Most competitive UC for admissions?

I'm trying to figure out which UC school is the hardest one to get accepted into. Does anyone here know if there's a particular UC that's notoriously competitive in terms of admissions? I'd like to prepare accordingly if I decide to apply to a highly selective one!

When it comes to the University of California system, UC Berkeley and UCLA are typically considered the most competitive schools in terms of undergraduate admissions. These schools consistently have the lowest acceptance rates and the highest average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores among incoming students.

UC Berkeley's acceptance rate has generally been around 11%, and UCLA's is even lower, often dipping below 9%. To put that in perspective, other UC campuses like UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara typically have acceptance rates between 25-30%, and UC Riverside and UC Merced tend to hover around 50-60%.

However, remember that acceptance rates and average test scores aren't the only factors you should consider when choosing where to apply. Each UC campus has unique programs and strengths, so it's important to consider which one aligns best with your academic goals and interests. It's also worth noting that all UC campuses are test-blind for the 2024-2025 application cycle, which means they do not consider SAT or ACT scores at all in their admissions process, focusing instead on aspects such as GPA, extracurricular involvements, and essays.

Bear in mind too that colleges within each campus may have different levels of selectivity. For example, while UC Berkeley as a whole is very competitive, specific colleges like the College of Engineering or the Haas School of Business are even more so.

Don't be deterred by the competitive nature of some UC schools. Instead, use this as motivation to prepare stronger applications by focusing on your coursework, pursuing meaningful extracurricular activities, and crafting compelling essays. Good luck!