UC Berkeley Waitlist Acceptance Rate

Got waitlisted at UC Berkeley, and now I'm super on edge. Can anybody tell me from their own experience or knowledge what the chances of actually getting in off the Berkeley waitlist typically are?

Hello, I understand your concern. As a college enthusiast, I can provide you some statistics based on previous years, but keep in mind that every admissions cycle is different and these figures can fluctuate annually.

For example, for the 2024-2025 application cycle, the waitlist acceptance rate was only 0.33% since only 26 of 7,853 students on the waitlist were admitted. Yet the year before, 24.7% of students were accepted off the waitlist when 1,191 of the 4,820 students were admitted. This wide range is due to the unpredictable nature of the admissions cycle each year. Some years can see a high acceptance rate if a lower than expected number of students accept their initial offer, while other years might have a lower rate if the yield from admitted students is higher. Remember that the process can be influenced by several factors such as the school's yield rate from the initial offers of admission, the number of spots available in specific programs or colleges, or even fluctuations in the applicant pool itself.

Even though the odds may seem daunting, it's important to remember that there's always a chance, and it's not over until it's over. Make sure to respond to the waitlist offer to indicate your continued interest in the school, but the best advice I can give you is to write a letter of continued interest (LOCI). These are the best way to clearly express your desire to attend Berkeley while also updating the admissions committee on the achievements you've made since you submitted your application. For more information on what letters of continued interest are and detailed tips on how to write them, you should visit CollegeVine's blog here: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest

Stay hopeful and patient during this process and explore other colleges you've been admitted to. Remember, you've been waitlisted, not rejected, meaning that the admissions committee sees potential in you. Good luck!