Ranking of UC schools in California?

Hello everyone, I'm a high school junior beginning to research colleges, particularly the University of California (UC) system. Can anyone provide some solid rankings or evaluations of the different UC schools? Anything would help.

The University of California system is renowned for its superior academics and research across all campuses. But just a word of caution: rankings should serve primarily as a point of reference rather than the ultimate deciding factor, as they don't necessarily reflect the quality of education or experience at each institution.

Here's a general ordering of UC campuses according to their prestige and general perception:

1. UC Berkeley (often referred to as Cal)

2. UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)

3. UC San Diego

4. UC Santa Barbara

5. UC Irvine

6. UC Davis

7. UC Santa Cruz

8. UC Riverside

9. UC Merced

Keep in mind that UC Berkeley and UCLA often vie for the "top spot." However, these are just broad overall rankings. The strength of individual departments can vary widely. For example, UC San Diego has a stellar reputation in biological sciences, and UC Irvine is highly regarded for its computer science program. It's important to look into your desired major's ranking at each school.

Don't forget, the 'fit' of the college is extremely crucial. You could go to a high-ranking UC, but if you're not happy or can't pursue the opportunities you want there, it might not be the best fit. So don't let rankings sway you too much. Instead, try to find more about the programs you're interested in, the faculty, the resources, the campus culture, and alumni success from each UC. This will help you choose the right university for you. Best of luck in your college application journey!