The spirit of the University of California, Berkeley is dynamic and enduring. What was once a relatively small college for Northern California’s elite became the unofficial flagship campus for the University of California system, expanding in size and scope in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Berkeley soon emerged as a hub of activism and counterculture by the 1960s and 70s, serving as the site of one of the most influential student protests in U.S. history, the Free Speech Movement. Since then, Berkeley has pivoted yet again into the role of major research university. The university has been responsible for major innovations and discoveries in STEM, cementing its status as arguably the best public university in the nation. 

Berkeley faculty have been honored with 22 Nobel Prizes, 12 Turing Awards, 6 Academy Awards, 13 Fields Medals, and 10 Pulitzer Prizes, while Berkeley’s roster of alumni include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Google executive Eric Schmidt, actor John Cho, and former Governor of Michigan and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

With 33,400 undergraduates and 12,800 postgraduates, the Berkeley community is large and lively. Undergraduates enroll in the Haas School of Business, the College of Chemistry, the College of Engineering, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Letters and Science, and the Rausser College of Natural Resources to receive their bachelor’s. Unlike other elite institutions of its caliber, Berkeley’s first school was not the College of Letters and Science (established in 1915), but in fact the College of Chemistry (established in 1872). The university’s historical focus on chemistry and chemical engineering is reflected in the national renown of those departments today.

The core curriculum at Berkeley is set by UC-wide requirements in “entry level writing” and “American History and American Institutions,” which are typically fulfilled prior to enrollment with placement exams. Additionally, coursework in “American Cultures” to “critically engage in important issues” such as “race, culture, and ethnicity in the context of American society” is required of all students. Further curricular requirements are set within each school and department.

Berkeley was originally founded in 1868 as the “University of California” in Oakland. Within a year of its inception, the fledgling university became co-educational and moved to its current location in Berkeley, California. Other campuses in the UC system were originally offshoots of Berkeley, including the University Farm near Sacramento that would become UC Davis and the Los Angeles State Normal School that would turn into UCLA. By World War II, Berkeley faculty had discovered 16 chemical elements, more than any other university in the world. This reputation for scientific discovery led to Berkeley serving a major role in the war effort through the Manhattan Project. Professor J. Robert Oppenheimer, “the father of the atomic bomb,” was named the scientific head of the project.

Today, the R1 research university receives over $1 billion in annual research funding and houses such labs and institutes as the Space Sciences Lab, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Institute of International Studies, and the Center for the Built Environment. 

Student life on campus is marked by a longstanding athletic rivalry with Stanford University across the Bay, CalTV, the student-run TV station, a small but mighty Greek life scene, and a healthy offering of cultural, political and activist groups who carry on the Berkeley tradition of civic engagement.

An astounding 124,242 students applied to be a part of Berkeley’s Class of 2028. 13,701 were offered admission, bringing the acceptance rate down to a historically low 11.0%. The Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions highlights that “UC Berkeley pioneered the holistic review process at UC (now adapted by most of the UC campuses).” This holistic review process is responsible for a student body that combines the achievement of the Ivy League, the research prowess of MIT or CalTech, and the diversity of a large public institution. With acceptance rates likely to continue to decline, turning to New Ivies to help craft the strongest application possible is a wise move for those who can’t wait to root for the Golden Bears!

What are University of California, Berkeley looking for?

Initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, special potential and substantial experience with other cultures

All achievement in light of the opportunities available to you

Any unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome or responded to them. Having a hardship is no guarantee of admission. If you choose to write about difficulties you have experienced, you should describe:

-- How you confronted and overcame your challenges, rather than describing a hardship just for the sake of including it in your application

-- What you learned from or achieved in spite of these circumstances

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

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

Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it. You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today?

5. 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?

Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?

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

Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

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

Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Things to consider: If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.