Hey everyone, becoming a Golden Bear at UC Berkeley has been my dream since forever. Can anyone help me understand what SAT score range I should be aiming to be a competitive applicant?
UC Berkeley, as of the 2024-2025 application cycle, is test-blind, which means they do not consider SAT or ACT scores at all in their admissions process. No matter how high or low your standardized test scores are, they simply won't affect your application.
Instead of focusing on improving your SAT score, direct your efforts toward strengthening other aspects of your application. Make sure your grades, particularly those in your junior and senior year, are solid. Rigorous courses, like AP and honors classes, can be beneficial, so try to excel in those if they're available to you.
UC Berkeley, like other UC schools, places a lot of emphasis on your four personal insight questions (PIQ). Be sure to give examples and specifics from your own life in your answers. For instance, if you're talking about your leadership skills, don't just say you're good at leading people—give a specific example of a time when you led a team to victory. These personal insight questions are your opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are beyond your academic record.
Lastly, remember to present strong extracurricular activities with a well-developed area of interest or "spike". UC Berkeley, like many other top colleges, tends to prefer students who have shown deep commitment and demonstrated great achievements in a particular area, rather than a wide but superficial range of interests.
All the best in your application process!
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