Most students go into college with a "Plan A" major, but the UCs give you the chance to have a "Plan B" major with an alternate major, and even a "Plan C" with the undeclared option. Today, we'll be discussing how to maximize your chances of admission with an alternate major and breaking down which schools allow undeclared majors for first years. What is an alternate major and which UCs consider them? An alternate major is a secondary major listed on your application that mos

Image Courtesy of Highland Park High School The UC activities list is particularly generous, with a 350 character description for each activity, and 6 categories with up to 20 total activities. Today, we'll learn how to maximize this space on your application to give you the best shot at your dream UC. Categories The UC extracurricular and activities list includes several drop-down options to specify what kind of activity you did. These include: coursework other than A-G , ed

If you're applying to college using the Common App, chances are you've come across your "preferred major" section that lets you rank a few majors you're interested in. Most schools consider this, but it's not a deciding factor for admission. However, the UC Application is different, with more weight placed on your major and alternate major selections. This article breaks down how the major selection system works and how you can maximize your chances with it. System Overview O

The UCs are rather transparent about the type of students they look for, laid out in the system website. However, some of these criteria are somewhat vague or seem subjective. Today, we'll find out what they criteria really mean and how you can meet them in your application. Here's the full list of the criteria: Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses. Number of, content of and performanc

Are you an entrepreneur at heart? The UC system has several schools with strong business programs to put you on the right path. Not every UC campus offers a traditional undergraduate business degree, but many do have related majors such as business economics, management, or entrepreneurship-focused programs. California’s thriving startup ecosystem and proximity to Silicon Valley make for the perfect business environment, even if you don't get an undergraduate business degree.

Image Courtesy of Berkeley News Are you a "go big or go home" type of person? UCLA and UC Berkeley might just be for you. Known for their ambitious student bodies and high standards of admission, these two schools are the "cream of the crop" of the UC system. Read on to find out how to get in to these schools UCLA vs UC Berkeley Comparison Both of these universities are urban and large, enrolling around 33,000 students at any given time. UCLA is slightly harder to get into ov

Trying to decide between the University of California and California State University systems? While both offer strong academics and valuable resources, their admissions requirements, costs, campus environments, and long-term opportunities differ in important ways. This guide breaks down GPA thresholds, A-G requirements, competitiveness, and key factors to help you choose the right fit.