How to get into UCLA/UC Berkeley

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 overall with a 9% acceptance rate while Berkeley is a bit more generous with 11%. Berkeley also costs a few thousand dollars more depending on the year, so students who don't receive much in financial aid or scholarships might be wary of this. UCLA leans more towards the creative side of things, with its proximity to LA's booming film and content creation industries, while Berkeley is serious about business and tech given its Bay Area locale. Berkeley is also more STEM heavy in the hard sciences, with its own periodic element Berkelium!

If living on campus is your thing, UCLA has a housing guarantee while Berkeley does not. Both student bodies are extremely diverse, and there are resources for cultural groups and minority student populations. It is also said that these universities have great dining halls, so either way you will be well-fed! You can check out our other comparison posts to learn more about your majors and campus specific resources you might be interested in.

Academic standards

UCLA's website states:

When reviewing an application, we implement a holistic review process, which includes looking at some of the following criteria:

• Achievement in high school or college coursework

• Personal qualities

• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of our campus

• Achievement in academic enrichment programs

• Other achievements in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor, including the performing arts, athletics, community service, etc.

Some specific programs also require supplemental materials including:

• School of the Arts and Architecture

• Herb Alpert School of Music

• School of Nursing

• School of Theater, Film and Television

UC Berkeley includes slightly more information on their page, considering:

• Your weighted and unweighted UC grade point average (calculated using 10th and 11th grade UC-approved courses only)

• Your planned 12th grade courses

• Your pattern of grades over time

• The number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have completed

• Your level of achievement in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your school

• Your scores on AP or IB exams and SAT subject exams

You can also see their review process here:

Berkeley’s Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology Program may require supplemental materials, but generally they do not require these for other programs.

Academic advice can be boiled down to take it to the max. For almost all top colleges, UC or not, they demand academic excellence. Taking AP/IB courses, cross enrolling in college courses at a state school or community college, and getting academic honors from your high school are important. Also, slacking off due to "senioritis" is not advised; they also consider the rigor of these courses, too. Getting good grades is essential, with the out of state GPA cutoff being 3.4. Finally, showing academic interest in your major through electives and advanced coursework is a good way to show your dedication to your craft.

Extracurricular standards

Extracurriculars are also important to these schools. You need to participate in some, ideally between 2 to 5, and attaining leadership roles in at least one. You should also have a "spike" activity where you are highly competitive (Science Olympiad, debate, sports) or highly impactful (developing a nonprofit or business, a passion project based in your community). If you have extenuating circumstances, such as having to support a parent who is out of work by having to work yourself, you can also use these activities in your narrative to show work ethic and resilience. The best students have both a competitive and an impactful activity, and they show skills like leadership, future orientation, pursuit of excellence, and growth.

Application tips

You should build a narrative through your Personal Insight questions, including you future goals, what you learned about yourself and others along the way, and what you would contribute to the UC system or California overall. Here's a sample student profile (not based on a real student or staff member, just an example of a strong applicant):

Callie Berkson - pre-med applicant

Classes: AP sciences all four years, a cross enrollment class in medical ethics and another in anatomy, and a 3.9 GPA.

Extracurriculars: Founder of non-profit "On, Period" which partners with local food banks and organizations for unhoused individuals or low income individuals to have access to menstrual care products, nutritious food and iron supplements, and pain relievers. Over 3 years, this project has raised about $50,000 worth of products and distributed them with 15 partner organizations. Callie also a state Science Olympiad finalist and has qualified for the national tournament for the past 2 years and is going again her senior year.

PIQs:

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

She described being one of 3 girls on the Science Olympiad team, and how they overcame judgement from the other team members and their "old school" coach and won state finals their sophomore year. The academic subject that inspired her was anatomy and seeing the gaps in how female reproductive health was less emphasized than other non-gendered health issues such as diabetes or cancer in the chapter about diseases and health conditions. She wants to make healthcare a safe haven for women of all backgrounds with informed care. She goes into more details of On, Period's growth and how she changed as a person and learned from the people she interacted with through distribution centers. Her personal challenge is living with endometriosis, a uterine condition that causes severe pain and other symptoms that starts after puberty. She has had several procedures in the hospital and had to take time off of school, but she worked hard and caught up, maintaining her grades.

Callie is a compelling applicant because she has a consistent narrative and shows that she has a lot of contribute to her overall community with leadership, compassion for the less fortunate, and a passion for innovation and change in her chosen field.

Conclusion

So, are you still a “go big or go home” kind of student? If UCLA or UC Berkeley are on your list, the path there requires ambition, planning, and a strong story that ties together your academics, extracurriculars, and goals. These universities are looking for students who don’t just succeed in the classroom, but who push themselves to make an impact in their communities and fields of interest.

Getting into these schools is tough, but not impossible with the right support. Our experienced mentors work one-on-one with students to develop strong academic plans, impactful extracurricular profiles, and powerful personal insight questions.

Ready to take the next step toward your dream school? Book a session today and start building the application that will help you go big.