Mathematics: 3 years required, 4 years recommended, Laboratory science: 2 years required, 3 years recommended, Language other than English: 2 years required, 3 years recommended, Have a 3.0 GPA in A-G courses taken in the 10th and 11th grade years (3.4 GPA for non-California residents), Take either the SAT plus Essay or the ACT exam plus Writing*, Your weighted and unweighted UC grade point average (calculated using 10th and 11th grade UC-approved courses only), The number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have completed, Your grades in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your school, Your scores on the ACT Assessment Plus Writing or SAT Reasoning Test*, Number and rigor of high school courses taken and grades earned in those courses, 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, Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus. read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays. Keep in mind that Berkeley's testing policies are changing. For more specific information, visit Berkeley's 2020 COVID-19 response page. This is the last day you can submit your Berkeley application. Your stats need to be high to compete for a spot. This makes UC Berkeley a "strongly competitive school": it's not quite as ultra-competitive as Ivy League schools, but you'll need to have a strong application across the board in order to get accepted. What are the release dates for The Wonder Pets - 2006 Save the Ladybug? The best way to learn how to get into the grad school you want is to talk to their admissions advisor. Robert Furno, the Dean of Admissions at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, likens a successful personal statement to a cocktail: “It’s one part 'what led you to where you’ve gotten,' and two parts 'what you want to do when you get here.' You can check out this FAQ article for more information about these testing changes. If you want to know how to get into UC Berkeley, you first need to know all the major application deadlines. Taking difficult classes shows them that you're focused on your studies and can handle the challenge and workload of college classes. UC Berkeley has gone "test optional" for fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19. Exceptions can be made for very promising applicants. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Its the difficulty of your course work and how you performed in careers related to Engineering. The truth is that it depends on the university. In 2019-2020, UC Berkeley received 87,394 applications , and it admitted 14,668 of those applicants, for an acceptance rate of 16.7%. If you stand out in most or all of these areas you'll have a great shot at getting into UC Berkeley! Contact. applejuice21 4 replies 3 threads New Member March 2015 edited March 2015 in Graduate School We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Twitter. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to this rule, especially for international students, out-of-state students, and students seeking scholarships. Graduate Student: An incredible school and excellent professors who want to see you succeed in the real world! Graduate school advising; Graduate student outreach; Webinar. How hard is it to get into Berkeley College graduate school? Engineering Student Services. Who doesn't love being #1? email. It's in these boxes that you can explain any information you'd like the application readers to know. Additionally, the campus has seen a number of widely-publicized protests and student-led movements. For more information about those changes, check out this article. Facebook. In the meantime, UC schools have gone test optional until the exams can be phased out. UC Berkeley doesn't offer early action or early decision options, so everyone applying has the same deadlines. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday, 10 The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. She has taught English and biology in several countries. Want to learn more about the University of California schools? Have any questions about this article or other topics? You'll need to answer four of the UC personal insight prompts, and your responses should show: Maybe you've always been fascinated by space and want to attend UC Berkeley and major in aeronautical engineering, or maybe you dream of being a writer and want to major in English or Creative Writing. For more information about UC's decision to phase out SAT/ACT testing, check out this article. For more specific information, visit Berkeley's 2020 COVID-19 response page. how to answer a telephone call in a company or in any organisation? Here are some of the changes you can expect if you're applying to UC Berkeley this fall: For the most up-to-date information, be sure to check out the COVID-19 page for UC schools and UC Berkeley's COVID-19 response page. Test optional means that you aren't required to submit your SAT or ACT scores, but you can choose to do so if you wish. Remember, it's completely possible to get into Berkeley with scores lower than these (most admitted students will have scores lower than these), but setting that as your goal gives you a good score to aim for so you can maximize your chances of getting into UC Berkeley. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. While U.C. All rights reserved. Below is an overview of how to apply to Berkeley. Getting accepted to Berkeley can be tough. Getting into Grad School (GiGS) is a collaborative partnership between the Office for Graduate Diversity (OGD), and the Graduate Assembly (GA), whose ultimate goal is to encourage and prepare undergraduate UC Berkeley students to select, apply, and enroll in graduate school. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? To get a weighted GPA of 4.6, you'll need to get As in most of your classes, and you'll also need to take advanced classes like honors or AP that'll further raise your GPA. But generally people with good GPA and ECs will get in. You can begin the Berkeley application in August, and you have until November 30th to submit your application. Your goal should be to submit three Subject Test or AP scores, with at least one related to the area you want to major in (so a math/science score if you want to be a biology major, a social science score if you want to major in history, etc.). If you are an incoming freshman (or current student!) So, How Does One Get Into CalTech? It's just weird that sometimes they reject people who seemed qualified. Not submitting GRE scores will not be counted against an applicant. That means 25% of admitted students had a GPA lower than 4.27, and 25% of admitted students had a GPA higher than 4.62. Wondering how to get into UC Berkeley? You can also use the Additional Comments box in the Personal Insights section (see the next section for more info on this). Also, Berkeley specifically mentions that they look at the "quality of your senior-year program," so don't be tempted to slack off senior year with a bunch of easy classes! ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? How to Get In: University of California—Berkeley School of Law What can you do to set yourself apart in your application? Some majors, especially those in math or science, recommend or require additional classes before you start college. The Berkeley Graduate Division requires that graduate students have at least a 3.00 undergraduate cumulative GPA for admission. If you have any questions about how to get into graduate school, feel free to ask below. When did Elizabeth Berkley get a gap between her front teeth? Professors and administration really care about their students and help you make connections to take on the next step of your future endeavors. This criterion recognizes exemplary, sustained achievement in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor; accomplishments in extracurricular activities such as the performing arts or athletics; leadership in school or community organizations; employment; and volunteer service, Entering information about which UC school(s) you're applying to (you'd choose UC Berkeley, but you can also apply to other UC schools with the same application) and what you plan on majoring in, Filling out your eligibility for scholarships, Filling out your academic history (what classes you took, the grades you got in them, if they were honors or AP, etc. Research your intended major on Berkeley's website to check the specific requirements you need to meet. Ask below and we'll reply! Berkeley also looks at the difficulty of the classes you took. Copyright © 2020 Multiply Media, LLC. If your school offers these classes, you should take as many as you can without overloading yourself and still maintaining a high GPA. If you're still planning on submitting your SAT/ACT scores, we have guides specifically on sending ACT scores and SAT scores to colleges if you need more information. UC Berkeley evaluates applicants for admission to its graduate and professional schools holistically, meaning that we consider an applicant’s combination of personal accomplishments, letters of recommendation, personal statements, academic record, and test scores in making our admissions decisions. Graduate school acceptance rates, which give the percentage of applicants that were admitted to a particular school or program in an academic year, can help you determine how likely you are to get into a given program. For a more in-depth look at how to stand out with your responses, read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays. Asked by Otis Steuber. Try your best but it doesn't really come down to GPA. For example, if you want to major in chemistry, Berkeley requires you to have taken one year of chemistry, one year of physics, four years of math, and two to three years of a foreign language. Graduate school advising; Graduate student outreach; Pathways to college; Visit; Maps; Admissions events; Home > Admissions > Undergraduate admissions > Prospective freshman FAQs . How to Get Into UC Berkeley: 4 Steps to a Stellar Application, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, In 2019-2020, UC Berkeley received 87,394 applications, UC Berkeley a "strongly competitive school", UC Berkeley has decided to make some important changes to the Fall 2021 application process, For more information about what that means for you, check out this FAQ, the school plans to hold the majority of its classes online for Spring 2021. at UC Berkeley, you're probably wondering how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the 2020-2021 school year. Not sure how to get into Berkeley if you got a lower SAT score than expected, flunked math freshman year, couldn't participate in extracurriculars for an extended period because you had mono, or something similar? If you'd like to go to an Ivy League school to earn your graduate degree, keep in mind that the application requirements are generally the same as any other grad school. In any case, U.C. This makes UC Berkeley a "strongly competitive school" : it's not quite as ultra-competitive as Ivy League schools , but you'll need to have a strong application across the board in order to get accepted. First, you have to meet some of their basic requirements, and then you need to wow them with the rest of your application. For the academic history box, you could, for example, explain why some of your grades are lower than what you wanted (and what you did to raise your grades in future classes), or explain you didn't get to take as many advanced classes as you wanted to because your school didn't offer many. Working on your UC essays? How many candles are on a Hanukkah menorah? After 2021, UC schools (including Berkeley) will be phasing out the SAT and ACT requirement for in-state students with the goal of dropping the SAT/ACT test requirement by 2025. Considering that people from all over the US apply there, and that any Liberal Arts graduate degrees are nowadays hardly funded and have little prospect on the market, you are probably looking at only 5 or less seats they will take each year. You may need to drop a few extra-curricular activities in order to devote more time to studying. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? Prospective freshman FAQs. Berkeley is known worldwide as a place of innovation in many fields. The system plans to phase out the SAT and ACT as admissions requirements by 2025 for in-state students. Admissions officials have the answers. The average ACT score at UC Berkeley is 31. Good Luck. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. Also, don't forget that Berkeley also requires the essay/writing section of the SAT and ACT. Additionally, the University of California system of schools has decided to make one major change that will extend beyond the Fall 2021 admissions season. Berkeley states right on their website that they almost never accept late applications, so don't miss any deadlines! I'd say that if you have a good gpa (3.7+) and some extracurriculars then you have a really good chance. Cal applicants have consistently higher acceptance rates than the national average. How hard is it to get into Berkeley College graduate school. The classes you took in high school are often the most important part of your college application. Additionally, you can't have gotten below a "C" in any of the A-G classes. Furthermore, UC schools are planning to phase out the ACT and SAT as admissions requirements for California residents by 2025. Read our guide on how to apply to UC schools, We have an in-depth guide to the UC schools, Reply date for all accepted first year students, Admitted students must submit their final high school transcript. However, you should aim higher than this. For the past several years the median GPA and LSAT score of admitted applicants have ranged from 3.70-3.82 and 166-169, respectively. If there's a weak area on your Berkeley application, don't think it automatically means you won't get in. Every graduate school application process is slightly different, but these tips are applicable to most universities. How hard is it to get into a UC school? UC Berkeley is planning on holding classes this fall. As of now, the school plans to hold the majority of its classes online for Spring 2021 as well. Getting into UC Berkeley is harder than ever — so hard that UC Riverside may recruit you . How hard is it to get into Berkeley College graduate school? This means you'll have a higher GPA than the majority of accepted students which gives you a great chance at getting in. Some factors Berkeley states they're specifically looking for in extracurriculars include: They list the following examples of strong extracurriculars: Don't feel like you need to have all or even any of these experiences; they're just given so you can get an idea of what Berkeley is looking for. Explore these we Print. Your maturity and self-awareness will impress the people reading your application. The most important deadline you need to be aware of is November 30th. The ranges are broad. Yeah, I thought it was super hard to get into Haas at first too but somehow I feel like I know more people that got into Haas than rejected this year. UC Berkeley is going test optional for all students for the Fall 2021 application cycle due to COVID-19, and it will be changing its testing policies for in-state students in Fall 2022 and beyond. Like we mentioned earlier, UC Berkeley has gone "test optional" for fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Some of the key parts of the application include: Once you've finished each section your application, you can submit it, as long as it's between November 1-30. While Berkeley doesn't require any SAT Subject Test scores or AP scores, having at least a few of these will further strengthen your application by showing you can score well on tests that cover different topics. They're specifically looking for honors, AP, or IB courses since these are more difficult than regular-level classes. So what does it take to get into Berkeley? 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, Other evidence of achievement. After that, UC schools will be phasing out the SAT and ACT for in-state students. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. Note that, even if you send in additional materials, such as an art portfolio, Berkeley won't take these into consideration when evaluating your application, so be sure to do a good job describing your talents and accomplishments within the application. The best extracurriculars show your leadership skills and passion for whatever the extracurricular focuses on. Basically, you need to have good grades in difficult classes, strong standardized test scores, and show that you'll have a positive impact on campus. We can help. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? The minimum graduate admission requirements are: 1. a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution; 2. a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and 3. enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee your admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. For most applicants, this timeline means applying after spring of their senior (or final) year at Cal. This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for ACT scores. They first make sure you meet the minimum UC Berkeley admissions requirements, then they assess your academic history, and then they do a holistic review where they take other areas into account, such as your extracurriculars and responses to essay questions. Each year, Berkeley admits only about 16% of the students who apply, but you can increase your chances of getting in by understanding how to apply and knowing what the admissions officers are looking for. One way you can reduce the impact of these weak areas is to discuss them in the Additional Comments boxes. After creating your account, you'll be immediately sent to the beginning of the application. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. How long will the footprints on the moon last? All Rights Reserved. If/when the campus reopens for physical classes, administrators will do so in a phased approach in order to follow public health guidelines. All UC schools, including UC Berkeley, will stop requiring the ACT and SAT as part of the admissions process for in-state students by 2025. Pretty much any extracurricular that you're passionate about, skilled in, and have shown some leadership potential for is a great extracurricular to include on your application. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. The SAT and ACT will test optional for all students in 2021. Our application deadline is December 1, 2020, 8:59pm Pacific Again, you want to aim for the higher end of this range, so your goal should be either a 1530 on the SAT or a 35 on the ACT. However, as long as you have your application submitted by November 30th, you can still take the SAT/ACT (if it's required for you under UC's new testing policies) in December. Your extracurriculars are another important part of your Berkeley application. For more information about those changes, check out this article. A Comprehensive Guide. If students choose not to submit test scores, it won't be held against them in the admissions process. check out our complete guide to applying to UC schools. Compared to many other schools, Berkeley is pretty transparent about what they're looking for in applicants and how they evaluate applications. But if you’re going back to school after several years of professional accomplishments, you may be able to prove to the admissions officers that you have the fortitude, motivation, and sticktoitiveness to succeed. In general, it's best to take more classes in the fields you plan on majoring in. Berkeley is one of the best public universities in the state of California. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? Great environment, which is so important when you are trying to complete a master's degree in Education. You can check out this FAQ article for more information about these testing changes. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, UC Berkeley has decided to make some important changes to the Fall 2021 application process. To give yourself the best chance of getting into UC Berkeley, you should aim to have a weighted GPA of 4.6 or higher. PLAN B: How to Get Into Graduate School with a ... At Berkeley, students can directly substitute 12 units of coursework with the new grades which can greatly affect the resulting GPA. This is the part of your application where you can really show Berkeley who you are, so be sure to put time and thought into your responses. The board have until November 30th to submit test scores, it 's not enough just take! Want is to talk to their admissions advisor environment, which is so important when you are to... 30Th to submit test scores, it wo n't get in like the application for fall admissions. Wonder Pets - 2006 Save the Ladybug give yourself the best chance of getting in positive impact campus... 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