Getting into UC Berkeley - How difficult?

Hi there, I’ve always wanted to go to UC Berkeley; it's my dream school. But I’m feeling kinda anxious about how intensely competitive it is. What’s the difficulty level? Should I breathe easy or prepare for the worst?

UC Berkeley is indeed a highly competitive school. For the Fall 2023 enrollment, they reported an acceptance rate of around 11%. However, remember that acceptance rates can be somewhat deceptive, since they balance the number of highly qualified applicants with the overall pool. So, while it's not the easiest school to get into, don't let that discourage you.

When considering your chances, it's more helpful to look at the academic profile of Berkeley's accepted students. You'll find that the middle 50% range of unweighted UC GPAs for accepted students is around 3.89-4.0, and the middle 50% range for weighted (uncapped) UC GPAs is 4.28-4.62. UC Berkeley, along with other UC schools, will be test-blind, which means they will not consider SAT or ACT scores.

Another important aspect is your extracurricular activities. Berkeley, like most prestigious schools, is not just looking for students with excellent academic records, but also students who have shown dedication and leadership in their extracurricular activities. Contributing significantly to a couple of activities or interests is typically more impactful than a long list of brief involvements.

Lastly, your essays provide an opportunity to present a distinct, personal view of your experiences, aspirations, and values. So, it can be beneficial to spend ample time crafting these to truly reveal who you are, beyond just your resume.

While it's understandable to be anxious about admissions to a dream school like UC Berkeley, focusing on building a strong profile is a more productive approach. Wishing you all the best in your application journey!