How do UC schools typically rank?

I know UC schools are well-regarded, but can anyone give me an idea of how they typically rank among each other? I'm especially curious about how competitive they are in terms of admission rates. Thanks!

UC schools are indeed well-regarded and offer a wide range of programs and opportunities. When it comes to ranking them, it's essential to remember that rankings can vary based on the methodology used and individual preferences. However, here's a general idea of how UC schools typically rank in terms of prestige and competitiveness:

1. UC Berkeley

2. UCLA

3. UC San Diego

4. UC Santa Barbara

5. UC Davis

6. UC Irvine

7. UC Santa Cruz

8. UC Riverside

9. UC Merced

As for the competitiveness and admission rates, UC Berkeley and UCLA are the most selective UC campuses, with acceptance rates generally below 15%. UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, and UC Irvine are relatively competitive, with acceptance rates between 20-30%. UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced tend to have higher acceptance rates, above 45%.

Keep in mind that this list is just to give you a general idea of how these schools stack up, and the acceptance rates may vary from year to year and depend on the specific programs. Additionally, individual factors like your intended major, location preferences, and campus culture should play a role in selecting which UC campuses are the best fit for you - it's possible one school is lower ranked overall, but stronger in the particular areas you're interested in.

Finally, if you do end up applying to any UCs, you'll want to make sure your application is as strong as possible, since ultimately they're all well-regarded institutions. In particular the Personal Insight Questions on the UC application are often what sets one applicant apart from another - if you want help tackling these prompts, you can find detailed guidance on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays. Best of luck with your college process!