What does it mean to be a Berkeley Regent Scholar?

Hey everyone! Can someone explain what it means to be a Berkeley Regent Scholar, whether it's purely merit-based or if there are other factors at play, and generally what kind of benefits or opportunities it provides? Thanks!

Hi there! Becoming a Regents' and Chancellor's Scholar at UC Berkeley is a prestigious honor conferred by the university and is UC Berkeley's most prestigious honor for entering undergraduates. Recipients are selected based on a combination of exceptional academic merit and other factors such as leadership abilities, achievements, perseverance, and contribution to community.

Being a Regents’ and Chancellor's Scholar offers a variety of great benefits. One of the most significant benefits is priority for housing, which means that you are guaranteed a housing slot in your first two years – significantly reducing the stress of finding housing in Berkeley. You also receive a faculty mentor. This provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with professors in a personal way early on in your college career, which can lead to research opportunities and valuable guidance, especially when navigating the large Berkeley campus. In addition, there's a $2,500 honorary award per year for Scholars without financial need. Scholars with financial need are awarded a scholarship up to their full need as assessed by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. Scholars can also have access to priority class enrollment, which is a colossal advantage at a large public university where desirable classes can fill up quickly. Finally, you'll be invited to exclusive events geared specifically toward Regents' and Chancellor's Scholars, which provide networking opportunities and allow you to meet other academically strong students like yourself.

So overall, the Regents’ and Chancellor's Scholar honorific certainly comes with a number of significant benefits, and constitutes both recognition of past academic accomplishment and significant investment in your future potential.