It’s almost that time of year! On August 1st, the UC application will officially open for applicants that are applying for fall 2026. As students gear up for another school year and begin thinking about where to apply to college, we here at UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions wanted to share a few important things to help prospective applicants get started.

Holistic vs. Comprehensive Review

UC Berkeley’s admissions process differs for first year and transfer applicants. As a first year, your application is reviewed holistically. Essentially, this means everything in your application holds equal weight. Your extracurriculars are just as important as your grades, your PIQs (Personal Insight Questions) are just as valuable as your extracurriculars, etc. Transfer applications are reviewed comprehensively. This means that your academic performance will have a greater impact on your competitiveness as an applicant, but other factors will still be valuable in our review.

Tip: Activities such as part-time jobs or responsibilities around the household are just as valid as those that are centered around your school life (such as being the president of a club)…so make sure to mention everything you do outside of school in your UC application!

Other Important Things To Note

1. UC Berkeley only accepts applications for the fall term. The UC application typically opens in August and closes in early December. Last year, the deadline was 11:59 PM PST on December 2nd.
2. UC Berkeley is test free and no longer considers the SAT or ACT exams as a part of our review process. You can however use these tests for course placement or to demonstrate pursuit of rigor.
3. Provide context in your UC application regarding challenges you may have faced. Had a tough semester or a bad grade due to stressors at home? Use the additional comments section to fill in the unknowns for us.
4. Applicants should refer to their transcript(s) as they fill out the application but should not submit official transcripts at this point in the process. Please do not submit supporting documents such as awards, photographs, poetry, links to websites, etc. with the application. They will not be forwarded, returned or retained.
5. The application fee is $80 for each UC campus ($95 for international and non-immigrant applicants). Application fee waivers are available to students with financial need. You can apply fee waivers for up to four UC campuses through the UC application.

Ready to get an early start on your college application process? Head to our website for additional resources and information regarding the application process.

The month of November often feels like a whirlwind. As the crisp fall air cuts sets in, leaves begin to fall, and college application deadlines loom, many of you are balancing last-minute edits to your Personal Insight Questions (and other essays for those of you applying to a variety of institutions), making final decisions about which major to tentatively select, all while keeping up with coursework and extracurriculars. It’s a month of both excitement and anxiety — one final stretch before the lull of winter break and the seemingly distant moment when acceptance letters arrive in the spring. While it may seem anxiety-inducing, our admissions staff has some words of wisdom to share with all of you that are applying to Berkeley or any UC this fall.

1. “If bragging about yourself on the application is hard for you, think of it as advocating for yourself. Getting to this stage of your academic journey is a result of your hard work and you deserve to have all of it reflected in the application. There is no such thing as too much information.”

Alberto Davalos, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

2. “Remember that academics are only 50% of the equation when it comes to your application; think beyond the classroom. Spend time developing your personal strengths by exploring your hobbies, interests, and natural talents. Discover ways to contribute to and grow your home community. Seek out opportunities to lead by example. Not only will these attributes help you stand out among your peers in college applications, they will also better prepare you for success beyond academia.”

Pete Smith, Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions, International Team Manager

3. “Tell us your full story through the application and allow the reader to get to know you. Your application, specifically the extracurricular activities and PIQ sections, are places where you can unapologetically brag about yourself. This is your chance to shine, so don’t sell yourself short! Have confidence in what you bring to the table and show every school you apply to how you will contribute to their campus!”

Zoe Gardner, Assistant Director of Admissions, Alumni Engagement

4. “As you finalize the list of colleges that you’re applying to, take a final bit of time to consider what factors are most important to you beyond just the name of the school. I often see students applying to a lot of well-recognized institutions, but often times these schools couldn’t be more different from one another in terms of environment/size/etc. A school’s name/ranking doesn’t tell you much about fit — ask yourself, are you more interested in a large university, or maybe a smaller liberal arts college? Does the university have the types of student life opportunities you’re hoping to get involved in (study abroad, college athletics, etc)? Asking those questions during this time will help you narrow down your list and be more intentional about where you want to invest your time applying.”

Jake Jerzy, Senior Associate Director of Admissions

5. “Any college in the world would be lucky to have you choose them. What’s most important is truly being able to envision yourself excelling at the colleges on your radar. Fit is more than just rankings and perceived prestige, it’s determining if a college’s values and vision align with yours.”

Andy Nguyen, Sr. Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions

We hope these words of wisdom help keep you a bit grounded as you finish up those applications. As always, we encourage you to utilize the resources available to you via the University of California application website and our own UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions resource guides for both first-year and transfer applicants. Good luck and remember: you got this!

“Coming to Berkeley changed me, internally and externally…I learned to trust myself as I kept figuring my way out of challenging situations.”

I was always one of the shyest kids in my grade.

When I was in the fourth grade, my teacher called on me to read my writing assignment to the class — I didn’t look up from my paper and spoke fast, in a trembling voice, hot with embarrassment even though I was a good writer. I memorized 800-word scripts for presentations, and the one time I forgot my script in sixth grade, I started crying in front of the class.

My younger self’s journal entries reflected my perfectionism. As a teenage girl with acne who wore oversized hand-me-downs, I battled negative thoughts about my appearance and social awkwardness. I criticized myself relentlessly for minor mistakes and academic slip-ups.

When I started high school, I joined Speech and Debate. I also taught a creative writing class for middle school students and started my own artistic magazine. Still, I suffered from social anxiety and searched for validation. I would second-guess small talk, ask friends to proofread every email and long text message I sent and I always overthought speaking up in class. Natural conflicts with friends or club members felt unforgivable, especially when I didn’t react perfectly.

Toward the end of senior year, I talked with my friend Vyoma. I told her I felt that I defined myself based on others’ perceptions of me. It bothered me when underclassmen said I was timid or seemed “like a freshman,” because I wanted to be seen for my ideas and abilities.

Vyoma’s wisdom stayed with me: “Insecurity is external motivation pushing you to change yourself, whereas purpose is internal motivation pushing you to change the world.” In her opinion, when you’re pursuing a greater purpose, your identity is rooted not in yourself, but in what gives you that sense of purpose and passion. It’s easier to “fix” yourself on the outside by trying to become better-looking or more talented and successful, but these are external solutions to an internal problem. Confidence springs from compassion. You can work on yourself without being blinded by your hatred.

Coming to Berkeley changed me, internally and externally. In part, I think that’s the college experience. Independence is nurturing — I can dress how I want, spend my own money the way I see fit, go out and stay up as long as I’d like, commit to personal responsibility. I learned to trust myself as I kept figuring my way out of challenging situations. I reinvented myself, met so many new people, made so many new mistakes and grew into who I am now throughout the process.

Most of all, I found my purpose. I explored creative hobbies — photography, dance through AFX, DnD through Board Games of Berkeley. I involved myself with social justice organizations on campus, from GenEq (Gender Equity Resource Center) to SERC (Student Environmental Resource Center) to the Asian-Pacific American Student Development office. In my sophomore year of college, I became a community organizer.

I emphasize the importance of finding community because shame often haunts us when we’re not accepted for who we are. It’s healing to find places in which we can storytell, state what we need and safely experience being seen.

At a community organizing seminar, we were asked to tell our personal story in five words. Mine was “personal empowerment to empower others.” My first tattoo is of a phoenix rising from ink splatters with a compass behind its head, permanent over my heart. It symbolizes the idea of rewriting my story to give myself more agency, rerouting closer to my core values. Phoenixes and writing were the two things I loved most as a kid, so I honor the girl who felt so ashamed of herself and continues to face her self-hatred with a loving dedication to stay true to herself.

Reader, I admire you. I write poetry about how hard it is to be alive — to love, tell the truth, defy your family, care for your community, work too hard and not enough — and doubt yourself through everything you do. In this light, you’re doing well. You’re creating your own story.

My journey has been more of a fight. Being at Berkeley especially tests my resolve to ward off imposter syndrome and have faith in my ability to overcome a month of insane sleep deprivation or an F in one of my classes.

But most days, I walk with self-knowledge. I think less about myself and more about the kind of impact I want to leave on the people around me. While self-empowerment can take an exhausting amount of vulnerability, I hope my story empowers you to empower others.

This article was reshared courtesy of Trinh T. and The Daily Californian.

Growing up in the vibrant creative town of Oakland, California inspired me to leverage my own power as an arts activist. I sewed clothes, wrote poetry, and painted and drew. In high school, I created a design representing Oakland Chinatown, which is now sold by Oaklandish. Part of my proceeds support Chinatown’s recreation center, a place that raised me to always seek opportunities and reach for the stars (while having the most fun). My creativity allows me to be a voice for my community, and UC Berkeley helps me to continue developing that everyday.

When I first enrolled here, I was scared that coming from a school with limited resources would not align with what success looked like at the #1 public university. However, by putting myself out there, I quickly learned that at such a big school, there is space for everybody. Many of my classes incorporate design, such as Intro to Chicano Studies, where I worked with a small group to make a children’s book based on the Zapatista uprising, and Environmental Design 5, where I am currently studying a plot of land in Oakland and making a graphic novel to tell a story of its history.

In addition, I have picked up many new interests, from business to sustainability to the future of AI. It’s intimidating to start from ground zero when you feel like everyone around you has endless knowledge and experience, but you must remember that your own unique traits will coincide with everything you do and there are so many resources to support you here at UC Berkeley.

“Simply joining a club or attending events on campus are a great way to make new friends and meet people who will stick by you during your time at Berkeley.”

From late-night laundry runs to balancing self-care with academics, my first year at Berkeley has been a tremendous learning experience. As I approach my second semester, the memories of the night before my move-in date are still vivid. I remember tossing and turning, filled with a mix of excitement, completely unaware of the self-discoveries that awaited me.

Among the many things Berkeley taught me, the lesson I find to be the most important is learning to manage my time. Like many, I came into Berkeley looking forward to creating my own schedule. As someone who is not a morning person, it was my goal to not have classes before 10AM, catering to my night owl tendencies. However, I quickly realized I not only had to account for my classes, but I also needed to plan out enough time for both my academics and personal life. Without consistent reminders from my family to do laundry or to eat a nutritious meal, I had to learn to be on my own.

Google Calendar has become my best friend in terms of time management, and I highly recommend it to any incoming students trying to develop their daily routines. The calendar allows me to plan my days down to the hour, including lecture times, club meetings, study sessions, and most importantly, time to spend with friends or simply relaxing in my dorm room. Not to mention that it is easily accessible on both my phone and computer. Being able to visualize my time has boosted both my productivity and time management skills.

Along with time management, Berkeley taught me how to live with strangers, who quickly became some of my greatest friends. While moving into a dorm with two other people was a major transition, it pushed me to learn how to live in a shared space. It also taught me how to properly communicate with my roommates to create a positive living environment. Things such as simply taking turns to take out the trash or setting a time to turn off the lights makes a major difference when living with others.

In addition to adjusting to new living arrangements, Berkeley taught me to be open-minded when meeting new people and exploring new hobbies. Simply joining a club or attending events on campus are a great way to make new friends and meet people who will stick by you during your time at Berkeley. Considering the academic rigor at Berkeley, I have found it to be extremely beneficial to make friends with people who are taking the same classes or have similar professional interests, as you can support one another. The summer before my freshman year, I joined Berkeley’s CS Kickstart, where I was able to make some of my closest friends and meet many incoming students with similar career goals.

As I continue my time at Cal, I will always be thankful for the lessons I learned during my first year, as they will continue to benefit me while I navigate the next three years as a Golden Bear!!

Dear Younger Me,

Spoiler Alert: Your life is going to be filled with various unexpected and exciting opportunities but also some hurdles!

It is currently the year 2024, and you are about to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Legal Studies and minors in Public Policy and African American Studies. This is definitely something you’d never expected you could say back in 2020. You were living in New York City during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, just about to graduate from high school, completely isolated from your peers, starting college remotely, and having dreams of majoring in public health and/or psychology and working as a researcher at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or at the World Health Organization (WHO) addressing global health concerns impacting marginalized communities. Four years later, your life is unexpectedly so different!

You quickly realized your love for politics, connecting with people, writing, public policy — but still kept your passion for addressing social injustices. Over the course of four years, you have held multiple leadership positions on campus, held part-time campus jobs, had multiple summer internships, met amazing people — all that led you to discover other interests. So you had some major changes but also kept your core values. Changes are OK. This is how everyone learns!

Here are some pieces of advice for you along the way…

1. Reflect

Growing up, you have always had a love for science. You would ask for microscopes, books, and other science equipment for Christmas and Birthday celebrations. You took International Baccalaureate coursework in Biology, Physics, and Psychology — all preparing you for a career in science. However, some time along your first or second year of college, it did not perfectly align anymore with your broader career plans. During that time, you felt “stuck” and unsure of where to turn. However, looking back, I would tell you to “reflect” and try to realize you were never stuck. You were just growing as a person by realizing other interests!

2. Continue to be curious

There is a whole world of possibilities for you! You may struggle, even fear the unknown and the unpredictability of life, but don’t be afraid! Ask questions! So, go to your professors’ office hours, ask them and other mentors about their career history, share with them your interests, and also what does not interest you. Especially in the process of deciding on a major or dreaming about a career path, speak to as many people as possible and audit classes in different departments.

3. Advocate for yourself

UC Berkeley is huge and, especially for undergraduates, it can feel overwhelming. The “Imposter Syndrome” (“Do I really deserve to be here?”) is definitely a struggle you will experience and it is hurtful. Thus, I would suggest advocating for yourself, focus on your skill sets and be proud of your accomplishments, and take it one day at a time. Out of the blue, opportunities will “snow-ball,” and you will have plenty of great opportunities in your own time if you continue to explore, develop, and voice your interests. I joined the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) as a Special Advisor and as a way to get involved in campus policy. It was the first club I ever joined! I quickly voiced my interest in community outreach, which led me to join the College of Letters and Science Advisory Board. This “snow-balled” into other leadership positions like being an ASUC Deputy Chief of Staff, Co-Chair of the Student Advisory Council of Undergraduate Education, and working at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

4. Continue to smile, laugh, and enjoy

Finally, college will have lots of ups and downs, which is completely normal. So, enjoy the ride! There is a common saying that you “find yourself in college”, which often adds pressure if at times you feel that you have not found yourself just yet but all your friends seem to have. You are still a “work in progress” and that is totally okay, continue to try your best. Enjoy the awareness that you are not stagnant, you are growing, developing, and getting better and better as a person and at what you do. This is a great reason to enjoy and celebrate.

Like most UC Berkeley students, my days are packed with classes, extracurricular activities, work, and lots of fun! Despite having a packed schedule I always try to take care of myself and do little things throughout the week to relax myself. With that being said, here is look at what my typical week looks like…

Monday

Everyday I wake up at 8 a.m. and rush to get myself ready for a busy day. On Mondays, I typically have two classes: Foundation of Legal Studies Discussion Section (9 to 10 a.m.) and Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy (10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.). After my classes are done, I start my work shift at the Office of Undergraduate Admission in Sproul Hall. I really enjoy my job at Admissions, as I am able to connect with potential students and assist them with their application questions! Once my shift ends, I head home and usually take a power snooze so I can start on my homework/to-do list feeling rejuvenated. At 6pm, I lead my weekly Academic Affairs Vice President’s Office (AAVP), Internal Affairs department meeting and afterwards I cook myself some dinner and call my parents. I will then go back to studying if needed (I never study past 10 p.m., unless I have a pressing assignment.) And then finally, from 10 to 12 a.m., I unwind for the day by reading, watching a movie with a friend, or heading to bed early.

Tuesday

On Tuesdays I have quite a few classes! I start with work from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, followed by lectures in Introduction to African American Life and Culture in the United States (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), Foundations of Legal Studies (2 to 3:30 p.m.), and The Slave Trade and Culture in the Modern Atlantic World (5 to 6:30 p.m.). In between all of this, I eat lunch and work on my school work. From 7 to 8 p.m., I have another AAVP meeting. Afterwards, I will head to the library or head home to work until 10 p.m.

Wednesday

On Wednesdays I get to work remotely on Zoom which is great! This allows me to work in between my classes. I have Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy (10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.), Introduction to African American Studies Discussion (2 to 3 p.m.), and then Restorative Justice (3 to 6 p.m.). Afterwards, one of my friends usually comes over to hang out and grab dinner.

Thursday

This is by far my lightest day, I have the same three classes as Tuesday. In between breaks, I head to the library to study. In the evening, I head to my weekly family dinner with my aunt and uncle in Berkeley. I usually head home around 9:30 p.m., then I will hang out with a friend or watch a movie!

Friday

On Fridays I do not have classes! I will sleep in before slowly waking up and starting to do some homework. From 4 to 5 p.m., I tutor students English in South Korea, which brings me a lot of joy. After 5 p.m., I will grab or cook dinner with some friends before we catch up on some shows we missed because of our busy schedules.

Saturday & Sunday

Over the weekend, I try my best to not do any work. As UC Berkeley students we are all incredibly busy and hardworking. Therefore, the weekend is my time. I will go hiking, head to San Francisco, visit my Godmother in Marin, or do something in the area. Some of my favorite weekend activities are hiking in Tilden, visiting Japantown, going thrifting in the Haight Ashbury area, visiting the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, and/or heading to a party. On Sundays, I always prepare for the week by looking over my calendar or giving myself a facial!

Hi y’all! My name is Vanessa Torres and I graduated this spring (woohooo!) with a double major in Legal Studies and Ethnic Studies. We all know how rigorous Berkeley academics are, but it is super important to prioritize your well-being above all. I have listed below some resources and tips to help you navigate your journey at UC Berkeley this upcoming semester and beyond. These are things you can incorporate into your daily life while being a student, and there are so many FREE and FUN forms of self-care. Take what serves you from this list best, and leave the others that might not interest you. Let’s go!

1. Enjoy the outdoors!

There are a lot of opportunities to soak in the nature around Berkeley. Some possible ideas include visiting Tilden Regional Park, going on a hike to the Big C to get a beautiful view of the city, or even doing something as simple as enjoying a picnic on Memorial Glade.

2. Make use of CAPS Mental Health Resources

Our UC Berkeley Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of resources to support your well-being. You have the option to visit a counselor to learn about the mental health services they provide and they can guide you through several resources like joining a group counseling session that offers a variety of topics such as reducing stress and practicing mindfulness. They also have specific sessions geared towards certain identities.

https://uhs.berkeley.edu/mental-health/resources/talk

https://uhs.berkeley.edu/counseling/group

3. Stay active

Through all the studying and learning UC Berkeley students do, it’s important to keep your body moving and active. It really helps ease stress and boost your energy. This might look like taking a .5 unit PE class (there are a ton of options to choose from), joining a daily group exercise at RSF, or using the Bay Wheels bicycles!

https://guide.berkeley.edu/courses/phys_ed/

https://recsports.berkeley.edu/schedules/group-ex-schedule/

https://pt.berkeley.edu/Baywheels

4. Practice good sleeping and eating habits

It can be difficult to prioritize eating and sleeping but it is absoulutely necessary to get through your journey at Cal! It is important to get your meals and snacks in and get enough rest. You can visit the Berkeley Food Pantry for emergency food services that offer ​​rice, pasta, milk, cereal, freezer items, fresh produce and even ready-to-go meals. Use your meal plan if you have one and plan accordingly for the times you will be eating throughout the day. Additionally, UHS offers support for practicing good sleeping habits!

https://basicneeds.berkeley.edu/pantry

5. Study with friends and in the company of other classmates

Be in company and in communication with your peers! It makes navigating classes easier and more engaging whether they are in the same class or not. Push yourself to form study groups, even if you don’t think you necessarily need them. College can get lonely without the right company.

6. Set reasonable goals

Make reasonable goals that you can accomplish throughout the semester. Be mindful of your capacity and the responsibilities that you hold. Not only are you a student, but also someone with all kinds of needs!

7. Have dedicated YOU time

Block out time for yourself to do something fun or for your own enjoyment. Maybe weekends can be a time when you explore the greater Bay Area (or a certain day during the week). It’s helpful to use Google Calendar to allot time for yourself as well as your academics!

8. Take a fun class

Not all classes have to be related to your major or field of study. UC Berkeley offers student-led seminars that can range from cooking, pop-culture history, and video games. It’s a good opportunity to learn and meet other students who share the same interest while earning units!

DeCal offerings are released the first few weeks of the semesters:

https://decal.berkeley.edu/courses

9. Attend social events & find your community

UC Berkeley organizations are always creating spaces to foster community or do something fun! For instance, ASUC Superb organizes free concerts for students and events like crafting nights. You could also channel your Berkeley school spirit and attend any variety of athletic event. Sometimes they even offer free tickets!

Finding an organization that fosters community through an identity, an interest, or similar major is important. Community care is a form of self-care. You can find some of the amazing campus clubs and organizations at:

https://callink.berkeley.edu/

10. Find a workshop of interest at University Health Services

UHS offers a variety of workshops and services so that you can Be Well @ Cal! The topics range from staying active, nutritional programs, and even cooking!

University Health Services

As you begin your journey at UC Berkeley, remember to keep an open mind and pour into yourself while being a student. You got this, Go Bears! — Vanessa

By Kiana L. | Cognitive Science Major | Class of 2023

1. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Travel time: 2 hours

Carmel-by-the-Sea is the cutest little beach town on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Though on the pricey side for the average college student, this town sits next to Carmel beach, where you’ll see white sands and many cute dogs. If you need any eatery recommendations, here’s a small list of all the places I would recommend!

• Coffee: The Carmel Coffee House and Roasting Company
• Convenience: Bruno’s Market and Deli
• Dinner: Little Napoli

2. Ferndale, California

Travel time: 4 hours and 45 minutes

Ferndale is a small town in Humboldt County with around 1,000 people. The city gives off a rustic vibe, with most of its landscape matching old-time America. Despite the small-town atmosphere, a lot of Bay Area natives actually reside in the area! It also rests on the Northern California coast, with redwood forests on the other side. If you love the best of both worlds (aka oceans and forests), this little town is your perfect getaway. Check out some of the recommendations below!

• Coffee: Mind’s Eye Manufactory & Coffee Lounge
• Pizza: Ferndale Pizza Co.
• Beaches: College Cove

3. Davis, California

Travel Time: 1 hour and 6 minutes

Looking for some cute cows to pet? Well, look no further. Davis, California, is a somewhat rural city about an hour northeast of Berkeley. Suppose you have best friends at UC Davis or even considered attending UC Davis when looking at colleges. In that case, you know that the city is on the quieter side with weekly farmers’ markets and craft fairs. It’s definitely a fun break from the chaotic city life in Berkeley. Here are a few food recommendations whenever you’re in Davis!

• Mexican food: El Patio Fresh Mexican Grill
• Indian food: Kathmandu Kitchen
• Sweet treat: Insomnia Cookies

Kiana is a senior at UC Berkeley, where she is currently studying cognitive science and health and wellness. Originally from San Jose, Kiana spends most of her free time in the pool, listening to music, or tending to her plant babies.

This story was originally written for HC Berkeley and was reposted courtesy of Kiana and the HC Berkeley team.

It’s been almost two years since I dove headfirst into the world of photography and began documenting my college experience from behind the lens of a camera. I am now a senior in my final semester at UC Berkeley and I still find time to capture campus. Initially, I got into this art form because I was tired of taking mediocre photos on my phone and I wanted to learn how to operate a real camera. I naturally gravitated to photography because I was constantly being exposed to the stunning architecture and vibrant campus life around me every day walking to and from class. Now, I use photography not only to share stunning images with the world but also to reminisce over my four years at this beautiful school. As I near the end of my time at Cal, here are some of my favorite snapshots of UC Berkeley…

Follow Julian on Instagram for more photography of campus.