How many UCs can you apply to?

I'm a high school junior planning to apply to a few UC schools next year. Is there a limit to how many UCs we're allowed to apply to? And should I go for all of them or focus on just a few?

There is no limit to the number of UC schools you can apply to, and applying to multiple campuses is a common strategy for UC applicants. When you fill out the University of California application, you'll have the option to select each of the nine undergraduate campuses you're interested in applying to, and you'll submit a single application that is shared among them.

In terms of deciding whether to apply to all of them or just a few, it depends on your interests, goals, and preferences. Since each campus has its own unique atmosphere, academic strengths, and opportunities, it might be more strategic to focus on the ones that best align with your goals, major choices, and campus preferences rather than applying to all campuses simply for the sake of doing so.

To make an informed decision, research each campus thoroughly by examining the programs, majors, and resources they offer, as well as their campus culture, location, and size. You may also want to consider factors like selectivity, average admitted student profiles, and potential financial aid packages to help narrow down your choices.

If you feel a genuine affinity for all of the UC schools, then there is no harm in applying to all of them. But typically, students find that a handful of them are particularly appealing, and choose to focus their efforts on those campuses.

Best of luck with crafting your ideal college list!