UC Schools: How to Apply?

I'm seriously considering applying to UC campuses, but the process seems somewhat overwhelming. Would anyone be able to walk me through how to apply to UC schools?

The process of applying to UC schools might seem daunting at first, but breaking it down into steps makes it more manageable. Here's a general guide to help you navigate through:

1. Determine Eligibility: The first step is to familiarize yourself with UC’s eligibility requirements to ensure that you meet them. They are quite specific regarding course requirements, GPA, etc.

2. Research Campuses and Majors: Consider which of the nine campuses you're interested in and investigate the majors they offer to decide what to study.

3. Prepare to Fill the Application: Gather your personal and academic information including your social security number (if you have one), your family's annual income, a list of courses and grades from all schools attended after 9th grade, and a list of your planned courses (for the next couple of years if you're still in high school).

4. Fill the Application: The application itself can typically be found and completed on the UC application portal. You'll need to provide educational history, including any college coursework you've taken, your test scores (though this is not considered for the 2024-2025 cycle due to the test-blind policy), and answers to personal insight questions.

5. Personal Insight Questions: UCs require you to respond to prompts known as personal insight questions. They give eight prompts, and you have to respond to four. These are 350 words each and are a chance for you to showcase your unique qualities and achievements.

6. Reviewing and Submitting: After you fill out everything, be sure to review your information thoroughly for accuracy and completeness. Then, submit your application (and the application fee) within the filing period, which is October 1 to November 30.

Remember that the UC system reviews applications holistically, so in addition to your academic qualifications, your answers to the personal insight questions and your extracurricular activities all play a role in the decision-making process. Best of luck!