Hello! I'm a junior planning to apply to UC Irvine and I'm curious about what SAT scores they're looking for in applicants. Any insight would be super helpful, especially any info on scores that are considered competitive. Thank you in advance!
Hello! You might be interested to know that as of Fall 2021, all University of California (UC) schools, including UC Irvine, have adopted a test-blind policy for admissions, which means they no longer consider SAT or ACT scores for the admissions process. This policy will continue to be in place until at least Fall 2025.
Instead of focusing on standardized test scores, UC schools place a greater emphasis on factors like grades, course rigor, extracurricular activities, and personal statements. It's important to have strong academic performance and show engagement in your chosen field of interest through your activities and essays to make yourself a competitive applicant.
Since SAT scores are not a part of the admission criteria, I advise you to concentrate on the components of your application that UC Irvine will evaluate. Maintain a high GPA, challenge yourself with rigorous courses like AP or IB classes, and participate in relevant extracurricular activities that demonstrate your interests, leadership, and dedication.
Additionally, make sure you craft strong personal insight essays for the UC application that showcase your unique experiences, values, and aspirations. These essays serve as an excellent opportunity for the admissions committee to get to know you better and understand what you'll bring to the UC Irvine community. For tips on how to tackle this questions, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays.
Good luck with your application to UC Irvine!
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