UC Letters of Recommendation: Are they necessary?

Hey everyone! I'm planning to apply to some UC schools, but I'm not sure about their letters of recommendation policy. Do I need to submit them or are they optional? If they're optional, would it still be a good idea to include them?

Hello! For the University of California (UC) system, letters of recommendation are not accepted for the general admission process - if you submit them, they are not going to be read. However, some UC campuses or programs within the campuses may request additional materials, including letters of recommendation, after you submit your application. If they want something extra from you, they will provide you with specific instructions on how to submit these additional materials.

In general, it's advised to focus on the other parts of your application, such as your personal insight questions, extracurricular activities, and academic record, since the UC system is more interested in these aspects. If you're looking for guidance in these areas, you can find some tips on how to tackle the essays specifically on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays.

That being said, if a UC campus specifically requests letters of recommendation from you, make sure you provide them, as otherwise you may come across as not genuinely invested in your application. So, it's not a bad idea to have someone in mind who you would be able to ask, and even reach out to them in advance so you don't surprise them at the last minute with your request.

To summarize, you don't need to submit letters of recommendation for the UC application, as they're only necessary if specifically requested by a UC campus or program after you've submitted your application. Focus on portraying your strengths in the other areas of your application, and only worry about submitting letters of recommendation if asked. Good luck with your UC applications!