Getting accepted into UC Berkley
We'll give you crucial tips on getting accepted into UC Berkley.
Getting accepted into UC Berkley can be tough. How tough is it to get into Berkley? UC Berkley received 87,394 applicants in 2019-2020. 14,668 applicants were accepted, for an acceptance rate of 16.7%. Based on these statistics, Berkley is a strongly competitive school. We'll discuss four steps to get into Berkley and how to maximize your chances of getting accepted.
Create an Account
First, create an applicant account. You are filling out simple information. This step should take a few minutes to complete.
Finish the UC application
Sections of the application consist of:
Enter information about which UC school you're applying to and what you plan to major in.
Fill out your eligibility for scholarships
Answer demographic questions
Fill out your academic history (the classes you took, grades you received, if they were in honors or AP, etc.)
Fill out the information on extracurriculars and awards received.
Report your standardized test scores if applicable.
You have eight personal questions, and you'll need to answer four of them. Your response needs to be 350 words or less. For prompts, click here.
Pay your admission fees, and submit an application
Once you finish your application, you can submit it as long as it's between November 1st and November 30th. A $70 application fee is required when you apply to any of the UC schools ($80 if you're an international student). If you apply to two schools, you'll pay a total of $140-$160.
Submit standardized test scores
UC Berkley has gone "test-optional" for 2021 due to COVID-19. Test-optional means that your SAT and ACT scores won't be required, but you can submit them if you wish. Not submitting test scores won't affect them in the admissions process. UC schools (including Berkley) will be phasing out the standardized testing requirements for in-state students to drop the standardized testing requirements by 2025. There are exceptions to this rule, especially for international, out-of-state students, and students looking to obtain scholarships. For more information about testing, changes, click here.
How to get into Berkley
Berkley wants top students, so make sure you have a perfect application. Berkley will look at five important categories when evaluating applications.
Classes
The classes you take in high school are crucial for your college application. The classes you take in high school are crucial for your college application. Two things admissions officers take into consideration: the courses you took and how difficult they were (aka “rigor”). Admissions officers want to make sure you've taken the classes needed as prerequisites to succeed as a college student. Remember that the A-G courses are the minimum requirements to get accepted. A-G requirements consist of a sequence of high school classes that students must complete to be admitted into a UC school. For more information, click here. Most applicants will go well beyond these requirements. Some majors, particularly math or science, recommend additional classes before you begin college.
For instance, if you want to major in chemistry, you have to take one year of chemistry, one year of physics, four years of math, and two to three years of a foreign language. It's best to take classes you plan on majoring in. The admission officers will take a look at the rigor of your classes. If your school offers AP, Honors, or IB, you should take these classes. Take as many as you can without overloading yourself and maintaining a high GPA. Taking these classes shows you are focused on your studies and have the ability to deal with pressure. Berkley mentions they look at the "quality of your senior-year program," so don't slack off by getting “Senioritis” and taking easy classes.
Grades
Taking the classes that Berkley wants is not good enough; you need to do well in them. Grades and overall GPA are crucial for your Berkley application. 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. This requirement counts not only for Berkley but for any UC College in general. You can’t get a grade of C or lower in any of your classes. To give yourself the best chance of getting accepted into Berkley, you should have a GPA of 4.3 or higher. Your GPA needs to be higher than the majority of accepted students. To get a GPA of 4.3 you’ll need to get A’s in most of your classes and take advanced courses like Honors or AP.
Test Scores
Due to COVID-19, UC Berkley is going test-optional for students for the Fall 2021 application cycle. It will be changing its testing policies for in-state students in Fall 2022 and beyond. To learn more, click on this article. There is no SAT or ACT score to get into Berkley, but you'll want to aim high if you do have a chance of taking the exam. The score range for accepted students getting into Berkley is between 1350-1540 in 2019. The ACT is between 30 and 35. You want to aim for the higher end of this range. Berkley also requires the essay/writing section of the SAT and ACT. Even though Berkley doesn't require any SAT Subject Tests or AP scores, having at least a few of these will strengthen your application by showing you can score well. You should submit three subject Tests or AP scores, with at least one related to what you want to major in.
Essays
You'll have to answer, four of the UC personal insight prompts, your responses should show:
Who you are
What you can contribute to the Berkley community
What causes/topics/hobbies are important to you
What are your intellectual interests
Whatever your story is, this is what Berkley wants to hear, and it's the best place in your application to show them who you are. Put in the time and thought into your responses.
Extracurriculars
Your extracurriculars are a crucial part of your college application. Extracurriculars show your leadership skills and areas of interest. Have your extracurriculars stand out by showing admissions officers you’re passionate about them, have dedicated significant time to them, and have taken a leadership role.
Berkley is looking for certain factors in extracurriculars such as:
Talents, awards, or achievements
Leadership experience
Significant achievements that demonstrate a student's promise for contributing to the
campus.
Examples of strong extracurriculars consist of:
Intensive study and exploration of other cultures
Significant community service
Participation in student government
Any extracurricular that you're passionate about is great to include in your application. Even if you send additional materials, such as a portfolio, Berkley won't consider it, so be sure to do a good job describing your talents and accomplishments in your application. You can use the Additional Comments box in the Personal Insights section for information you feel is relevant for Berkley to know about you or your situation and does not belong in any other area. This can include personal health information, difficult situations that resulted in a lack of extracurriculars or low grade, and/or unusual grading circumstances of a school or situation.
