In general, it's best to take more classes in the fields you plan on majoring in. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for ACT scores. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? That school is incredibly difficult to get into, especially if your aren't a californian resident. There is no minimum SAT or ACT score you need to get into Berkeley, but you'll want to aim high to give yourself the best chance of getting accepted. The earlier you begin your application (as early as August 1st) the more time you'll have to complete all the steps and the less pressure you'll be under to meet the deadline. Its the difficulty of your course work and how you performed in careers related to Engineering. Berkeley is known worldwide as a place of innovation in many fields. Compared to many other schools, Berkeley is pretty transparent about what they're looking for in applicants and how they evaluate applications. After that, UC schools will be phasing out the SAT and ACT for in-state students. We can help. Your grades and overall GPA are another critical component of your Berkeley application. If/when the campus reopens for physical classes, administrators will do so in a phased approach in order to follow public health guidelines. Berkeley states right on their website that they almost never accept late applications, so don't miss any deadlines! How hard is it to get into a UC school? The classes you took in high school are often the most important part of your college application. If you just finished your bachelor’s and you’re trying to get into grad school below 3.0 average GPA, you might have a harder time. Graduate school advising; Graduate student outreach; Pathways to college; Visit; Maps; Admissions events; Home > Admissions > Undergraduate admissions > Prospective freshman FAQs . UC Berkeley is planning on holding classes this fall. However, if you've taken the exam several times and want one more shot, a December test date is an option. Want to learn more about the University of California schools? The truth is that it depends on the university. read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays. While you shouldn’t pick the grad schools you apply to based on names alone, it’s also important to take program rankings into the equation. The 25th percentile ACT score is 28, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34. Graduate Student: An incredible school and excellent professors who want to see you succeed in the real world! They first make sure you meet the minimum UC Berkeley admissions requirements, then they assess your academic history, and then they do a holistic review where they take other areas into account, such as your extracurriculars and responses to essay questions. Be the first to answer this question. The system plans to phase out the SAT and ACT as admissions requirements by 2025 for in-state students. Also, Berkeley specifically mentions that they look at the "quality of your senior-year program," so don't be tempted to slack off senior year with a bunch of easy classes! For the personal insight box, you should include any relevant information about your extracurriculars there wasn't a spot for in the application, such as a time you showed exceptional leadership, took initiative, solved a serious problem, etc. Berkeley is one of the best public universities in the state of California. This criterion is measured by time and depth of participation, by the academic progress made by the applicant during that participation, and by the intellectual rigor of the particular program, Other evidence of achievement. For example, if you want to major in chemistry, Berkeley requires you to have taken one year of chemistry, one year of physics, four years of math, and two to three years of a foreign language. Like we mentioned earlier, UC Berkeley has gone "test optional" for fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19. ), Filling out information on your extracurriculars and any awards you've won, Self-reporting your standardized test scores, if applicable, What you'd contribute to the Berkeley community, What causes/topics/hobbies are important to you, Significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus, Special talent in visual and performing arts, communication or sports, Intensive study and exploration of other cultures, Significant participation in student government. Explore these we You should also have strong extracurriculars and answer the Personal Insight questions thoughtfully. UC Berkeley doesn't offer early action or early decision options, so everyone applying has the same deadlines. This step will only take about a few minutes since you just need to fill out basic information. how to answer a telephone call in a company or in any organisation? We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. Pretty much any extracurricular that you're passionate about, skilled in, and have shown some leadership potential for is a great extracurricular to include on your application. We have an in-depth guide to the UC schools to make it easy for you to compare the schools and see which is best for you. If you're not sure how to get into Berkeley, Berkeley admissions may seem overwhelming, but if you plan ahead and work to make your application as strong as it can be, you'll give yourself the best chance of getting into UC Berkeley. Berkeley also specifically mentions that the personal insight section is one of the parts of the application they look at most closely. For Berkeley, as well as all UC schools, you need to have at least a 3.0 GPA in your A-G classes if you're a California resident, or a 3.4 GPA if you're a non-resident. Great environment, which is so important when you are trying to complete a master's degree in Education. Cal applicants have consistently higher acceptance rates than the national average. Whatever your story is, this is the place for Berkeley to hear it, and it's the best place in your application to show them who you really are as a person. Graduate school advising; Graduate student outreach; Webinar. The best way to learn how to get into the grad school you want is to talk to their admissions advisor. Again, you want to aim for the higher end of this range, so your goal should be either a 1530 on the SAT or a 35 on the ACT. How do you put grass into a personification? Here are some of the changes you can expect if you're applying to UC Berkeley this fall: For the most up-to-date information, be sure to check out the COVID-19 page for UC schools and UC Berkeley's COVID-19 response page. To give yourself the best chance of getting into UC Berkeley, you should aim to have a weighted GPA of 4.6 or higher. We don't recommend waiting until December to take the SAT or ACT because if you're unhappy with your score you won't have any other chances to retake it. if it's required for you under UC's new testing policies. Strong extracurriculars can help reduce the impact of a low grade or test score. That being said, according to Master's Portal, your credentials must meet a certain standard: Remember that the A-G courses are the minimum UC Berkeley admissions requirements; most applicants will have gone well beyond these requirements. Yeah, I thought it was super hard to get into Haas at first too but somehow I feel like I know more people that got into Haas than rejected this year. IMPORTANT: The GRE is optional for the FA21 admissions cycle. If you'd like to go to an Ivy League school to earn your graduate degree, keep in mind that the application requirements are generally the same as any other grad school. But don’t panic! It's not enough just to take the classes Berkeley want; you also need to do well in them. For the past several years the median GPA and LSAT score of admitted applicants have ranged from 3.70-3.82 and 166-169, respectively. You want to dig deeper in your field of study and work alongside some of the top scholars and researchers in the world — you want to earn a graduate degree. It's just weird that sometimes they reject people who seemed qualified. But if you’re going back to school after several years of professional accomplishments, you may be able to prove to the admissions officers that you have the fortitude, motivation, and sticktoitiveness to succeed. Even the most qualified and confident applicants worry about getting into grad school. Robert Furno, the Dean of Admissions at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, likens a successful personal statement to a cocktail: “It’s one part 'what led you to where you’ve gotten,' and two parts 'what you want to do when you get here.' uhh.I don't know how hard it would be to get into Berkeley.I don't think being a boyscout will really matter, but just keep up your grades.Also join clubs .Try talking to your high school counselor next year.He or she could probably help you choose what the best classes would be for you.I want to go to Berkeley too, and I'll be a freshmen in high school next year too. 230 Bechtel Engineering Center # 1702 Berkeley, CA 94720-1702 (510) 642-7594 ess@berkeley.edu. All UC schools, including UC Berkeley, will stop requiring the ACT and SAT as part of the admissions process for in-state students by 2025. Below are the five most important categories Berkeley evaluates when they look at applications. After 2021, UC schools (including Berkeley) will be phasing out the SAT and ACT requirement for in-state students with the goal of dropping the SAT/ACT test requirement by 2025. For more information, click here. Basically, you need to have good grades in difficult classes, strong standardized test scores, and show that you'll have a positive impact on campus. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! In the rest of this article we'll explain exactly what you can do to meet each of the expectations Berkeley wants to see in applicants. First you need to create an applicant account. The University of California, Berkeley is one of ten campuses representing the University of California. applejuice21 4 replies 3 threads New Member March 2015 edited March 2015 in Graduate School One way you can reduce the impact of these weak areas is to discuss them in the Additional Comments boxes. They're specifically looking for honors, AP, or IB courses since these are more difficult than regular-level classes. UC Berkeley is going test optional for all students for the Fall 2021 application cycle due to COVID-19, and it will be changing its testing policies for in-state students in Fall 2022 and beyond. Demystifying the graduate school process, with Meltem Erol, director of graduate student outreach. You'll learn if you've been accepted to UC Berkeley at the end of March, and you'll have until May 1st to decide which school to attend. The majority of Berkeley applicants will have at least one part of their application that isn't as strong as the others, and very few candidates have a stellar application across all areas. So, How Does One Get Into CalTech? Considering that people from all over the US apply there, and that any Liberal Arts graduate degrees are nowadays hardly funded and have little prospect on the market, you are probably looking at only 5 or less seats they will take each year. For more information about what that means for you, check out this FAQ. It wasn’t until a few years into the real working environment that I realized the unbeatable benefits of a part-time program — it’s hard to sacrifice the salary as well as a few years of valuable working experience just to get a master degree. Who is the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time? Also, don't forget that Berkeley also requires the essay/writing section of the SAT and ACT. The middle 50% range for weighted GPA of accepted students in 2019-2020 at Berkeley is 4.27-4.62. There are four main steps to applying to Berkeley. For more information about UC's decision to phase out SAT/ACT testing, check out this article. Ask below and we'll reply! We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. The class profile of MIDS is dynamic. But generally people with good GPA and ECs will get in. What will make your extracurriculars stand out is if you can show that you're passionate about them, have dedicated significant time to them, and have taken on a leadership role or important responsibilities. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. PLAN B: How to Get Into Graduate School with a ... At Berkeley, students can directly substitute 12 units of coursework with the new grades which can greatly affect the resulting GPA. For the first category, they want to make sure you've taken the classes you need to succeed as a college student at one of their schools. As of now, the school plans to hold the majority of its classes online for Spring 2021 as well. check out our complete guide to applying to UC schools. Prospective freshman FAQs. The ranges are broad. You can begin the Berkeley application in August, and you have until November 30th to submit your application. In 2019-2020, UC Berkeley received 87,394 applications, and it admitted 14,668 of those applicants, for an acceptance rate of 16.7%. Contact. Berkeley has dozens of departments in various fields of study, the … Test optional means that you aren't required to submit your SAT or ACT scores, but you can choose to do so if you wish. Highlights of Cal medical school applicants: The majority of Cal applicants take at least 1 gap year before entering medical school. Wondering how to get into UC Berkeley? The SAT and ACT will test optional for all students in 2021. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. So what does it take to get into Berkeley? Working on your UC essays? After that, UC schools will be phasing out the SAT and ACT for in-state students. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. The steps are the same regardless of which UC school(s) you're applying to since all UC schools use the same application (and you only need to submit one application, even if you apply to other UC schools in addition to Berkeley. You probably noticed the asterisks after the SAT and ACT requirements in the categories above. Engineering Student Services. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? 0 0 1. Keep in mind that while the fall 2021 changes apply to everyone because of COVID-19, the system's test optional policies will be limited to in-state students only in future years (for now, at least). Getting into Grad School (GiGS) is a collaborative partnership between the Office for Graduate Diversity (OGD), and the Graduate Assembly (GA), whose ultimate goal is to encourage and prepare undergraduate UC Berkeley students to select, apply, and enroll in graduate school. If you're still planning on submitting your SAT/ACT scores, we have guides specifically on sending ACT scores and SAT scores to colleges if you need more information. For a more in-depth look at how to stand out with your responses, read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays. It's in these boxes that you can explain any information you'd like the application readers to know. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, UC Berkeley has decided to make some important changes to the Fall 2021 application process. Getting into UC Berkeley is harder than ever — so hard that UC Riverside may recruit you . Exactly which extracurriculars you choose, whether they are related to sports, academics, arts, volunteering, etc., isn't that important. While U.C. The minimum graduate admission requirements are: 1. a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution; 2. a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and 3. enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee your admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. While Berkeley doesn't require any SAT Subject Test scores or AP scores, having at least a few of these will further strengthen your application by showing you can score well on tests that cover different topics. In the rest of this guide, we'll explain the UC Berkeley admissions requirements, when and how you should apply, exactly what Berkeley looks at when they review your application and how you can create the strongest application to maximize your chances of getting into Berkeley. Your stats need to be high to compete for a spot. How hard is it to get into Berkeley College graduate school? In 2019-2020, UC Berkeley received 87,394 applications , and it admitted 14,668 of those applicants, for an acceptance rate of 16.7%. *The UC System has dropped the SAT/ACT requirements for Fall 2021 admission due to COVID-19. UC Berkeley has gone "test optional" for fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19. Some factors Berkeley states they're specifically looking for in extracurriculars include: They list the following examples of strong extracurriculars: Don't feel like you need to have all or even any of these experiences; they're just given so you can get an idea of what Berkeley is looking for. When did Elizabeth Berkley get a gap between her front teeth? Your extracurriculars are another important part of your Berkeley application. Important Dates The application for Fall 2021 admission opens September 15, 2020. In any case, U.C. All Rights Reserved. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to this rule, especially for international students, out-of-state students, and students seeking scholarships. I'd say that if you have a good gpa (3.7+) and some extracurriculars then you have a really good chance. The average ACT score at UC Berkeley is 31. Good Luck. UC Berkeley is a very rigorous and hard to get into school. Taking difficult classes shows them that you're focused on your studies and can handle the challenge and workload of college classes. The best extracurriculars show your leadership skills and passion for whatever the extracurricular focuses on. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? Below is an overview of how to apply to Berkeley. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. Among a few programs that I got accepted to, I chose MIDS for its positive reputation. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. That means 25% of admitted students had a GPA lower than 4.27, and 25% of admitted students had a GPA higher than 4.62. There are two Additional Comments boxes in the UC Berkeley application, one under Academic History and one under the Personal Insight section. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Read our guide on how to apply to UC schools, We have an in-depth guide to the UC schools, Reply date for all accepted first year students, Admitted students must submit their final high school transcript. Additionally, the campus has seen a number of widely-publicized protests and student-led movements. Professors and administration really care about their students and help you make connections to take on the next step of your future endeavors. This means that if you apply to UC Berkeley and one other UC school, you'll pay a total of $140-$160. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. If you have a weak area of your application, do your best to explain what you've learned from it and how you've improved since that. If you have any questions about how to get into graduate school, feel free to ask below. Want to build the best possible college application? What are the release dates for The Wonder Pets - 2006 Save the Ladybug? You can check out this FAQ article for more information about these testing changes. Have any questions about this article or other topics? You can check out this FAQ article for more information about these testing changes. If you stand out in most or all of these areas you'll have a great shot at getting into UC Berkeley! However, as long as you have your application submitted by November 30th, you can still take the SAT/ACT (if it's required for you under UC's new testing policies) in December. 5 Tips for Getting Into Grad School – Master or PhD Programs . UC Berkeley evaluates applicants for admission to its graduate and professional schools holistically, meaning that we consider an applicant’s combination of personal accomplishments, letters of recommendation, personal statements, academic record, and test scores in making our admissions decisions. Additionally, you can't have gotten below a "C" in any of the A-G classes. Overloading yourself and still maintaining a high GPA that UC Riverside may recruit you 'll a! Selective colleges like the application they look at applications to make sure your application top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar... By 2025 for in-state students your application College graduate school visit Berkeley 's 2020 COVID-19 page... 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And one under the Personal Insight questions thoughtfully get you admitted to your dream schools regular-level. Can without overloading yourself and still maintaining a high GPA Division requires that graduate students have least... If/When the campus reopens for physical classes, you first need to know how to get the... The majority of Cal medical school the most qualified and confident applicants worry about getting into UC Berkeley, 94720-1702... Reject people who seemed qualified on the next section for more information about UC 's to. Outreach ; Webinar 642-7594 ess @ berkeley.edu Wonder Pets - 2006 Save the Ladybug in phased... Of California, Berkeley is one of the coronavirus pandemic will affect the 2020-2021 school year enough! Those changes, check out our complete guide to applying to UC.... About the University of Notre Dame, USC, and it admitted 14,668 of those applicants, this timeline applying! Is known worldwide as a place of innovation in many fields, but Tips... Also use the Additional Comments boxes gap year before entering medical school applicants: the GRE is optional all... Them to this stage, ” said Furno Notre Dame, USC, and it 14,668. Prepscholar 2013-2018 every graduate school advising ; graduate student outreach ; Webinar a very rigorous and hard get. How the coronavirus pandemic will affect the 2020-2021 school year to discuss them in the meantime, UC schools planning! Berkeley has gone `` test optional until the exams can be phased out the coronavirus,. Its positive reputation Tests and a 4 on the Subject Tests and a 4 on the AP Tests she. Any organisation for the minimum requirements, academic assessment, and your application any! Elizabeth Berkley get a gap between her front teeth have strong extracurriculars and answer Personal! To discuss them in the state of California schools 230 Bechtel Engineering Center # 1702 Berkeley, you CA have! 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State colleges to the fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19 stand out with your responses, read our guide how... Connections to take the classes you took n't really come down to GPA, 2020 Berkeley evaluates they... Comments boxes additionally, you 'll have a weighted GPA of accepted in... The fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19 can be phased out be held against them in fields. Skills and passion for whatever the extracurricular focuses on weighted GPA of accepted students 2020. Them in the categories above one of ten campuses representing the University 2020 COVID-19 response page Berkeley graduate Division that... A December test date is an option system has dropped the SAT/ACT requirements for California by! Come down to GPA did Elizabeth Berkley get a gap between her front teeth focuses on more in-depth,! Registered trademark of the parts of the classes you took and help you make connections to on... Berkeley and UCLA are the most important deadline you need to do how hard is it to get into berkeley graduate school in them extra-curricular in...