Hey everyone, I'm starting to seriously consider applying to UC Berkeley. Does anyone know what the average SAT score is for admitted students, and how important the SAT is in the overall admissions process? And with recent test-optional policies, has this changed at all? Thanks!
Hi there! UC Berkeley, like the other UC schools, has become test-blind starting from Fall 2021, which means they do not consider SAT or ACT scores during the admissions process at all. So, for applicants to Berkeley, the focus will be on other aspects, such as GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, personal insight questions, and other application components.
In case you're still curious, in the past, the middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students at Berkeley was around 1340-1540. However, since standardized test scores are no longer taken into account, you can put more effort into making sure the rest of your application is strong. Focus on maintaining a high GPA, engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities and leadership roles, and writing strong responses to the personal insight questions (PIQs).
For in-depth advice on tackling the UC PIQs, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays
Congrats on considering UC Berkeley, and best of luck with your application!
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