I've been browsing around but I'm a little lost. What are the crucial things to nail down when applying to UC Berkeley? What kind of SAT scores, GPA, extracurriculars do they typically prefer?
For UC Berkeley, like other schools in the UC system, the curricular rigor of your high school courses, Grade Point Average (GPA), and personal insight questions have significant weight in the admission process. This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores, as the UC system is currently test blind.
The GPA they consider is from your sophomore and junior years in high school, and they only consider "a-g" courses, which are college-prep courses required by the UC system. The middle 50% GPA for UC Berkeley is around 3.9-4.30 on a weighted 4.0 scale.
The UC application does not provide separate sections where you list and describe your extracurricular activities and awards. Instead, you have a personal insight section where you should discuss these experiences. This is different than the Common Application, for example, where you have a separate activity list. UC Berkeley, as a highly selective college, typically admits students who have pursued high leadership positions or have significant achievements in their extracurriculars.
These can be Tier 1 or Tier 2 activities in many cases, such as winning a national award, being the president of a student body, or having a lead role in a state-level event. That being said, don't be disheartened if your activities fall in Tier 3 or 4. What is important is the impact and your role in these activities, which should be clearly articulated in your application.
There are eight Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), and you choose four to answer. These are your space to showcase your personality, experiences, and how you would add value to the UC Berkeley community. Make sure your answers are authentic and meaningful to you.
Remember that college admissions offices are looking for a diverse group of students with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The most important elements of your application will be your academic preparation and potential, and your involvement, leadership, and initiative outside the classroom. These are reflected in your coursework, GPA, extracurriculars, and PIQ answers. Be sure to take the time to carefully craft these elements of your application.
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