What qualities do UC schools look for?

Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that ...

What do UC schools look for the most?

Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses. Your grades are the most important thing the UCs consider when it comes to your application.

What are UC schools looking for?

Your grades and GPA are considered the most important elements of the UC application review process. For all UCs, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in the A-G courses for California applicants and a 3.4 minimum for non-residents.

What do UC schools not look at?

UCs do look at courses you take in freshman and senior years; the grades and rigor of your coursework are considered in context of your overall curriculum. But freshman and senior year grades are NOT included in the GPA calculation. UC-approved Honors, AP, IB and community college courses are weighted.

What kind of students does UC want?

We look for persistence, passion, and a desire to give back. It doesn't matter whether you're the first in your family to attend college or you're the latest in a long tradition of educational excellence: You stand up and you stand out. Keep in mind that at Berkeley we receive far more applications than we can admit.

2023 COLLEGE DECISION REACTIONS

What does UCLA look for in students?

The UCLA admissions committee considers many elements when making decisions about prospective students. They seek good grades, students with rich experience, and solid personal stories demonstrating positive characteristics. Showcasing your intellect and being curious is key to gaining admission.

What is the easiest UC school to get into?

Most likely, they're offered a place at Merced or Riverside, the easiest of the UCs to get into and the ones with the lowest enrollment rates — in 2022, 92% of in-state applicants to Merced were admitted, but just 1 in 10 accepted a spot.

Do UC schools look at race?

About 27 years after Proposition 209 banned the consideration of race in admissions, the racial makeup of UC's student body doesn't come close to matching the diversity of the state. For example, in fall 2022, UC's incoming first-year students were 26.7% Latino.

What years do UC schools look at?

While UC schools do consider senior year course load and grades, they focus primarily on your academic performance from grades 10 and 11 (including summers) for the initial admissions review. However, that doesn't mean senior year grades aren't important.

What is the lowest GPA to get into UC?

California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement. To see how to calculate your UC GPA, follow our instructions below.

What is the UC 9 rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

How can I increase my chances of getting into a UC?

Get good grades in those hard classes. You don't have to be perfect, but you will need to do well. We've seen students with C's or even a D get into Berkeley, but it's the exception that proves the rule. You should strive to do as well as possible, starting in 9th grade.

Do UC schools look at essays?

Essays are a critical component of your application to the University of California (UC) system. Since the UC system no longer considers standardized tests, like the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB examinations, when reaching admissions decisions, there are fewer data points with which admissions officers can assess candidates.

What is the hardest UC to get into?

The odds of getting into the UC system can drastically differ depending on which campuses a student applies to. UCLA and Berkeley are the most competitive campuses, with just 10% and 17% of California applicants, respectively, admitted to each in 2021.

What do UCs care about?

UCs like to see active exploration of or involvement in the discipline you intend to declare as your major (or exploration of different disciplines if you are unsure/undeclared) and heavily favor students with research experience.

Do UC schools look at 9th grade?

The UCs look at your GPA starting from the summer after freshman year to the summer after junior year, so no freshman or senior grades are part of this grade calculation.

Can I get into a UC with a 3.5 GPA?

The minimum high school GPA requirement for in-state applicants is a 3.0, while it's a 3.4 for out-of-state applicants. Of the first-year students enrolled in fall 2022, 3.1% had between a 3.75 and a 4.0 GPA. UC Berkeley has a very detailed, extensive list of required high school coursework for all applicants.

What GPA do UC schools look at?

The second minimum requirement is the UC GPA, a particular formula that enables the UC admissions teams to compare applicants' respective performance in high school coursework. California residents must meet a minimum UC GPA (different from a regular high school GPA!) of 3.0, while non-residents must have a minimum UC ...

Do UC schools care about freshman grades?

University of California (UC) schools, for instance, consider a GPA that is calculated from freshman summer through junior summer, meaning both your child's freshman and senior year grades don't factor into their GPA at all.

Is it harder for out of state students to get into a UC?

In general, the out-of-state acceptance rate is higher because those applicants are higher-paying and often have stronger academic profiles. While the University of California colleges are undoubtedly competitive, the good news is that some UC schools' acceptance rates are much higher than others.

Do UC schools look at SAT?

UC will not consider SAT, ACT of SAT Subject Test scores when making admission decisions or awarding scholarships. If you choose to report test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

Are UC schools harder to get into?

UCLA and UC Berkeley are often considered the crown jewels of California public universities. Those two schools boast the lowest admissions rates among California public schools, with three other UCs — Irvine, San Diego and Santa Barbara — rounding out the top five.

Which UC is prettiest?

Which UC campus is the nicest? Four UC schools made California.com's most beautiful college campuses list. These include UCLA, UCSC, UCSB, and UC Berkeley. Each offers a unique setting, from redwood forests to breathtaking ocean views, stand-out architecture, and impressive gardens.

What is the cheapest UC school?

Which UC school is most affordable? UC Merced is the cheapest UC school. Students paid an average annual net price of $13,549 in 2021-2022 at UC Merced, according to NCES. In contrast, the most expensive UC school is UC Berkeley, which charged an average annual net price of $19,257 that same year.

What is the most prestigious UC?

US News ties UCLA with UC Berkeley at #1 on the list of top public schools, and Forbes ranks it as the #6 university in America.