UC Berkeley SAT scores

Hey all, UC Berkeley is my dream school so I want to make sure my application is as strong as it can be. If anyone here already applying to or attending Berkeley, can you share the typical SAT scores for Berkeley students? Also, if you have any tips for preparation, I'd be so grateful to hear them!

Hello there! For the 2024-2025 application cycle, the University of California, Berkeley (also known as UC Berkeley or just Berkeley), has adopted a test-blind policy. This means they won't be considering SAT or ACT scores at all in their admissions process, regardless of whether you submit them. The decision to go test-blind was made to ensure the most equitable admissions process, as the use of standardized test scores has been found to disadvantage certain groups of students.

Instead of focusing on your SAT score, you should invest your time and energy into other parts of your application that Berkeley does consider. This includes your GPA (Berkeley will be looking closely at your grades, particularly in A-G courses), your extracurricular activities, and your UC application essays.

With regard to extracurriculars, bear in mind that quality matters more than quantity. You should focus on achieving high levels of leadership or achievement in a few key activities, rather than participating in a large number of activities but only on a superficial level.

As for your essays, these are the primary way that the UCs get to know you as a person. Since Berkeley doesn't consider letters of recommendation for most applicants, your essays are an important tool for showing what makes you unique. Make sure to put significant time and effort into crafting your essays, ensuring that they give an in-depth view of who you are as an individual. For in-depth advice on tackling these essays, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays

I hope this info helps and I wish you the best of luck in your application. You've got this!