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

When you imagine a well-rounded student, you're probably picturing a Disney-channel style "popular kid" who's student body president, has A's in every subject, and is in every activity from archery to the school paper. The good news is that you don't have to be well-rounded to get into a good school, including the UC system. The bad news is that you have to do something else to be the kind of student top universities are looking for. Image Courtesy of BBC Glasgow What makes a

The UC Personal Insight Questions are unique in that they are some of the shorter college essays you may have to write when applying to American universities, but they also give you freedom of choice in what topics you prefer to write about. You can take a look at our previous post to get the best "dos" for PIQs, and today we're diving into the "don'ts". Rule #1 Many English teachers and writing instructors say, "Show, don't tell!" and while this is good advice for writing a

Do you have what it takes to be a doctor? That's the question the pre-med track hopes to answer in undergrad. If you want to try, the UC system has many programs that can support you on the pre-med path. Best Overall UC Berkeley is often considered the best pre-med program due to its combined BS/MD pathway for exceptional students and a robust collection of courses in Biology and Chemistry. There are dozens of student groups for pre-med students and those interested in health

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

Image courtesy of Unsplash The best UC for engineering really does depend on your engineering specialty and this is actually great news! It means there's a UC out there that's a perfect fit for whatever you want to study. Whether you already know exactly which branch of engineering you want to pursue, or you're still figuring it out, the UC system has something for everyone. Here's a breakdown of where specific campuses shines so you can find your best match. UC Berkeley: The

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.