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Selection is based on holistic review of all
informationbothacademic and personalpresented in the
application.
Student Tips
Get advice from current students about the importance of the
personal statement and applying.
UC Berkeley pioneered the holistic review process at UC (now
adapted by most of the UC campuses), enabling us to admit adiverse
undergraduate class representing 53 states/commonwealths and 74
countries, with 17% who are first-generationcollege-going and 65%
who receive financial aid. Holistic review refers to the process of
evaluating applications, described
below.
The goal of our selection process is to identify applicants who
are most likely to contribute to Berkeleys intellectual andcultural
community and, ultimately, to the State of California, the nation,
and the world.
The Holistic Review
All applications are read in their entirety by professionally
trained readers. That means, we review each application in its
entirety, word by word, page by page. Many applications are read
two or even three times.
This is an important concept to consider when you complete your
application. One way to think of this is that we virtually hugyour
applicationthat is how closely we scrutinize what you submit.
The admission holistic review reflects our readers thoughtful
consideration of the full spectrum of the applicantsqualifications,
based on all evidence provided in the application, and viewed in
the context of the applicants academic and
personal circumstances and the overall strength of the Berkeley
applicant pool. Using a broad concept of merit, readersemploy the
following criteria which carry no pre-assigned weights:
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1. The applicantsfull record of achievement in college
preparatory work in high school, including the number andrigor of
courses taken and grades earned in those courses.
2. 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 are considered.
3. Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural
vitality of the campus. In addition to a broad range ofintellectual
interests and achievements, admission readers seek diversity in
personal background and experience.
4. Performance on standardized tests, the SAT Reasoning Test or
ACT Assessment plus Writing Test. In addition, anyAdvanced
Placement or IBHL examinations the applicant may have taken will be
considered.
5. Achievement in academic enrichment programs, including but
not limited to those sponsored by the University ofCalifornia. This
criterion is measured by time and depth of participation, by the
academic progress made by the
applicant during that participation, and by the intellectual
rigor of the particular program.
6. Other evidence of achievement. This criterion recognizes
exemplary, sustained achievement in any field ofintellectual or
creative endeavor; accomplishments in extracurricular activities
such as the performing arts or
athletics; leadership in school or community organizations;
employment; and volunteer service.
Race, ethnicity, gender, and religion are excluded from the
criteria.
All achievements, both academic and non-academic, are considered
in the context of the opportunities an applicant has had,and the
readers assessment is based on how fully the applicant has taken
advantage of those opportunities. For an applican twho has faced
any hardships or unusual circumstances, readers consider the
maturity, determination and insight with whichthe applicant has
responded to and/or overcome them. Readers also consider other
contextual factors that bear directly upon
the applicants achievement, including linguistic background,
parental education level, and other indicators of supportavailable
in the home.
The review recognizes a wide range of talent and creativity that
is not necessarily reflected in traditional measures ofacademic
achievement but which, in the judgment of the reader, is a positive
indicator of the students ability to succeed at
Berkeley and beyond.
Selection
UC Berkeley is among the more selective universities in the
country, becoming more competitive each year. Due to student
demand, selectivity varies among Colleges, andin the College of
Engineeringamong majors; for example, it is moredifficult to gain
admission to the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences major
than to the Mechanical Engineerin gmajor.
For applications to the College of Letters and Science and
Natural Resources no consideration is given to the indicated
major
in the review process. However, for the professional colleges of
Chemistry, Environmental Design, and Engineeringdemonstrated
interest in the major is also taken into consideration.
Furthermore, in the colleges of Chemistry andEngineering, Berkeley
faculty in these disciplines have asked that readers place added
emphasis on sustained achievement inmathematics and science, and
have indicated a preference that these applicants take the Math
Level 2 SAT Subject Test and ascience test (Biology, Chemistry or
Physics) that is closely related to the applicant's intended
major.
About Transcripts, Portfolios, and Letters of RecommendationAs
part of the UC application process, UC Berkeley and other UC
campuses do not ask applicants for transcripts, portfolios,letters
of recommendation, or other supporting documents. Applicants are
expected to self-report their grades from their own
transcripts, honestly and accurately. If a student is admitted
and enrolled, the official transcripts are checked against wha t
thestudent reported in the application. Any discrepancies can
result in cancellation of enrollment.
When it comes to other supporting materials - such as art
portfolios, letters of recommendations, resumes, etc. - UC
Berkeleydoes not consider these during the application review. We
expect the reported grades, test scores, extracurricular activities
,
