrollment may take a make-up BWA their first semester at Berkeley .

English Composition Course option

Admitted student s may opt to complete a course articulated to the ENGLISH R1A course, as published in ASSIST , provided the course is completed by the start of the term of admission to Berkeley. A grade of C or higher will satisfy both Entry Level Writing and Part A of the Reading and Composition requirement.

Once an Admitted student begins courses at Berkeley, and the requirement has not otherwise been met, students must complete COLWRIT R1A. A grade of C or higher is will satisfy both Entry Level Writing and Part A of the Reading and Composition requirement.

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The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

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A Comprehensive Guide to UC Berkeley Essays this 2024

By Eric Eng

The University of California (UC) school system is one of the prestigious state university systems in the United States. It includes nine undergraduate universities: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and UC Irvine.

The University of California system has its own application portal. All nine universities use one application, so it is more convenient for students to simultaneously apply to multiple UC campuses. Based on last year’s statistics, UC Berkeley has an overall acceptance rate of 9.3%. 

In this blog, we will provide you with everything you need to know about the UC Berkeley essays including UC Berkeley essay prompts, and answer all your UC application questions , to hello you nail your application.

What is UC Berkeley’s Acceptance Rate?

Based on the previous years, the average acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is 11.4%, making it very competitive. However, one needs to note that the acceptance rate is not only a mark of the competitiveness of a school but also of its popularity. If you want to get into prestigious schools like UC Berkeley, you’re going to have to do amazingly well in almost every major college application factor.

UC Berkeley does not offer early action or early decision. The number of in-state students applying for admission to the Fall 2023 semester reached a record high. The admission rate for the University of California Berkeley has been spiraling down year by year, partly due to the steep rise in the number of applicants. With a rising number of students applying , it has become hard to get into.

GPA Requirements at UC Berkeley

You will likely need to be in the top 10% of graduates of your batch with a high GPA to be admitted into UC Berkeley. Anything less will need to be compensated through relevant extracurriculars and UC Berkeley essays.

You’re probably going to have to take higher-level classes like AP and IB classes if you want to be competitive for Berkeley. UC Berkeley describes how it calculates weighted GPA. UC Berkeley’s website indicates that it does so using 10th and 11th-grade UC-approved courses only. Every semester of coursework completed in an honors-level course adds an extra point when computing your weighted GPA.

UC Berkeley is considered “Test Free” which means that the SAT/ACT scores do not factor in anywhere within the UC Berkeley application process. Although SAT/ACT scores will not affect admission decisions, Berkeley will consider them for placement or subject credit in the case of admission. Berkeley also accepts optional subject test scores as a value-added piece in the review process, which enables students to show advanced proficiency in specific academic subjects. Check out their website to learn more about the recent changes regarding the Berkeley Testing Policy.

Why are UC Berkeley Supplemental Essays Important?

UC’s Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) or commonly known as UC Berkeley supplemental essays have become integral to their application system, which only happened recently in relation to the United States standardized testing policy. 

It wasn’t until May 2020, with the pandemic affecting the educational system of the US that the UC Board of Regents voted to make all their universities test-optional for students applying for Fall 2021 and Fall 2022.

To general surprise, the UC system which receives more than a quarter-million applicants annually decided it would go “test-blind” moving forward, despite internal data finding that test scores do help in predicting undergraduate achievement. This means that none of the nine schools listed above will look at an applicant’s SAT or ACT score anymore. So what’s the takeaway here, for you, an aspiring UC applicant? Simple: UC Berkeley essays matter now more than ever. Your writing will be your main chance to prove yourself worthy of being accepted to any of the UC institutions.

What Does UC Berkeley Want in Applicants?

If you’re an aspiring UC Berkeley student, keep in mind that while competitive grades are important, UC Berkeley essays should be able to show more than simply academic achievements. Most importantly, they should highlight how you are going to make an active contribution to the Berkeley community. The question now is, how will you know that you can contribute to the Berkeley community?

First, read up on the Berkeley mission, history, and principles . Go through UC’s mission statement, Berkeley’s principles of community, and discussions that the school has on leadership. Notice how leadership, authenticity, and innovation are the recurring themes. UC Berkeley essays often reflect the university’s search for students not just passionate about solving global problems, but also committed to making a difference that will matter for generations to come. They want students to “contribute even more than California’s gold to the glory and happiness of advancing generations.”

How do you think you’ll fit into this mission and these values? What is your story that indicates that you have worked toward these things and that Berkeley is the place for you to take the next step? How are you and the Berkeley community going to explore new ideas, ask thought-provoking questions, and strive to improve the world?

How to Answer UC Berkeley Essays?

What is different about the UC Berkeley essays from other college essays, is that UC outright prefer factual responses.

Since you should still plan to write with attention to syntax and style, the UC is most interested in information versus style. You will not have to worry about an interesting hook, thoughtful metaphors, or a high level of descriptive language. Focus instead on measurable contributions, if you can, and their impact both on you and others. For example, if you were able to develop a simple app or innovative tool that you use at home, explain why you created it, and how, and if possible, include how many people use it and why. Put it as simply and clearly as possible.

Remember, UC admission officers are reading pretty fast, and you want to get your message across effectively. Also, keep in mind that every UC PIQ response should not be more than 350 words, and you have to consistently meet this word count across all prompts.

What are the UC Berkeley Essay Prompts?

In this section, we will provide you with a rundown of all the UC Berkeley essay questions as well as a deep dive into how to answer them efficiently.

UC Essay Prompt #1

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

The concept of leadership is open and expansive– you can stretch out its definition. This definition doesn’t necessarily have to come in the essay itself—though, if you have a more reflective structure, it certainly might. UC Berkeley essays often encourage applicants to explore different facets of leadership, such as ‘being a positive role model,’ ‘encouraging others to take risks,’ and ’embracing challenges as a leader.’

The leadership role can mean more than the title itself. This can mean you became a mentor for someone, took charge of a school organization, or led an event or project. UC Berkeley essays provide an opportunity to reflect on what you did and what you learned from these experiences. What were your responsibilities? What challenges did you overcome?

Other questions worth noting are the following: Did you help manage a team? How did that experience change your perspective about leading others? Did you help resolve an important dispute at your school, community, or organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? Do you volunteer at the local youth center?

Applicants should share one small story here to illustrate their leadership. Rather than telling the UC admissions committee what great leaders they are, they can show it through their specific examples. It’s not required for it to be a picture-perfect illustration of leadership—it can be one that was faced with a difficult situation and what they learned from that experience to become better leaders.

UC Essay Prompt #2

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving , original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

This prompt asks about one specific thing—creativity—but gives you the liberty to define it for yourself. I n UC Berkeley essays, you can opt to look at creativity as a special problem-solving skill, innovative thinking, or its basic essence: artistic expression. This broad definition of creativity does something rather nice: it allows you to determine how much of your personal life versus your academic life you want to write about.

With that said, because this prompt is so open, it is important to establish a focus early on. Try to think about what is missing from your application. If you’re worried about your application making you sound overly academic, use this prompt to show how you have fun. If you’re concerned that your application is making you seem like one of those kids who gets good grades just because you have a good memory, this is your chance to flex your problem-solving muscle.

Remember, too, that you don’t need to describe any skill in creative pursuits when answering this prompt. The question asks how you express your ‘creative side,’ which focuses on creative instinct, not creative talent. Some examples could be: if you love mathematics, you can write about a time when you devised a new way of proving theorems. If you’re fond of writing, you can talk about a time when you came up with a new idea for a short story featuring modern-day gods and goddesses and how they acclimate in the 21st century. Or if you’re deep into philosophy, maybe write about how different philosophers could solve one present-day issue—for example, climate change. How would Aristotle approach it? Or Kant, for example?

Some meaningful points of discussion for UC Berkeley essays could include the following: How can your creativity best be used? What is one creative ability of yours that is particularly meaningful, and how have you brought it into play? If you used creativity in solving a problem, what did your solution look like? How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside class? Does your creativity relate to your major or to a future career?

UC Essay Prompt #3

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

This is the time to crow a little. If there is a talent or skill of which you are proud, UC Berkeley essays provide the perfect opportunity to share it. You do not necessarily have to have received recognition for it—but the important part is to answer or show why this talent or skill is meaningful to you.

Do you feel like this talent is naturally given, or do you work hard to keep this skill or talent? If so, does it give you an opening either inside the classroom or outside the classroom? If yes, what are they, and how do they fit into your schedule? These are the types of reflections that UC Berkeley essays often encourage.

Some students have more obvious talents and skills than others. For example, if you intend to be a college athlete, it would make sense to see your skill at your sport as your greatest talent. Meanwhile, if you are being accepted into a highly selective music performance program, opera singing might be your greatest talent. UC Berkeley essays challenge you to use such obvious skills to explore your personality, values, motivations, and ambitions.

The key to writing a convincing essay about an obvious skill is using that skill to explore your personality, values, motivations, and ambitions. Begin by thinking about what first drew you to your specialization. Was there a specific person or childhood memory? What was that process like? What do these experiences say about you? Next, think about how your relationship with your talent has evolved. Have you ever doubted your devotion? Ever wondered if you are good enough? Why do you keep going? On the other hand, is your talent your comfort—the stable thing in your life? Why do you need that?

The key is to clarify the reasons for engaging in this activity with all one’s time worth—and how these personality strengths are visible through the relationship with the activity.

If you’re not confident enough in sharing your talent, you might try thinking about your personal traits that could be seen as a talent or skill: negotiation skills, the ability to make a joke or lighten a situation in painful times, and organizational skills.

UC Essay Prompt #4

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

For this prompt, an educational opportunity can be anything that adds value to your educational experience and better prepares you for college. This may include participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy focusing on an occupation or major with advanced courses in subjects of interest. UC Berkeley essays provide a platform to showcase how such opportunities have shaped your journey.

If you write about the educational barriers you have faced, how have you overcome or striven to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call upon to enable you to rise above the challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? These are critical reflections that UC Berkeley essays encourage you to explore.

The phrase ‘taken advantage of’ implies that the admissions committee wishes to see students who take initiative. For example, are you a student who has been in an after-school, career-advancement program since middle school? You may write about why you chose to do so. Or perhaps you struggled in a particular subject and didn’t want to fall behind because you had sights on getting into the National Junior Honor Society? Or maybe a friend mentioned a program facilitating internship opportunities, and you thought they wanted to look into therapy as a potential career path. You could discuss these for this prompt.

If you’re planning to discuss educational barriers like limited access to resources or technology, lack of educational role models, or the most common one, financial difficulties—consider highlighting personal qualities or skills that provided the foundation for overcoming the obstacle. How was the process of overcoming your academic hurdle formative for you as a person? What was revealed to you about yourself or the world in the process? A bonus here would be to write about paying it forward in terms of helping others in your community to have the same knowledge you gleaned from your experience.

UC Essay Prompt #5

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Keep in mind that there are three parts to this prompt: first, you have to identify the challenge; second, describe the ways you took to overcome the challenge; and third, connect the challenge to your academic achievement. UC Berkeley essays require you to clearly indicate these three aspects.

You can begin by thinking of challenges and setbacks that you faced and were able to overcome. For some, these might be economic struggles, familial challenges—such as divorce, a parent losing a job, or living in the shadow of a sibling who is a star athlete or top student—personal illness, or a learning disability. UC Berkeley essays encourage you to explore these challenges deeply. Your challenge does not need to be structural —for example, it could involve feeling overshadowed by a sibling, dealing with body image issues, or overcoming insecurity.

This could be a personal challenge that you overcame, or one that affected others in your community or school . What made this challenge an important one? UC Berkeley essays also provide a good space to discuss the difficulties you faced and what you learned from the situation. Did you have the help of others, or did you take it on alone?

At the moment, if you are walking through a challenge, what are you doing right now, and how does this impact different domains of your life? For example, ask yourself: how has my life changed at home, at school, with my friends, or with my family?

UC Essay Prompt #6

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Many students find a passion within just one specific area of academic study. If you are one of these students, UC Berkeley essays provide a great platform to showcase what you have done to pursue this interest. Describe how your interest in the subject developed and discuss any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom, such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, and participation in student organizations or clubs , and what you gained from your involvement.

To answer this efficiently in your UC Berkeley essays, you could consider the following: Has the subject been a factor of interest in your choice of major and/or future career choice? Have you been able to take advanced work in this subject through honors, AP, IB, or college/university courses? Are you interested and motivated by the opportunity to take this subject further at UC, and how might you do so?

For example, if all of your activities are related to math and coding, you should talk about the origin of your interest in the subject matter—what made you fall in love with numbers and sequences? What made you want to dedicate a solid four years of your life to it? Once you’ve figured out the subject that you’re most interested in and inspired by, think about a concrete example of how you’ve furthered your interest in the subject. UC Berkeley essays often highlight common ways students further their interests, such as reading and researching about their passion, engaging with media related to it, joining clubs or organizations, and applying for internships.

UC Essay Prompt #7

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

This prompt asks for a definition of your role in a community: your high school, neighborhood, family, or perhaps within a club or sports team. UC Berkeley essays encourage you to explore this deeply, but nothing high-profile is required. This is more a question about how you relate to others, your value system, your charitable nature, and how you interact with the world around you. What UC Berkeley essays seek here is an opportunity for a truly heartfelt, sincere story.

For this question, the most important element is not the name or classification of the community you select, but how you define your position in that community. UC Berkeley essays want to know: How are you special in your community? What would be lacking from your community if you weren’t there? It could also be how you are a role model, an advocate for change, a supporting system for its members, or a corrector when the community steers away from its values and principles.

For example, if you’re holding a leadership position in your local volunteer community shelter, did you start an initiative when a flash flood happened? Did you provide resources for out-of-school youth? Did you start a literacy program for kids whose parents are in jail? You may share these initiatives for this question in your UC Berkeley essays.

If you are describing a specific service that you provided to your community, you may want to briefly comment on what you learned through it and how you will continue to learn in the future.

UC Essay Prompt #8

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?

If there is anything you want UC to know about you but didn’t find a question or place in the application to share, now’s your chance. What haven’t you shared that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge, or opportunity that you think will help UC know you better?

Since the University of California is unique in application and does not subscribe to the Common App, this prompt is an excellent opportunity for applicants to include a succinct version of their 650-word Common Applications personal statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. does uc berkeley use the common app.

No, the UC System has its own application portal.

2. Does UC Offer Early Action or Early Decision?

No, UC does not offer early action or early decision. 

3. Can You Use ChatGPT to Answer UC Berkeley Essays?

No. Admissions officers want to read authentic, human writing and experiences. This cannot be provided by AI-generated content.

At AdmissionSight, our goal is to help you with every step of the college admissions process. The UC Berkeley essays can seem daunting at first, but our experience and expertise will help you navigate the entire process with confidence. Hopefully, this guide to the UC Berkeley essays has been helpful, but if you want more information about how AdmissionSight can help you realize your dreams, set up your free consultation today!

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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UC Berkeley Requirements for Admission

What are UC Berkeley's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UC Berkeley and build a strong application.

School location: Berkeley, CA

This school is also known as: Berkeley, UC Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley

Admissions Rate: 11.4%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is 11.4% . For every 100 applicants, only 11 are admitted.

This means the school is extremely selective . Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.

After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress UC Berkeley application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

UC Berkeley GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.9

The average GPA at UC Berkeley is 3.9 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.9, UC Berkeley requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.9, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UC Berkeley hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UC Berkeley will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UC Berkeley SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1415

The average SAT score composite at UC Berkeley is a 1415 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for SAT test scores.

UC Berkeley SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1300, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1530. In other words, a 1300 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1530 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UC Berkeley has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that UC Berkeley requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that UC Berkeley will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1530, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

UC Berkeley ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UC Berkeley likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 31

The average ACT score at UC Berkeley is 31. This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 28, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.

Even though UC Berkeley likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 28 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 31 and above that a 28 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 34 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to UC Berkeley, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 34.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UC Berkeley considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in . If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1530 SAT or a 34 ACT . You should also have a 3.9 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

For a school as selective as UC Berkeley, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1530 SAT or a 34 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UC Berkeley here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application None
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests Optional
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 30 March 31

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 110 Berkeley, CA 94720
• Phone: (510) 642-6000 x6000
• Fax: (510) 642-7333

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

You will submit a University of California application, which opens in August but can only be submitted during the month of November. The application consists of the online form, including your personal statement, and sending your ACT/SAT scores. Berkeley (and the other UC schools) have an interesting poilcy about letters of recommendation, transcripts and portfolios:

"As part of the UC application process, UC Berkeley and other UC campuses do not ask applicants for transcripts, portfolios, letters of recommendation, or other supporting documents. Applicants are expected to self-report their grades from their own transcripts, honestly and accurately. If a student is admitted and enrolled, the official transcripts are checked against what the student reported in the application. Any discrepancies can result in cancellation of enrollment.

When it comes to other supporting materials - such as art portfolios, letters of recommendations, resumes, etc. - UC Berkeley does not consider these during the application review. We expect the reported grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, personal statements, and additional comments to give us the full picture of a student's experience and aspirations. This is why it is so important to answer each section of the application thoughtfully and thoroughly.

Sometimes, during the application reading process, we do select a very small number of applicants to answer supplemental questionnaires. These questionnaires are designed to add clarity to information or answer questions that may arise during our application reading. Being selected - or not selected - for these questionnaires does not reflect a student's admissions status. The questionnaires are optional, but they do allow for Letters of Recommendation to be sent on the student's behalf. This is the only time we ask for Letters of Recommendation. Applicants are not able to request to be sent a questionnaire."

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UC Berkeley, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UC Berkeley.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UC Berkeley. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UC Berkeley, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UC Berkeley, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UC Berkeley is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short responses.

Please respond to any 4 of the 8 questions below.We realize that not all questions apply to all applicants, so be sure to select the 4 questions that you believe give us the best information about you.All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. Responses to each question should be between 250-350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of California Essays 2024-2025

The University of California (UC) school system is the most prestigious state university system in the United States and includes nine undergraduate universities: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and UC Irvine.

The University of California system has its own application portal, as well as its own deadline of November 30th—a full month before the Common Application is due. All nine universities use one application, so it is easy to apply to multiple UCs at the same time. 

The application requires you to answer four of eight personal insight questions, with a 350-word limit on each prompt. This may seem daunting at first, but we provide this guide to make the prompts more approachable and to help you effectively tackle them! 

University of California Application Essay Prompts

Note: There is only one application for all the UC schools, so your responses will be sent to every University of California school that you apply to. You should avoid making essays school-specific (unless you are applying to only one school).

You might want to start by deciding which four of the eight prompts you plan on answering. The eight prompts are:

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

2. every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. describe how you express your creative side., 3. what would you say is your greatest talent or skill how have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time, 4. describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced., 5. describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. how has this challenge affected your academic achievement, 6. think about an academic subject that inspires you. describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom., 7. what have you done to make your school or your community a better place, 8. beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the university of california.

As you begin selecting prompts, keep the purpose of college essays at the forefront of your mind. College essays are the place to humanize yourself and transform your test scores, GPA, and extracurriculars into a living, breathing human with values, ambitions, and a backstory. If a specific prompt will allow you to show a part of who you are that is not showcased in the rest of your application, start there. 

If nothing immediately jumps out at you, try dividing the prompts into three categories: “definites,” “possibilities,” and “avoids at all costs.” “Definites” will be prompts that quickly spark up a specific idea in you. “Possibilities” might elicit a few loose concepts, anecdotes, or structures. And “avoids” are prompts where you honestly cannot see yourself writing a convincing essay. Next, take your “definites” and “possibilities” and jot down your initial thoughts about them. Finally, look at all of your ideas together and decide which combination would produce the most well-rounded essay profile that shows who you are as an individual.

Of course, this is just one way to approach choosing prompts if you are stuck. Some students might prefer writing out a list of their values, identifying the most important ones in their life, then figuring out how to showcase those through the prompts. Other students select prompts based on what they are excited by or through freewriting on every prompt first. Do not feel constrained by any one method. Just remember:

• Do not rush into prompts at first glance (though trial writing can be very valuable!).
• Make sure that you consider potential ideas for many prompts before making final decisions, and ultimately write about the one with the most substance.
• The prompts you select should allow you to highlight what is most important to you.

Check out our video to learn more about how to write the UC essays!

The 8 UC Personal Insight Questions

“Leadership Experience” is often a subheading on student resumes, but that is not what admissions officers are asking about here. They are asking for you to tell them a specific story of a time when your leadership truly mattered. This could include discussing the policies you enacted as president of a school club or the social ties you helped establish as captain of a sports team, but this prompt also gives you the freedom to go past that.

Leaders are individuals with strong values, who mentor, inspire, correct, and assist those around them. If you don’t feel like you’ve ever been a leader, consider the following questions:

• Have you ever mentored anyone? Is there anyone younger than you who would not be the person they are today without you?
• Have you ever taken the initiative? When and why did it matter?
• Have you ever been fundamental to positive change in the world—whether it be on the small scale of positively impacting a family member’s life or on the large scale of trying to change the status of specific communities/identities in this world?
• Have you ever stood up for what’s right or what you believe in?

Leadership is a concept that can be stretched, bent, and played with, but at the end of the day, the central theme of your essay must be leadership. Keeping this in mind, after your first draft, it can be helpful to identify the definition of leadership that you are working with, to keep your essay cohesive. This definition doesn’t need to appear within the essay (though, if you take on a more reflective structure, it might). Some examples of this include “being a positive role model as leadership,” “encouraging others to take risks as leadership,” and “embracing my identities as leadership.”

Here are some examples of how a leadership essay might look:

• You’ve always loved learning and challenging yourself, but when you got to high school it was clear that only a certain type of student was recommended to take AP classes and you didn’t fit into that type. You presented a strong case to the school counselors that you were just as prepared for AP classes as anyone else, enrolled in your desired classes, and excelled. Since then, AP classes have become more diversified at your school and there has even been a new inclusion training introduced for your district’s school counselors. 
• When you were working as a camp counselor, the art teacher brought you two of your campers who were refusing to get along. To mediate the conflict, you spent long hours before bed talking to them individually, learning about their personal lives and family situation. By understanding where each camper came from, you were better equipped to help them reach a compromise and became a role model for both campers.
• As a member of your school’s Chinese organization, you were driven by your ethnic heritage to devote your lunch breaks to ensuring the smooth presentation of the Chinese culture show. You coordinated the performers, prepared refreshments, and collected tickets. You got through a great performance, even though a performer didn’t show and some of the food was delivered late. You weren’t on the leadership board or anything, but exhibited serious leadership, as both nights of the culture show sold out and hundreds of both Chinese and non-Chinese people were able to come together and celebrate your culture.

Like the last prompt, this prompt asks about a specific topic—creativity—but gives you wiggle room to expand your definition of that topic. By defining creativity as problem-solving, novel thinking, and artistic expression, this prompt basically says “get creative in how you define creativity!” 

Additionally, this broad conception of creativity lets you choose if you want to write about your personal life or your academic life. A robotics student could write about their love of baking on the weekends or their quick thinking during a technical interview. A dance student could write about their love of adapting choreography from famous ballets or their innovative solution to their dance team’s lack of funds for their showcase. You have space to do what you want!

That said, because this prompt is so open, it is important to establish a focus early on. Try thinking about what is missing from your application. If you are worried that your application makes you seem hyper-academic, use this prompt to show how you have fun. If you are worried that you might be appearing like one of those students who just gets good grades because they have a good memory, use this prompt to show off your problem-solving skills.

Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to describe any skill in creative pursuits as you answer this prompt. The prompt asks you how you express your “creative side,” alluding to creative instinct, not creative talent. You could write about how you use painting to let out your emotions—but your paintings aren’t very good. You could write about dancing in the shower to get excited for your day—but one time you slipped and fell and hurt your elbow. Experiences like these could make for a great reflective essay, where you explore the human drive towards creative expression and your acceptance that you personally don’t have to be creatively inclined to let out creative energy.

Some examples:

• A math student writing about a time they devised a non-textbook method to proving theorems 
• A creative writer describing how they close-read the ups-and-downs of classical music as an attempt to combat writers’ block and think of emotional trajectories for new stories
• An engineering student writing about cooking as a creative release where numbers don’t matter and intuition supersedes reason
• A psychology student writing about the limitations of quantitative data and describing a future approach to psychology that merges humanism and empiricism.

This is the kind of prompt where an answer either pops into your head or it doesn’t. The good news is that you can write a convincing essay either way. We all have great talents and skills—you just might have to dig a bit to identify the name of the talent/skill and figure out how to best describe it.

Some students have more obvious talents and skills than others. For example, if you are intending to be a college athlete, it makes sense to see your skill at your sport as your greatest talent or skill. Similarly, if you are being accepted into a highly-selective fine arts program, painting might feel like your greatest talent. These are completely reasonable to write about because, while obvious, they are also authentic! 

The key to writing a convincing essay about an obvious skill is to use that skill to explore your personality, values, motivations, and ambitions. Start by considering what first drew you to your specialization. Was there a specific person? Something your life was missing that painting, hockey, or film satisfied? Were you brought up playing your sport or doing your craft because your parents wanted you to and you had to learn to love it? Or choose to love it? What was that process like? What do these experiences say about you? Next, consider how your relationship with your talent has evolved. Have you doubted your devotion at times? Have you wondered if you are good enough? Why do you keep going? On the other hand, is your talent your solace? The stable element in your life? Why do you need that?

The key is to elucidate why this activity is worth putting all your time into, and how your personality strengths are exhibited through your relationship to the activity. 

Do not be put off by this prompt if you have not won any big awards or shown immense talent in something specific. All the prompt asks for is what you think is your greatest talent or skill. Some avenues of consideration for other students include:

• Think about aspects of your personality that might be considered a talent or skill. This might include being a peacemaker, being able to make people laugh during hard times, or having organization skills.
• Think about unique skills that you have developed through unique situations. These would be things like being really good at reading out loud because you spend summers with your grandfather who can no longer read, knowing traffic patterns because you volunteer as a crossing guard at the elementary school across the street that starts 45 minutes before the high school, or making really good pierogi because your babysitter as a child was Polish.
• Think about lessons you have learned through life experiences. A military baby might have a great skill for making new friends at new schools, a child of divorce might reflect on their ability to establish boundaries in what they are willing to communicate about with different people, and a student who has had to have multiple jobs in high school might be talented at multitasking and scheduling. 

Make sure to also address how you have developed and demonstrated your selected talent. Do you put in small amounts of practice every day, or strenuous hours for a couple of short periods each year? Did a specific period of your life lead to the development of your talent or are you still developing it daily? 

The purpose of college essays is to show your values and personality to admissions officers, which often includes exploring your past and how it informs your present and future. With a bit of creativity in how you define a “talent or skill,” this prompt can provide a great avenue for that exploration. 

This prompt offers you two potential paths—discussing an educational opportunity or barrier. It is important that you limit yourself to one of these paths of exploration to keep your essay focused and cohesive. 

Starting with the first option, you should think of an educational opportunity as anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for life and your career. Some examples could include:

• participation in an honors program
• enrollment in an academy geared toward your future profession
• a particularly enlightening conversation with a professional or teacher
• joining a cultural- or interest-based student coalition
• plenty of other opportunities

The phrasing “taken advantage of” implies the admissions committee’s desire for students who take the initiative. Admissions officers are more interested in students who sought out opportunities and who fought to engage with opportunities than students who were handed things. For example, a student who joined a career-advancement afterschool program in middle school could write about why they were initially interested in the program—perhaps they were struggling in a specific subject and didn’t want to fall behind because they had their sights set on getting into National Junior Honor Society, or their friend mentioned that the program facilitated internship opportunities and they thought they wanted to explore therapy as a potential career path.

On the other hand, if an opportunity was handed to you through family connections or a fortuitous introduction, explore what you did with that opportunity. For example, if a family member introduced you to an important producer because they knew you were interested in film, you could write about the notes you took during that meeting and how you have revisited the producer’s advice and used it since the meeting to find cheap equipment rentals and practice your craft.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you have faced, consider the personal characteristics and skills you called upon to overcome the challenge. How did the process of overcoming your educational barrier shape you as a person? What did you learn about yourself or the world? An added plus would be talking about passing it forward and helping those in your purview obtain the knowledge you did from your experiences.

Some examples of educational barriers could include:

• limited access to resources, materials, technology, or classes
• lacking educational role models
• struggles with deciding on a passion or career path
• financial struggles

One example of an interesting essay about educational barriers:

As a student at a school that did not offer any honors classes, you enrolled in online lectures to learn the subject you were passionate about — Human Geography. Afterward, you spoke to your school administrators about high-achieving students needing higher-level courses, and they agreed to talk to the local community college to start a pipeline for students like you.

Either way that you take this prompt, it can be used to position yourself as motivated and driven—exactly the type of student admissions officers are looking for!

This prompt is three-pronged. You must 1) identify a challenge 2) describe the steps you have taken to overcome the challenge and 3) connect the challenge to your academic achievement.

When approaching this prompt, it is best to consider these first and third aspects together so that you identify a challenge that connects to your academic life. If you simply pick any challenge you have experienced, when you get to the third part of the prompt, you may have to stretch your essay in ways that are unconvincing or feel inauthentic.

That said, remember that “academic achievement” reaches far beyond grades and exams. It can include things like:

• Deciding your career goals
• Balancing homework, jobs, and social/familial relationships
• Having enough time to devote to self-care
• Figuring out how you study/learn best
• Feeling comfortable asking for help when you need it

You should begin brainstorming challenges and hardships that you have experienced and overcome. These could include financial hardships, familial circumstances, personal illness, or learning disabilities. Challenges could also be less structural—things like feeling like you are living in a sibling’s shadow, struggles with body image, or insecurity. While it is important that your challenge was significant, it matters much more that you discuss your challenge with thoughtful reflection and maturity.

Some ways to take this prompt include:

• Writing about how overcoming a challenge taught you a skill that led to academic success — for example, a high-achieving student who struggles with anxiety was forced to take time off from school after an anxiety attack and learned the importance of giving oneself a break
• Writing about a challenge that temporarily hindered your academic success and reflecting on it — for example, a student who experienced a death in the family could have had a semester where they almost failed English because reading led to negative thought spirals instead of plot retention
• Writing about how a challenge humbled you and gave you a new perspective on your academics — for example, a student with a part-time job who helps support her family missed a shift because she was studying for a test and realized that she needed to ask her teachers for help and explain her home situation

As you describe the steps you have taken to overcome your selected challenge, you will want to include both tangible and intangible steps. This means that you will need to discuss your emotions, growth, and development, as well as what you learned through overcoming the challenge. Was your challenge easy to overcome or did it take a few tries? Do you feel you have fully overcome your challenge or is it a work in progress? If you have fully overcome the challenge, what do you do differently now? Or do you just see things differently now? If you were to experience the same challenge again, what would you have learned from before?

Here are some detailed examples:

• Your parents underwent a bitter, drawn-out divorce that deeply scarred you and your siblings, especially your little brother who was attending elementary school at the time. He was constantly distraught and melancholy and seemed to be falling further and further behind in his schoolwork. You took care of him, but at the cost of your grades plummeting. However, through this trial, you committed yourself to protecting your family at all costs. You focused on computer science in high school, hoping to major in it and save up enough money for his college tuition by the time he applies. Through this mission, your resolve strengthened and reflected in your more efficient and excellent performance in class later on.
• Your race was the most significant challenge you faced growing up. In school, teachers did not value your opinion nor did they believe in you, as evidenced by their preferential treatment of students of other races. To fight back against this discrimination, you talked to other students of the same race and established an association, pooling together resources and providing a supportive network of people to others in need of counseling regarding this issue.

The first step for approaching this prompt is fun and easy—think about an academic subject that inspires you. This part of the essay is about emotional resonance, so go with your gut and don’t overthink it. What is your favorite subject? What subject do you engage with in the media in your free time? What subject seeps into your conversations with friends and family on the weekends?

Keep in mind that high school subjects are often rather limited. The span of “academic subjects” at the university level is much less limited. Some examples of academic subjects include eighteenth-century literature, political diplomacy, astronomy, Italian film and television, botany, Jewish culture and history, mobile robotics, musical theater, race and class in urban environments, gender and sexuality, and much more.

Once you’ve decided what subject you are most interested in and inspired by, think about a tangible example of how you have furthered your interest in the subject. Some common ways students further their interests include:

• Reading about your interest
• Engaging with media (television, film, social media) about your interest
• Volunteering with organizations related to your interest
• Founding organizations related to your interest
• Reaching out to professionals with your academic interest
• Using your interest in interdisciplinary ways
• Research in your field of interest
• Internships in your field of interest

While you should include these kinds of tangible examples, do not forget to explain how your love for the subject drives the work you do, because, with an essay like this, the why can easily get lost in describing the what . Admissions officers need both.

A few examples:

• You found your US government class fascinatingly complex, so you decided to campaign for a Congressional candidate who was challenging the incumbent in your district. You canvassed in your local community, worked at the campaign headquarters, and gathered voter data whilst performing various administrative duties. Though the work was difficult, you enjoyed a sense of fulfillment that came from being part of history.
• Last year you fell in love with the play Suddenly Last Summer and decided to see what career paths were available for dramatic writing. You reached out to the contact on your local theater’s website, were invited to start attending their guest lecturer series, and introduced yourself to a lecturer one week who ended up helping you score a spot in a Young Dramatic Writers group downtown.
• The regenerative power of cells amazed you, so you decided to take AP Biology to learn more. Eventually, you mustered up the courage to email a cohort of biology professors at your local university. One professor responded, and agreed to let you assist his research for the next few months on the microorganism C. Elegans.
• You continued to develop apps and games even after AP Computer Science concluded for the year. Eventually, you became good enough to land an internship at a local startup due to your self-taught knowledge of various programming languages.

With regards to structure, you might try thinking about this essay in a past/present/future manner where you consider your past engagement with your interest and how it will affect your future at a UC school or as an adult in society. This essay could also become an anecdotal/narrative essay that centers around the story of you discovering your academic interest, or a reflective essay that dives deep into the details of why you are drawn to your particular academic subject.

Whatever way you take it, try to make your essay unique—either through your subject matter, your structure, or your writing style!

College essay prompts often engage with the word “community.” As an essay writer, it is important to recognize that your community can be as large, small, formal, or informal as you want it to be. Your school is obviously a community you belong to, but your local grocery store, the nearby pet adoption center you volunteer at, your apartment building, or an internet group can also be communities. Even larger social groups that you are a part of, like your country or your ethnicity, can be a community. 

The important part of your response here is not the community you identify with but rather the way you describe your role in that community. What do you bring to your community that is special? What would be missing without you?

Some responses could include describing how you serve as a role model in your community, how you advocate for change in your community, how you are a support system for other community members, or how you correct the community when it is veering away from its values and principles.

Here are some fleshed-out examples of how this essay could take shape, using the earlier referenced communities:

• A student writes about the local grocery store in his neighborhood. Each Sunday, he picks up his family’s groceries and then goes to the pharmacy in the back to get his grandmother’s medication. The pharmacist was a close friend of his grandmother’s when she was young, so the student routinely gives the pharmacist a detailed update about his grandmother’s life. The student recognizes the value in his serving as a link to connect these two individuals who, due to aging, cannot be together physically.
• An animal-loving student volunteers one Saturday each month at the pet adoption center in their city’s downtown district. They have always been an extremely compassionate person and view the young kittens as a community that deserves to be cared for. This caring instinct also contributes to their interactions with their peers and their desire to make large-scale positive social change in the world.

Your response to this prompt will be convincing if you discuss your underlying motives for the service you have done, and in turn, demonstrate the positive influence you have made. That said, do not be afraid to talk about your actions even if they did not produce a sweeping change; as long as the effort was genuine, change is change, no matter the scale. This essay is more about values and reflection than it is about the effects of your efforts.

Lastly, if you are discussing a specific service you did for your community, you might want to touch on what you learned through your service action or initiative, and how you will continue to learn in the future. Here are a few examples:

• Passionate about classical music, you created a club that taught classical and instrumental music at local elementary schools. You knew that the kids did not have access to such resources, so you wanted to broaden their exposure as a high school senior had done for you when you were in middle school. You encouraged these elementary schoolers to fiddle with the instruments and lobbied for a music program to be implemented at the school. Whether the proposal gets approved or not, the kids have now known something they might never have known otherwise.
• Working at your local library was mundane at times, but in the long run, you realized that you were facilitating the exchange of knowledge and protecting the intellectual property of eminent scholars. Over time, you found ways to liven up the spirit of the library by leading arts and crafts time and booking puppet shows for little kids whose parents were still at work. The deep relationships you forged with the kids eventually blossomed into a bond of mentorship and mutual respect.

Be authentic and humble in your response to this essay! Make sure it feels like you made your community a better place because community is a value of yours, not just so that you could write about it in a college essay.

This is the most open-ended any question can get. You have the freedom to write about anything you want! That said, make sure that, no matter what you do with this prompt, your focus can be summarized into two sentences that describe the uniqueness of your candidacy.

The process we recommend for responding to open-ended prompts with clarity involves the following steps:

1. On a blank piece of paper, jot down any and every idea — feelings, phrases, and keywords — that pop into your head after reading this prompt. Why are you unique?

2. Narrow your ideas down to one topic. The two examples we will use are a student writing about how her habit of pausing at least five seconds before she responds to someone else’s opinion is emblematic of her thoughtfulness and a student whose interest in researching the history of colonialism in the Caribbean is emblematic of their commitment to justice.

3. Outline the structure of your essay, and plan out content for an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

4. Before you start writing your essay, write one or two sentences that summarize how you would like the admissions officers to perceive you based on this essay. These sentences will not be in your final product, but will help you to maintain a focus. For our examples, this would be something like “Natalie’s habit of gathering her thoughts before responding to other people’s opinions allows her to avoid undesired complications and miscommunications in her social interactions. This has not only helped her maintain strong relationships with all the staff members of the clubs she leads, but will also help her navigate the social environments that she will face in the professional world.” A summary for the student writing about their interest in the history of colonialism could be “Jonathan has always been highly compassionate and sympathetic by nature. When they found out about the historical injustices of colonialism in the Caribbean through the book The Black Jacobins , they realized that compassion is what is missing from politics. Now, they are inspired to pursue a political science degree to ultimately have a political career guided by compassion.”

5. Finally, write an essay dedicated to constructing the image you devised in step 4. This can be achieved through a number of different structures! For example, Natalie could use an anecdote of a time when she spoke too soon and caused someone else pain, then could reflect on how she learned the lesson to take at least five seconds before responding and how that decision has affected her life. Jonathan could create an image of the future where they are enacting local policies based on compassion. It is important to keep in mind that you do not want to be repetitive, but you must stay on topic so that admissions officers do not get distracted and forget the image that you are attempting to convey.

As exemplified by the examples we provided, a good way to approach this prompt is to think of a quality, value, or personality trait of yours that is fundamental to who you are and appealing to admissions officers, then connect it to a specific activity, habit, pet peeve, anecdote, or another tangible example that you can use to ground your essay in reality. Use the tangible to describe the abstract, and convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable asset to their UC school!

Where to Get Your UC Essays Edited

With hundreds of thousands of applicants each year, many receiving top scores and grades, getting into top UC schools is no small feat. This is why excelling in the personal-insight questions is key to presenting yourself as a worthwhile candidate. Answering these prompts can be difficult, but ultimately very rewarding, and CollegeVine is committed to helping you along that journey. Check out these UC essay examples for more writing inspiration.

If you want to get your essays edited, we also have free peer essay review , where you can get feedback from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by editing other students’ essays.

You can also receive expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers. Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer  expert college counseling packages . You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.

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How to Get Into UC Berkeley | Admission Requirements + Tips

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/26/24

If you’re looking to get into UC Berkeley, look no further than this comprehensive guide! Read on to learn more about Berkeley’s admissions requirements, tips to get in, and more.

The University of California, Berkeley , is among the most prestigious public universities in the U.S. The school is located in the vibrant urban city of Berkeley and is one of the country’s most beautiful campuses.

Understanding how to get into college can be tough. To get into UC Berkeley, you’ll need to ensure your application sets you apart from the thousands of candidates who apply annually. To help you understand the application process, we’ve put together this guide to help you get into UC Berkeley. 

UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate: 11.7%

Berkeley is one of the most selective universities in the United States, with an acceptance rate of just 11.7%. Out of 128,916 applicants, only 14,769 students were admitted to UC Berkeley's incoming freshman class.

How Hard is It to Get Into UC Berkeley?

With an acceptance rate of 11.7%, getting into UC Berkeley is extremely difficult. Successful applicants typically have exceptional academic records, with the middle 50% of admitted students scoring between 1390–1540 on the SAT.

Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into UC Berkeley .

UC Berkeley Admissions Statistics

Getting into UC Berkeley is difficult, but not impossible. Students must meet the minimum requirements and should aim for above-average test scores.

UC Berkeley Average GPA: 3.9

The average GPA of admitted students at UC Berkeley is 3.9, indicating that most successful applicants have an exceptional academic record in high school.

UC Berkeley Average SAT Score: 1415

The average SAT score for students admitted to UC Berkeley is 1415. This score is a composite of the Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections.

UC Berkeley Average ACT Score: 31

The average ACT score of students admitted to UC Berkeley is 31. This score reflects the competitiveness of the admissions process and the high caliber of students the university attracts.

What Is UC Berkeley Looking For In Applicants?

UC Berkeley evaluates applications holistically , considering both academic and non-academic factors. The university values intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service among other qualities.

1. Academic Excellence: The Foundation

Unsurprisingly, UC Berkeley prioritizes academic achievement. A strong GPA in challenging courses signals your readiness for the university's rigor.  This doesn't mean perfection; rather, it demonstrates sustained effort and a drive to push your intellectual boundaries. UC Berkeley wants students who thrive not just in the classroom, but who embrace academic challenges.

2. Beyond the Test Scores: Holistic Review

While test scores (SAT/ACT) were traditionally a factor, UC Berkeley is currently test-free for admissions. This shift reinforces their holistic review process, where every piece of your application is thoughtfully considered.  Here's where your story shines through:

• Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) :  Your PIQs are mini-essays that reveal your personality, values, and passions.  Don't just list accomplishments;  use them to demonstrate who you are and what drives you. How do your experiences shape your goals? What lessons have failures taught you? UC Berkeley seeks students with self-awareness, resilience,  and the potential to contribute meaningfully to campus life.
• Special Circumstances :  UC Berkeley is committed to diversity and understands that not everyone starts from the same place.  If your educational journey was impacted by personal or socioeconomic challenges, share that context. Highlighting your ability to overcome adversity speaks volumes about your tenacity and potential.

3. The Intangibles: Character and Intellectual Curiosity

UC Berkeley seeks students who embody the spirit of the institution.  This means demonstrating certain qualities:

• Intellectual Curiosity : Do you go beyond the textbook? UC Berkeley wants students who ask questions, seek connections between subjects, and love to learn for their own sake.
• Passion and Initiative : Show you're a self-starter. Did you lead a school project, start a club, or pursue a unique interest? Demonstrating a drive to make things happen is a sign of future success.
• Community-Mindedness : UC Berkeley prides itself on being a public university. They seek students invested in the greater good who understand the power of collaboration. Have you worked to uplift your community or tackled a social issue?

4. The Berkeley Fit

Ultimately, UC Berkeley is looking for students who will not only thrive on their dynamic campus but also contribute positively to its legacy. Align your application with Berkeley's core values – a passion for excellence, a drive for innovation, a commitment to social justice, and a global perspective.

Remember, there's no single formula for admission.  UC Berkeley builds a dynamic class from a variety of talented and driven individuals.  By presenting yourself authentically, showcasing your intellectual spark, and demonstrating your fit with Berkeley's ideals, you maximize your chances of becoming a Golden Bear .

UC Berkeley Admissions Requirements

To apply, you must meet all UC Berkeley admissions requirements.

• Completed UC Application
• Official high school transcript
• SAT or ACT scores (optional)
• Personal insight questions
• Letters of recommendation (optional)

UC Berkeley Course Requirements

Berkeley expects California residents to complete 15 college-preparatory courses with a letter grade of C or better. The full list of A-G courses includes:

UC Berkeley GPA Requirements 

Unlike most other colleges, the University of California, Berkeley has a GPA requirement. Freshmen must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the 10th and 11th grades; for non-residents, this minimum GPA requirement is 3.4. 

Despite this minimum requirement, competitive candidates typically have academic profiles far exceeding UC Berkeley’s GPA requirement.

UC Berkeley SAT Requirements  

Many colleges have moved to test-optional policies; SAT scores at UC Berkeley aren’t considered for admission or scholarships. If you do choose to submit your SAT score to UC Berkeley, it may be used as an “alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.” 

UC Berkeley ACT Requirements

UC Berkeley no longer requires the ACT or SAT for admission or scholarship consideration. However, you can still submit your ACT score to bolster your application. 

UC Berkeley Extracurricular Activities Requirements

There aren’t any specific requirements for extracurriculars at UC Berkeley, but Berkeley’s admissions officers like to see what you're passionate about outside of classes. Joining clubs, leading, or being part of community activities can make your application stronger. It's about showing who you are beyond academics.

UC Berkeley Application Deadlines

UC Berkeley has one admission deadline that closes on November 30. It's best to start working on your applications as early as possible; UC Berkeley allows you to start as early as August 1.

To make sure you stay on track, here are the important dates and UC Berkeley application deadlines : 

Should I Apply to UC Berkeley?

You aren't alone if you’re second-guessing whether you should apply to UC Berkeley. It’s normal to have doubts when you’re narrowing down the list of colleges you’ll apply to. 

Before you can answer this question yourself, take another look at Berkeley:

• What undergraduate programs does it offer (and do they align with your
• interests)?
• Do you meet the application requirements?
• Do you feel like you match what UC Berkeley looks for?
• Does the culture align with your preferences?
• Can you envision your college life at the Berkeley campus?

Answering questions like these can help you determine if UC Berkeley is right for you. It can't hurt to apply (even if you’re still unsure), especially when you've done all the necessary research to give yourself the best shot at success.

If you still have doubts even after exploring the different opportunities available at UC Berkeley, our advice is to go for it. It can't hurt to apply, especially when you've done all the necessary research to give yourself the best shot at success.

How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Into UC Berkeley

While maintaining a strong academic record and well-rounded profile is essential, here are some insider tips that can give you an extra edge in the highly competitive UC Berkeley admissions process to stand out :

1. Use Alumni Connections

UC Berkeley values applicants with a demonstrated connection to the university. If you know any alumni , reach out to them for advice, recommendations, or even a campus tour. Their insights can help you better understand the Berkeley culture and tailor your application accordingly.

2. Pursue Unique Extracurriculars

Instead of joining the typical high school clubs, seek out plenty of extracurricular activities that align with your passions and showcase your individuality. For instance, start your own club, launch a community service project, or pursue an unconventional hobby that sets you apart from other applicants.

3. Attend Local Admissions Events

UC Berkeley often hosts admissions events in various regions, allowing you to interact with admissions officers and current students. Attending these events demonstrates your genuine interest and allows you to ask insightful questions that can strengthen your application.

4. Apply for Specialized Programs

UC Berkeley offers several specialized programs, such as the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) program or the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship Program . These programs have separate admissions processes and can increase your chances of acceptance if you meet their specific criteria.

5. Highlight Your California Residency

As a public university, UC Berkeley gives preference to California residents. If you're a California resident, make sure to highlight this in your application and emphasize your ties to the state, such as community involvement or local achievements.

6. Demonstrate Intellectual Vitality

UC Berkeley seeks students who are intellectually curious and passionate about learning. In your essays and interviews, share examples of how you've pursued your academic interests beyond the classroom, such as attending lectures, participating in academic competitions, or conducting independent research projects.

Remember, while these tips can give you an advantage, they should complement a strong overall application. Focus on demonstrating your qualities, achievements, and fit for UC Berkeley's vibrant community.

UC Berkeley Essay Prompts

When it comes to the competitive UC Berkeley application, your essays, known as Personal Insight Questions or PIQs, are where your voice shines through.  Unlike traditional college essays, the eight UC PIQs are short-response prompts designed to reveal who you are beyond your transcript and achievements.

Let's take a look at the PIQs you will be able to choose from when applying to UC Berkeley. 

• “Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.” 
• “Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.” 
• “What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?” 
• “Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.”
• “Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?”
• “Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.”
• “What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?” 
• “Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?”

Candidates must submit four short college admission essays , no more than 350 words each. All questions are weighted equally, so it doesn't matter which questions you choose to answer. 

UC Berkeley Interview

Unlike other schools, UC Berkeley, unfortunately, doesn’t conduct college interviews . 

Your application and the strength of your essay responses are the only opportunities you’ll have to demonstrate who you are as a student, learner, and community member.

If you want to know more about UC Berkeley admissions, check out our FAQ section below.

1. What Does UC Berkeley Look for in Applicants?

UC Berkeley seeks well-rounded students with strong academic records, diverse extracurricular activities, and leadership potential. The admissions committee values intellectual curiosity, passion for learning, and dynamic personalities beyond just grades and test scores. 

2. Does UC Berkeley accept transfer credit?

Yes, UC Berkeley accepts transfer credits. Review their transfer credit policies on their admissions website for specific details and eligibility.

4. Can I Get Into UC Berkeley With a 3.5 GPA?

While a 3.5 GPA is lower than the average for admitted Berkeley students, it's not impossible.  UC Berkeley's holistic review considers your entire application - strong essays, extracurriculars, and unique circumstances can boost your chances.

5. How Do I Stand Out in the UC Berkeley Application Process?

To stand out, demonstrate your fit with Berkeley's values! On your college application , highlight diverse extracurriculars, community involvement, and essays that show your best traits and meaningful experiences.

6. When Should I Start Preparing for UC Berkeley? 

Start early! The UC application opens on August 1st, with a November 30th deadline.  Give yourself ample time for essays, revisions, and gathering any necessary recommendations.

7. What Should I Do if I Get Rejected from UC Berkeley?

Rejection doesn't equal failure! Consider options like a gap year, another college, or appealing the decision (which Berkeley reviews on a case-by-case basis).

8. How Hard is It to Get Into UC Berkeley? 

UC Berkeley is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. While challenging, a strong, well-rounded application significantly increases your chances.

9. What GPA is Required for UC Berkeley? 

The minimum GPA is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents. However, successful applicants typically far exceed these minimums. Aim for a GPA closer to 3.8- 4.0 (unweighted).

11. What Is UC Berkeley Known For?

UC Berkeley is renowned for its top-ranked graduate programs, research excellence, and impressive alumni network. They offer 120+ graduate programs and award thousands of master's and doctoral degrees yearly.

12. How Much is UC Berkeley Tuition?

The tuition and fees for UC Berkeley amount to $16,522 in the 2023-24 academic year. However, the total cost of attendance is estimated to be around $48,574.

Final Thoughts 

UC Berkeley is a prestigious university that can set you on a path toward success. With this prestige comes a highly competitive applicant pool, so you must ensure a strong application. 

An exceptional academic history, a high GPA, and a diverse range of extracurricular activities you're passionate about are essential to building a compelling application. 

Now that you know how to get into UC Berkeley, you should understand what the admissions committee is looking for. 

Each part of your application should work together to convince the admissions committee you would make a great addition to the UC Berkeley community. If you need a helping hand, sign up for our expert UC Berkeley admissions counseling . Good luck! 

Get A Free Consultation

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Application FAQs

You’ve applied to UC Berkeley! Now what?

From Nov. 30 – Dec. 31 : Questions regarding the University of California application should be handled through: UC Application

In December, UC Berkeley will notify applicants, via email, that we’ve received your application. Here are the next steps you need to take:

First-year applicant checklist

Transfer applicant checklist

Applicants log into the Berkeley campus application portal here:

• MAP@Berkeley

Q: Where can I get a summary of my online application?

A: Visit the UC Application website.

Q: How can I confirm that Berkeley received my application?

A: In December, UC Berkeley will email you a confirmation that we received your application. Check the email address account you included on your UC Application. Once we receive your application, you will be asked to log in to our campus application portal, MAP@Berkeley , to see the status of your application. If you do NOT receive a confirmation email from Berkeley in December, please contact the UC Application Center at 800-207-1710 (within US) or 310-513-2715 (outside U.S.), or email: [email protected]

Q: How do I log into the campus application portal?

• After you have submitted your UC application, you will receive an email from us with instructions on how to set up your MAP@Berkeley account (by December for Freshmen or by January for Transfers). This email will have your username, which is the email you used on your UC application. It will also contain a temporary PIN number. Click on "Create" a password.
• Click on the URL in the email or simply go to MAP@Berkeley. You will need to login using your email and temporary PIN number.
• Once you successfully login, you will need to follow the prompts to set your password.
• Every time you come back to MAP@Berkeley, you will need only the password you created and your email address.

*If you forget your password, click on "Forgot your Password?" and follow the prompts.

Q: When should I send you my official transcripts and all of my test scores?

A: Please do not send documents or other information to Berkeley unless requested. If we need more information from an applicant, we will contact you. Most students give us enough information in their applications for us to make a sound decision. After admission decisions are posted on our campus application portal, each admitted student will see their own Conditions of Admission explaining exactly what official documents Berkeley requires. Learn more about submitting transcripts to UC Berkeley here.

Q: Is it possible for first-year applicants to be admitted earlier than the March decision date?

A: Yes, a small number of students will receive notification of their decision in February. Most of these students will be nominees for Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarships, a process that has traditionally been initiated during this time of year; the difference is that those students and some others are receiving admission offers at the same time. Early admission notification is not "Early Action" or "Early Decision". Students cannot apply to be admitted early. The majority of first-year applicants still will receive their decisions at the end of March, via the MAP@Berkeley portal.

For full details on the changes to Berkeley's testing policy, visit our First-Year Policy Changes page.

Q: With UC Berkeley no longer using SAT/ACT exams in the review process, does this mean that UC Berkeley is “test-blind”?

A: Berkeley prefers the term “test-free”, and for us this means that we’re not using SAT/ACT test scores for any part of our process, including evaluation/holistic review, selection, or scholarship processes.

Q: If I’m applying to multiple UC campuses with different test policies, how should I proceed with filling out my application?

A: No UC campus will require SAT/ACT test scores. Since there is only one UC application for all UC campuses, students may consider submitting SAT/ACT test scores on the UC application if they’re applying to at least one campus that will use them in their review process, and they want to submit the scores for that campus’ review. UC Berkeley will not use SAT/ACT test scores regardless of whether or not they are submitted.

Q: Can I submit SAT/ACT test scores to be used for university placement or subject credit?

A: Yes. While SAT/ACT scores will not be used in the admissions process, any scores you submit will be used for placement or subject credit purposes should you be admitted to Berkeley.

Q: Will UC Berkeley use scores from SAT subject test, AP test, IB test, etc. in the application review process?

A: Yes. Berkeley will continue to accept additional subject test scores that will be used as “value added” in the review process. These subject tests are not required but can be submitted to demonstrate advanced proficiency in an academic subject.

For full details on Berkeley's letter of recommendation policy, visit our First-year Policy Changes page.

Q: Can transfer students submit letters of recommendation?

A: No. Only first-year applicants may be asked to submit letters of recommendation. Transfer applicants will not have this option.

Q: Who should write a letter of recommendation on behalf of a student?

A: If the student is invited to submit letters of recommendation, one letter must be written by a teacher or instructor. The second letter can be written by anyone the student selects, ideally someone who knows them well and can speak to one or more of the characteristics above. Letters from the applicant’s immediate family or relatives are discouraged in our process.

Q: How should the letters be submitted?

A: All letters must be submitted electronically. No letters in the mail or by courier will be accepted. Invited applicants will identify letter writers via a link sent to them. If you are invited to submit up to two letters of recommendation, you will be emailed instructions to log into MAP@Berkeley. Once in the portal, below the checklist, you'll see a link that takes you to a recommendations page. Once there, you'll see a button that reads, "Add Recommender." Click there and follow the instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: Requests for letters of recommendation WILL NOT be found within the UC application, which opens August 1. The request will be delivered to your email as a supplemental request. Additionally, UC Berkeley does not use letters through the Naviance system; please ensure that all letters of recommendation are submitted through UC Berkeley's online recommendation system.

Q: Is there a word limit?

A: While there is not a word limit, we ask that letters be limited to one page.

Q: What is the deadline for letters of recommendation?

A: All letters will be due by 11:59 p.m. on January 3. After this date, it is not guaranteed that a letter can be read as a part of the application review.

Q: How are students selected to submit letters of recommendation?

A: We will request letters from students we feel additional information could be useful in our review process. Only a small percent of applicants will be selected to submit letters, and they can choose to submit letters or not. Not doing so will not negatively impact the review.

Q: Will a third letter be accepted?

A: No. Only two letters will be accepted.

Q: Will applications without a letter still be read? Will they be at a disadvantage?

A: The policy remains committed to making sure that all first-year applications are thoroughly and thoughtfully read, with or without a letter. Students without a letter will not be at a disadvantage, but we do highly encourage students who are selected to take advantage of this opportunity.

Q: What is the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) Program?

A: Berkeley’s Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology Program aims to educate leaders with a seamless understanding of technology innovation, from idea to real-world impact. M.E.T. students earn two Bachelor of Science degrees in one program that combines the best of the top-ranked College of Engineering and Haas School of Business. Its integrated curriculum enables students to complete their two degrees within four years, while internships, career coaching and other enrichment activities provide ample opportunity for hands-on practice with technology innovation. Each M.E.T. cohort is small, allowing for close mentoring and a tight-knit community. For more information on the M.E.T. program, please review the questions below, and visit the M.E.T. website and the program’s FAQs .

Q: How do I apply to the M.E.T. Program?

A: To start your application for first-year admission, visit the UC application website. Once you launch your University of California application, you’ll be able to select the Berkeley campus and choose one of the tracks, which include the following:

• Aerospace Engineering & Business Administration
• Bioengineering & Business Administration
• Civil Engineering & Business Administration
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences & Business Administration
• Industrial Engineering and Operations Research & Business Administration
• Materials Science and Engineering & Business Administration
• Mechanical Engineering & Business Administration
• Engineering Undeclared & Business Administration

Q: What if I selected the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) program as my primary major? 

A:  Applicants who are not admitted to the M.E.T. Program will be considered for admission to Berkeley Engineering’s major that corresponds to the major applied to. This is separate from the alternate major process.

Q: If I am not selected for the M.E.T. Program, am I still eligible for other majors at Berkeley?

A: M.E.T. is highly competitive and will enroll a limited number of first-year. Applicants who are not admitted to the M.E.T. Program will be considered for admission to Berkeley Engineering’s major that corresponds to the major applied to. However, admission to these majors is not guaranteed.

Q: If I choose a major in the M.E.T. Program am I required to submit a supplemental application? 

A: Students who select a major in the M.E.T. Program as their primary major will receive instructions for supplemental information. Students who selected an M.E.T. major as an alternate major will not be asked for supplemental information. 

Q: Is it true that I'm not eligible to transfer to Berkeley because I will need the summer to finish my required coursework?

A: All UC eligibility requirements for transfer admissions must be completed by the spring prior to the student’s transfer. If you are applying in November 2023 for the fall 2024 semester, all eligibility requirements must be completed by spring 2024 to be eligible for transfer.

Q: Is it true that I'm not eligible to transfer to Berkeley because I have not completed the necessary breadth/IGETC courses, even though I have taken difficult courses?

A: The College of Letters & Science denies admission if breadth and/or units are dependent on summer work. All other colleges — Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Design, Rausser College of Natural Resources, and Haas School of Business — require units; however, not all of these colleges require breadth. If you are not eligible and feel you have an unusually compelling case to make, write it in the "Comments" box of the appropriate form on your Required Forms list in our campus application portal.

Q: If my total number of UC transferable units is over 80, am I eligible for admission?

A: Most programs will not offer admission to students who have earned an excess of 80 UC transferable semester units prior to enrollment, however, if all completed coursework is lower division, this excess unit policy does not apply . If you've applied to the College of Letters and Science, note that most applicants with excess units are denied admission. If you've applied to the College of Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Design, Rausser College of Natural Resources or Haas School of Business, your application will be reviewed and there may be a very slight chance of admission with excess transferable units.

Students will be granted up to 70 semester/105 quarter units of credit for lower division coursework completed at any accredited institution or combination of institutions. Lower division units beyond the maximum for which credit is awarded will be granted subject credit and may be used to satisfy requirements. Upper division units will be added to the overall total. Units earned through AP, IB, and/or A-Level examinations are not included in the limitation and do not put applicants at risk of being denied admissions. Lower or upper division units earned at UC (Extension, summer, cross/concurrent, UC-EAP, and regular academic year enrollment) are added to the maximum lower division credit allowed and might put applicants at risk of being denied admission due to excessive units.

Q: I'm not sure if a course I've taken might substitute for a required course. Whom can I ask?

A: In the interest of fairness and equal treatment for all students, Berkeley staff cannot discuss these issues personally with applicants. You must use the space provided in the “Comments” section of each form to explain your specific case. If we need more information, we will contact you by email and/or phone. Self-resources that may be available include ASSIST.org (primarily for California community college students), or Berkeley Academic Guide .

Q: Can I change the major (and/or college/school) I applied for at Berkeley?

A: To change a major/college/school in your submitted Berkeley application, please submit your request using the Contact Us form . You can expect a decision via email within five to seven days. NOTE: No new major changes will be considered after January 25, 2024.

Q: Can I submit supplemental materials or portfolios to be considered on the application? 

A: No. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept portfolios, senior-year grades, or other supplemental materials. Anything sent to our office will not be reviewed. For select groups of students we may ask for additional information. This could be letters of recommendation or supplemental forms. Unsolicited materials will not be reviewed and we ask that applicants not send any information that are not specifically requested from the admissions office. 

Q: How can I change my email address? How can I correct my Social Security number, misspelled name, or birthdate on my application?

A: Visit UC Application and log in. Then, click on the Update Account Information link. You may change your personal information there, and the UC Admissions Office will send an update to every UC campus to which you have applied. You can also call the UC Application Center at 800-207-1710 (within U.S.) or 925-298-6856 (outside U.S.), or email: [email protected]

Q: Can I make changes (grades, courses, activities, personal insight questions, etc.) to my application after I submitted it?

A: Out of fairness to all applicants, only changes in critical information may be made to UC application data. This includes personal information, release authorizations, and some exam updates. To make changes to critical information, please log into My UC Application or contact the UC Application Center. If you contact the UC Application Center, please make sure to include your name and your UC Application ID number. Making these critical changes to your application will update the information for all of the UC campuses you applied to.

Please note that changes to your courses, grades, exams, activities, awards, volunteer work, employment, or personal insight questions are not guaranteed to reach us before your application is reviewed. However, minor changes are unlikely to have an impact on your admission decision.

Note: Transfer students will be asked to update fall 2023, winter 2024, and/or spring 2024 courses and grades in January through the Transfer Academic Update and UC Berkeley’s supplemental forms.

UC Application Center

800-207-1710 (within US)

925-298-6856 (outside US)

[email protected]

Q: How can I add a letter of recommendation, a new commendation, award, honor, etc., to my UC application? Is it too late?

A: Out of fairness to all applicants, Berkeley does not permit or review unsolicited information. If the campus requires additional information, a form will be displayed in your personal checklist on our secure applicant portal or we will reach out to you via email. Typically, unsolicited information or changes to your application will not alter our final admission decision. Please do not confuse providing new information with correcting false or misleading information on your application. If you have provided information which is no longer true (e.g., you have a grade change or you have dropped a class) you must immediately notify Berkeley in writing about this change.

Q: How can I cancel or withdraw my Berkeley application?

A: Please login to your student portal, MAP@Berkeley . Once logged in, under "Account Tools" towards the bottom of the page, click on "Withdraw Application" and follow the prompts.

Q: Can I submit an application after November 30?

A: No, we will not accept late applications.

Q: Can applicants to Berkeley select more than one major on the application? 

A: Students can select a primary major and an alternate major. Currently, Berkeley only guarantees the review of the primary major and will not review students for an alternate major. 

Q: How should I decide what my primary major should be versus an alternate major?

A: Because we only guarantee the review of the primary major, we highly recommend that students who have a strong interest in a specific major to select that major as their primary selection.

Q: Can I change my major after enrolling? 

A: Students can work with an advisor to explore opportunities to change their major after enrolling. In most circumstances, it is possible to change your major. However, higher-demand majors such as Engineering, or social sciences, may be more difficult to transfer. It is easier to transfer majors in the same college.

Q: Can I select "undeclared" as an alternate major? How would that affect my admissions?  

A: Yes, you may select undeclared as the primary or alternate selection. We know that some students aren't sure what they're interested in prior to enrolling in college, and we offer that flexibility for students. Applying undeclared does not impact your chances of admission.

A: Applicants who are not admitted to the M.E.T. Program will be considered for admission to Berkeley Engineering’s major that corresponds to the major applied to. This is separate from the alternate major process.

Q: What if I selected the Global Management program as my primary major? 

A: Applicants who are not admitted to the Global Management Program will be considered for admission to the College of Letters and Science's social sciences division. This is separate from the alternate major process.

Q: Can I select an alternate major in any college?

A: Yes. You can select any major from any college as your primary and your alternate major. However, Berkeley will not review a student for their alternate major. 

Q: What is the lived name policy?

A: In accordance with the California Gender Recognition Act (SB 179), UC Berkeley is adhering to a new system wide Gender Recognition and Lived Name policy , which ensures that all students, employees, alumni, and affiliates are identified by their accurate gender identity and lived name on university-issued identification documents and in UC’s information systems by providing guidance on the collection and reporting of gender identity, lived name and sexual orientation.

Q: How will the lived name be used?

A: We will be using the lived name to address students in all communications, including but not limited to, emails, text messages, official decision letters, etc.

Q: If I did not enter a lived name, what will show on my communications?

A: If you did not enter a different lived name, we will default to the legal name when addressing you in communications.

Q: Can I change my lived name?

A: Yes, you may update your information in the UC application . This will update your name at all UC campuses, but can take a few days to process.

Q: While my lived name is different from my legal name, I may need my offer letter to reflect my legal name if I’m admitted to Berkeley. How can I make that change?

A: We understand that there is often a need to have the offer of admission letter printed with the legal name, rather than the lived name. If you wish to have your official admission letter adjusted to display your legal name, we’ll have a process where you can request a version with your legal name.

*Updated July 2023

Office of Undergraduate Admissions University of California, Berkeley 110 Sproul Hall #5800, Berkeley, CA 94720-5800

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Freshman Admissions

How to apply.

Thank you for considering the M.E.T. program for your next big academic and entrepreneurial step. You may want to begin by watching our informative Freshman Admissions webinar below.

Once you’re ready to apply:

• Begin with a visit to admissions.berkeley.edu to become familiar with admission requirements and the selection process. From there, you can launch your UC application .
• Then, visit the admissions pages of the College of Engineering and the Haas School of Business to learn what we’re looking for in applicants. Think about how your achievements and personal qualities position you for success in the M.E.T. program.
• Read about the additional M.E.T.-specific admissions requirements below.

Berkeley M.E.T. Info Session

Wednesday, October 2, 5–6 p.m.  |  Register here

Thursday, October 17, 5–6 p.m.  |  Register here

Join us to learn about the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology program in the College of Engineering and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. We will provide an overview of the incoming freshman admissions process for high school students and for anyone else interested in learning more about Berkeley M.E.T.

Watch Our Freshman Admissions Webinar

Note: As of Monday, October 30, 2023 video essays will be mandatory if given the opportunity to submit a video.

Additional M.E.T. Admissions Requirements

Select an Academic Track

Freshman applicants can earn simultaneous B.S. degrees in one of the following tracks:

• Engineering Undeclared + Business
• Aerospace Engineering + Business
• Bioengineering + Business
• Civil Engineering + Business
• Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences   + Business
• Industrial Engineering & Operations Research + Business
• Materials Science & Engineering + Business
• Mechanical Engineering + Business

You must choose one of the eight M.E.T. engineering tracks under the College of Engineering or Berkeley-Haas. It doesn’t matter which college you select M.E.T. major offerings through – your selection will be captured.

Supplemental Essay

Once you submit your application, you’ll receive an additional email from UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions asking you to write and submit a supplemental essay about your interest in M.E.T. Expect to receive this email 5-7 business days after submitting your UC application. From there, you’ll have until 11:59pm PST on December 15  to submit your supplemental essay. Failure to submit your essay by the deadline will remove you from consideration to the M.E.T. Program.

Applications for admission to M.E.T. are available beginning in October of the year prior to the year in which you’d enter UC Berkeley. The application filing period is October 1- November 30, and all applications must be submitted by November 30.

Video Essay

In some cases, additional information is needed, and you may receive a request to record a video essay. Video essay requests are by invitation only and will be requested starting in November. Videos must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST on January 12, 2024. It’s your responsibility to check your email inbox for information and if requested, be sure to submit your video essay by the deadline. Applicants who are selected for the M.E.T. program will be notified during February or March of the following year.

Student Voices

There are so many challenges within the esports industry that are either tech or business related. You need technology advancements to push the boundaries of where esports can go, but you also need to find new marketing opportunities, like expanding into new demographics. The M.E.T. dual degree trained me for both.

Lawrence Z.

Former Finance & Operations Intern

Immortals, LLC

EECS + Business ’21

M.E.T. is a group of extremely hard-working and ambitious people, combined with an extraordinary entrepreneurial network. I want to create or join a startup, and one of the things that was really attractive about the program was that I could meet and learn from all these amazing entrepreneurs who have done exactly what I want to do.

Former Intern

Area 1 Security

We are a very cooperative and welcoming group. When you walk into the M.E.T. office, there are usually people working on projects together, and you can always ask someone to read over your essay or help you debug some code. Everyone is willing to help.

Michelle L.

Technology Investment Banking Analyst

Morgan Stanley

IEOR + Business ’21

Frequently Asked Questions - Berkeley Writing Assessment: General Questions

Berkeley writing assessment: general questions, what is the berkeley writing assessment.

The Berkeley Writing Assessment is a 2-hour timed reading and writing activity done online. It is made up of a reading passage and questions that you will write an essay in response to, without the assistance of outside readings, books, websites, ChatGPT, or other people. You will also complete a survey that tells us about your experience with writing and writing classes.

Who should take the Berkeley Writing Assessment?

If you do not have a qualifying exam score at this time, or a C or higher in an English Composition course completed before starting Berkeley, you should  consider taking the next available assessment.

The advantage of taking the upcoming assessment is to guarantee you will have the results in time for fall semester enrollment in mid-July to best determine if you will take COLWRIT R1A or qualify for enrollment in a Reading and Composition course that satisfies Part A. The Assessment is not required for enrollment in COLWRIT R1A, you can always enroll directly into the course. COLWRIT R1A completed with a letter grade of C or higher satisfies both Entry Level Writing  and Reading and Composition Part A.

How do I sign up for the Assessment?

If you are a newly admitted first-year student who has accepted the offer to attend Berkeley, you will be assigned a Task in your CalCentral Dashboard to complete an Entry Level Writing Evaluation form. If you are a continuing  Berkeley student, there is a registration link on this page.

You may take the Berkeley Writing Assessment only once.

How is the Assessment scored?

Each student essay will be read by two raters, working independently, to assign it a score from 1-6. The two scores are combined for the final score.

How do I pass the Assessment?

This is not an exam in the traditional sense. The Assessment doesn't have passing or failing grades. Instead, it will tell you which composition class is best for you given your skills and experience. If you receive a combined final score of 8 or higher, you will be recommended to take a 4-unit Reading and Composition Part A  course in the department of your choice, including College Writing Programs. If your score is lower than 8, you will take College Writing (COLWRIT) R1A , a 6-unit course which satisfies both the Entry Level Writing and Reading and Composition Part A requirement.

How much does the Berkeley Writing Assessment cost?

There is a $196 fee for taking this assessment which is charged  after you finish the assessment to your dashboard. You can view the charge in the Cal Central dashboard under the "My Finances" tab. Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who have qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.

Can the fee for the Berkeley Writing Assessment be waived?

Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you have already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.

I have a conflict with the most recent Assessment. Are there any make-up times?

Yes, the Berkeley Writing Assessment will be offered two times each year: the May administration (primarily for incoming students) and once during the fall semester. Note that you may take the Assessment only once . If you do not receive a qualifying score the first time you take the Assessment, and you have no other qualifying scores or acceptable transfer course completed prior to stating Berkeley, you should enroll in COLWRIT R1A

Do I need to take the Assessment in order to enroll in COLWRIT R1A?

No, you may enroll directly in COLWRIT R1A without an assessment score. Many students appreciate taking the course as a way to improve their reading and writing skills in a small class environment (College Writing classes have only 14 students per section). The class is designed to set you up for success with your future writing assignments at Berkeley.

I took the BWA. How long will it be until I get my score?

It generally takes around 3 weeks for your essay to be scored and for the score to be submitted before it appears in your records. You can find your BWA scores on your Cal Central dashboard under the "My Academics" tab.

How do I know which test scores satisfy ELWR?

A list of accepted tests and scores is found on the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement page.

New Policies for Transfer Student Applicants

Last updated: August 22, 2024

Please check the following information for updated policies pertaining to Transfer Student applicants for the College of Letters & Science. For general prospective student applicant support, including for transfer applicants, please visit ls.berkeley.edu/prospective-students . 

Preparing for Transfer to UC Berkeley's College of Letters & Science (L&S)

For Transfer Admission Requirements, visit the UC Berkeley Admissions website for more information. Review L&S specific requirements under “College of Letters and Science."

TRANSFER PREPARATION & DEGREE PROGRESS

While preparing for transfer admission, it is helpful to familiarize yourself with the basic structure of the L&S degree program as outlined in the chart below.  L&S intends for you to apply most of your transfer coursework toward the satisfaction of degree requirements in order to enter UC Berkeley as a junior.

To accomplish this, and ensure timely progress toward completing your degree, it is highly recommended that in addition to the UC 7-Course Pattern, students complete individual courses or a general education (GE) curriculum at the community college that will also satisfy degree requirements upon admission. This includes one of the following:

UC IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum)

Cal-GETC (California General Education Transfer Curriculum)

Transfer course work directly articulated to individual L&S GE requirements

In many cases, it is possible to complete a California community college course that will satisfy both UC 7-Course Pattern and UC IGETC/Cal-GETC requirements or individual L&S GE requirements. See FAQs below for instructions on how to navigate assist.org .

[CLICK TO VIEW]: Summary of L&S Degree Requirements

UC IGETC and CAL-GETC 

L&S only accepts full certifications of UC IGETC and Cal-GETC toward the completion of the College’s general education requirements as summarized in the chart below.  Cal-GETC satisfies most L&S GE requirements, with the exception of the Foreign Language requirement. It is highly recommended that students pursuing Cal-GETC also satisfy the Foreign Language requirement prior to transferring to UC Berkeley with approved courses in the assist.org General Education agreement.

Note: L&S does not accept partial Cal-GETC/ UC IGETC certification.

[CLICK TO VIEW]: L&S Degree Requirements Satisfied with Cal-GETC or UC IGETC

TRANSFER COURSE WORK DIRECTLY ARTICULATED TO L&S GENERAL EDUCATION

If you do not plan to complete full UC IGETC/Cal-GETC certification, upon admission to Berkeley, it is still possible to satisfy individual requirements on a requirement by requirement basis. Review the FAQs on this page for instructions on how to navigate assist.org to choose articulated courses that will satisfy L&S General Education requirements.

2023-2025 L&S Direct Admission to Major Transfer Pilot

Transfer students who are offered admission to L&S in the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 academic years, and have selected one of the majors below on their application, will be directly admitted into the major. These students will not have to go through an additional internal process to apply or officially declare their major because they will have already been admitted (or declared) into their major. Visit the L&S Direct Admission to Major Transfer Pilot website to learn more about this program.

[CLICK TO VIEW]: L&S Majors Participating in the Direct Admission to Major Transfer Pilot

L&S Foreign Language Requirement

Students admitted fall 2026 and thereafter cannot satisfy the  L&S Foreign Language Requirement  with three years of high school course work (approved AP and IB scores are still acceptable). Students can satisfy the FL requirement with college-level credit any time prior to graduation; however, we strongly recommend that transfer students complete the FL requirement prior to transferring to L&S to ensure timely graduation.

Transfer Applicant Resources

• L&S Prospective Students
• General Info for Transfer Students 
• Berkeley Academic Guide
• Berkeley Academic Calendar
• L&S Advising

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am transferring from an institution outside of the california community college system. what guidance would you offer in selecting courses for degree progress.

Applicants from outside of the California Community College system must complete the same minimum requirements for admission as noted on the Berkeley Admissions website . We advise you to use assist.org by selecting any one of the California Community College campuses and reviewing the approved UC Berkeley courses in the UC transfer eligibility, general education, and major of interest agreements. We recommend that you use these ...

• Read more about I am transferring from an institution outside of the California Community College system. What guidance would you offer in selecting courses for degree progress?

I am transferring from another UC. Do you honor a UC Reciprocity letter confirming completion of GE at my current UC campus?

We will review letters of reciprocity from your current UC campus for consideration for completion of L&S GE. Letters from UC colleges and schools that are comparable to L&S, or are liberal arts in nature, tend to be the most successful in achieving full reciprocity.

• Read more about I am transferring from another UC. Do you honor a UC Reciprocity letter confirming completion of GE at my current UC campus?

If I am not completing UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, do I need to complete pre-approved courses for all L&S GE requirements?

If you are not planning to complete UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, it is not required to complete articulated courses for all L&S GE requirements; however, we strongly recommend that at the very least you complete courses (or have acceptable exam scores) that will satisfy Reading & Composition , Quantitative Reasoning , and Foreign Language ...

• Read more about If I am not completing UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, do I need to complete pre-approved courses for all L&S GE requirements?

I am not completing UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, will I still qualify for admission review?

UC IGETC/Cal-GETC are no longer required for admission eligibility. If you complete the following minimum requirements, you will qualify for admission consideration:

University of California 7-Course Pattern,

Minimum 60 UC-transferable semester (90 UC-transferable quarter) units,

Major preparation courses as advised in ...

• Read more about I am not completing UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, will I still qualify for admission review?

I received a score of 3 on an AP English exam. Will this score satisfy Reading & Composition (R&C)?

A score of 3 on an AP English exam may be acceptable to satisfy requirements for UC 7-Course Pattern or UC IGETC/Cal-GETC; however, if you are not completing the full certification for UC IGETC/Cal-GETC, a score of 3 (which can satisfy one of the two courses for the 7-Course Pattern UC-E English composition requirement) will not satisfy the R&C requirement. A minimum score of 4 or higher is required to satisfy the R&C requirement as published on the ...

• Read more about I received a score of 3 on an AP English exam. Will this score satisfy Reading & Composition (R&C)?

Will the courses completed for UC 7-Course Pattern automatically satisfy L&S Degree Requirements?

Students completing University of California 7-Course Pattern will automatically satisfy the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement. Completion of two 7-Course Pattern English composition (UC-E) courses will guarantee satisfaction of one half of the Reading & Composition (R&C A). We highly recommend that students complete UC-E courses that articulate to R&C A and R&C B in ...

• Read more about Will the courses completed for UC 7-Course Pattern automatically satisfy L&S Degree Requirements?

How do I satisfy the Reading and Composition Requirement with coursework outside of the California Community Colleges (CCC)?

Review the approved R&C courses from non-CCC institutions If the institution you plan to attend is not listed on the website, consider taking an online offering of an approved CCC course. Review the instructions here for ...

• Read more about How do I satisfy the Reading and Composition Requirement with coursework outside of the California Community Colleges (CCC)?

How do I use Assist.org to choose courses that will satisfy L&S degree requirements?

Selecting courses that satisfy requirements for both 7-Course Pattern and L&S General Education requirements will automatically satisfy these requirements upon admission.

We strongly recommend that prior to transferring to Berkeley you complete articulated courses as published on assist.org for these L&S General Education requirements:

Reading & ...

• Read more about How do I use Assist.org to choose courses that will satisfy L&S degree requirements?

Who can I reach out to with questions?

Prospective transfer students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions . Once you have matriculated, there will be an orientation program to welcome you to the college, and advisers will be available to help you navigate Berkeley Letters & Science!

• Read more about Who can I reach out to with questions?

How do I declare my major after I arrive?

Transfer students are currently admitted to the College of Letters & Science as “undeclared” and must apply (i.e. complete major declaration requirements) to the major they wish to declare. The process to declare a major is different for each L&S major.

Once you arrive on campus, you will work with your Undergraduate Major Adviser (UMA) to learn about the process to declare your major.

• Read more about How do I declare my major after I arrive?