3.86–4.00
UNWEIGHTED GPA
4.27–4.62
WEIGHTED GPA
1330–1530*
AVERAGE SAT SCORE
29–35*
AVERAGE ACT SCORE
2020 FRESHMAN
ADMISSIONS PROFILE
Reflects middle 50% of students
DISCOVER. CONNECT. ENGAGE. REFLECT. This is what we encourage
UC Berkeley students to do during their four years on campus. UC Berkeley
seeks applications from students from all over the world to be a part of our
amazing community. We know that choosing your college is a huge decision,
so we want to make sure you’re prepared for the application process.
Freshman applicants are students who are currently in high school (with or
without college coursework completed), or students who have graduated
from high school and have taken no college coursework.
Are you ready to #DiscoverBerkeley?
GUIDE TO FRESHMAN ADMISSIONS
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
FRESHMAN ADMISSIONS
The admissions review
process goes beyond
meeting the minimum
requirements. Berkeley
uses a holistic review
process to assess
applications and to build
a strong and diverse class.
Holistic review means that no single attribute
on an application outweighs another attribute.
Each application is reviewed in its entirety
before a reader makes a recommendation for
admission, and all applications are read at least
twice by professionally trained readers.
Holistic review also takes into consideration
the personal qualities of the applicant, including
leadership ability, character, motivation, insight,
tenacity, initiative, originality, intellectual
independence, responsibility, maturity,
and demonstrated concern for others and
for the community. These factors may be
demonstrated in different ways, whether it is
participation in traditional clubs/organizations,
home life, work life, or other life experiences.
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Minimum
requirements:
A-G Course pattern
hs-articulation.ucop.edu/guide
. GPA for
California students
(. for nonresidents)
GUIDE TO
FRESHMAN
ADMISSIONS FOR
UC BERKELEY
Berkeley seeks
authentic and
innovative scholars.
Here is what you
can do to show
us who you are
in your application.
We want you to make the most out of your
application and take full advantage of each
section. Here are a few tips to get you thinking.
For the academic sections, make sure
to accurately and completely fill out all of
the courses and grades you've taken. This
application is self-reported, but we will validate
the accuracy of the application after a student
is admitted. Use transcripts and test score
reports to accurately report your academic
information. Berkeley also understands that
grades and test scores are static. We get
more context about you through other parts
of the application.
For the extracurricular activities section,
report any activities or work experience as
completely as possible, including number of
hours per week, weeks per year, grade levels,
and responsibilities. If there is not enough
space in these sections, use the additional
comments to provide us more details and
context about your story.
Berkeley seeks diverse and unique
perspectives. It is important to recognize that
you do not have to do everything. While clubs
and student organizations are great to report,
you can also list other activities, such as family
responsibilities and work experience. Lean into
your eccentricities and do not do anything just
because you think it will look good on your
application. Be yourself.
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Continued on back
*For students applying to the Fall 2021 term, Berkeley will not use SAT/ACT scores in our admissions process. Visit admi ssions.berkeley.edu/freshman-policy for more information.
APPLY AT
apply.universityofcalifornia.edu
Berkeley has a diverse
admissions review
team with a variety of
backgrounds, experiences,
and perspectives.
There are real people reading each of your
applications. Our staff understand that each
student's experience is different and can
potentially add value to the Berkeley campus.
We encourage students to use the application
to tell us who they are as candidly as possible.
Advocate for yourself and don't be afraid to
tell us your complete story. Whether you are
the first in your family to go to college or not,
whether you come from a rural town or a
large urban city — we see your experience.
We are human, and we will consider you as
fully as possible
Your personal insight
questions are a way for
us to get to know you.
Treat it like a conversation
or an interview.
For the personal insight questions (PIQs),
remember that we are not looking for writing
samples (we see your academic abilities in the
academic sections of the application). Since
there is no interview process at Berkeley,
think about your PIQs as a conversation or an
interview. Answer the questions directly and
identify examples that tell us the most about
yourself. Choose the four questions that you
want to write about and that tell the reader
the most about you. Do not choose your
questions or your answers based on what you
think the admissions office wants to hear. We
value your authentic voice.
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Many resources are
available to answer your
questions.
If you have additional questions
about your application, here are
a variety of ways to reach us:
• Application FAQs
admissions.berkeley.edu/application-faqs
• Contact Us
admissions.berkeley.edu/contact-us
• Register for a Presentation
apply.berkeley.edu/portal/presentation
• Call the UC Application Center for
• technical support
(800) 207-1710 (within US) or
(925) 298-6856 (outside US), or email
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26.6%
FIRST GENERATION
76.5%
FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL
5.2%
FROM RURAL AREAS
FRESHMAN STUDENT PROFILE
APPLICANTS
(Continued)
Office of
Undergraduate Admissions
103 Sproul Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
admissions.berkeley.edu
APPLICATION TIMELINE
August 1 The UC application is available
October The financial aid application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act App) is available
November UC application submission period begins
November 30 Deadline to submit UC application
March Submit financial aid application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application)
Late March Freshman decisions are released
@UCBerkeleyAdmissions
@CalAdmissions
@CalAdmissions
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Connect with us online: admissions.berkeley.edu
