Hey peeps! I’ve been eyeing UC Berkeley and I'm gearing up to start my application soon. I was just wondering if anyone who has been through the process could give me some tips? Specifically, is there anything unusual about their application that I should look out for, or anything that could give me an edge? Thanks in advance.
While the application process for the University of California system, which includes UC Berkeley, may seem daunting, the good news is that guidelines for UC schools are fairly standard. They require the general UC application, which includes Personal Insight Questions (PIQs).
In general, make sure you meet all the standard UC requirements including completion of the A-G requirements, which are a series of courses that HS students in California must complete. These include history, English, Math, Lab Science, Foreign Language, Visual and Performing Arts, and one additional qualifying course.
The UC Personal Insight Questions are a unique part of the UC application. There are eight prompts to choose from, and you’ll need to respond to four. Your answers to these questions are a great place to highlight your achievements, interests, and personal experiences. 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
More directly specific to UC Berkeley, from an admissions standpoint, the university values students who demonstrate intellectual passion and a love of learning. They appreciate applicants with a deep commitment to an area of interest. So if you have a "spike," or specialized area of achievement, make sure that shines through in your essays.
And remember, UC schools are test-blind for the 2024-2025 application cycle, meaning they are not considering the SAT or ACT in their admissions decisions. So, focus more on your grades, course rigor, and extracurricular involvement.
Finally, UC Berkeley tends to focus on strong academics above all else, but this doesn’t mean you should avoid showing your personality in your application. Use the PIQs to tell your own unique story and what you could bring to Berkeley’s diverse community.
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