What students does UC Berkeley look for?

Admission to Berkeley goes beyond academic indicators. 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.

What does UC Berkeley look for in applicants?

Holistic review also takes into consideration the 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.

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

What kind of students does UC 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 grades does UC Berkeley 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.

Student Q&A: What's a Strong Applicant Profile for UC Berkeley?

Does UC Berkeley look at 9th grade?

Tip #3.

You should strive to do as well as possible, starting in 9th grade. The UC application formula only “counts” courses from 10th and 11th grade. But the UC's will still see your grades from 9th grade.

What is the lowest GPA accepted to UC Berkeley?

UC has a specific way to calculate the grade point average (GPA) it requires for admission. 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.

What is the UC 9 rule?

If you rank in the top 9 percent of California students according to our updated Statewide Index you will be eligible for the Statewide Guarantee.

What is the top 9 percent UC rule?

The updated Statewide Index is used to determine eligibility for the statewide guarantee. 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.

Does UC Berkeley look at senior year grades?

UCs do look at the courses you take in senior year and take the rigor into consideration when evaluating you for admission; but as long as you maintain satisfactory grades (typically an unweighted B average, with no non-passing grades, is sufficient), your performance in your senior year courses will NOT affect your ...

What makes a strong candidate for UC Berkeley?

Strong academic performance: UC Berkeley values academic excellence, so make sure you have a high GPA and have completed rigorous coursework in your major.

Does UC Berkeley care about extracurriculars?

The UC Berkeley admissions team uses extracurricular activities as a way to measure a student's involvement beyond numbers. Your activities say more than your UC Berkeley SAT scores or the UC Berkeley GPA requirements.

How do I guarantee admission to UC Berkeley?

The admissions process

No single attribute or characteristic guarantees the admission of any applicant to Berkeley. All UC Berkeley applicants must meet University of California admission requirements: First-year requirements and selection. Transfer requirements and selection.

What does Berkeley care about the most?

There are only three factors that Berkeley ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, and GPA, and application essays. Factors rated as “important” are: extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, volunteer experience, and work experience.

What does UC Berkeley look for in essays?

In addition to content, essays are evaluated for writing and critical thinking ability, skill in organizing and presenting thoughts, and the relevance of your answer to the question posed. Your response is limited to 350 words.

How many AP classes should I take for UC Berkeley?

That being said, a strong applicant to UC Berkeley will typically take around 6-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, including a mix of courses in different subjects. However, the number of AP classes you should take may vary depending on your individual strengths and academic goals.

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?

If you finish two years with a 3.5 GPA at a California CC you are guaranteed UC admission, but not necessary to the campus you choose. Also, not all program areas.

What is the acceptance rate for UC Berkeley?

University of California, Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 11%. The application deadline at University of California, Berkeley is Nov. 30.

Is 10 activities enough for UC?

Compile a comprehensive list of the activities you want to include: While the Common App requires you to tailor your list to include only 10 activities, the UC application has space to list up to 20 activities and awards.

What is the UC essay limit?

The University of California application allows candidates to apply to all UC campuses at once and consists of eight essay prompts—more commonly known as the “Personal Insight Questions.” Applicants must choose FOUR of these questions to answer and are given a total of 350 words to answer each question.

How many UC activities should I put?

As a result, the UC application allows you to provide information for up to twenty activities and awards. However, unlike the Common Application activity list, the UC application asks you to provide different information depending on how you categorize each activity.

Is a 3.8 GPA good enough for UC Berkeley?

This indicates that to be a successful applicant at the University of California, Berkeley, you need to strive for a GPA of at least 3.8 during your high school years.

What GPA is Berkeley looking for?

The minimum GPA to be considered for undergraduate, first-year admission to a UC is a 3.0 for California students and a 3.4 for out-of-state students. Any applications with GPAs below those will not be considered.

Can I get into UC Berkeley with a 3.6 GPA?

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.