Hello! I'm planning to apply to the University of California system. What's their application process like? Are there any unique steps I should be aware of?
The University of California system has its own application portal, separate from the Common App or Coalition App. It's a rather straightforward process, but there are a couple aspects that are unique to the UC system.
1. Single Application: One of the key features of the UC application system is that you fill out one application for all the UC schools you wish to apply to. This means that you only have to input your academic and extracurricular information once, even if you're applying to multiple UC campuses!
2. Application Period: The UC application opens on August 1, but you can't actually submit until the filing period, which is from October 1 to November 30. Be aware of this date range - it's a shorter window than you might find with other colleges, and it's critical not to miss the deadline.
3. Personal Insight Questions: Rather than a traditional personal statement, you’ll be asked to respond to Personal Insight Questions. There are eight prompts to choose from and you must respond to four of them. Each response is limited to 350 words. These prompts cover a wide array of topics, so take time to choose the ones that you feel best represent you and your experiences.
4. Academic History: The UC application asks in-depth about your high school coursework. This is partially because CSUs and UCs have specific "A-G" requirements for classes taken in high school.
5. No Letters of Recommendation: Unique to the UC application process is that they do not typically require letters of recommendation. In some cases, a campus may request them, but this is only for a small subset of applicants.
6. Test-Blind Policy: As of the 2024-2025 application cycle, all UC schools are test-blind, which means they no longer consider SAT or ACT test scores for admission. So you won't need to send these in!
In order to tackle the UC application process effectively, the best advice is to start early, understand exactly what each prompt is asking for in the Personal Insight Questions, and accurately report your academic history. Good luck!
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