What’s Up With the UCs?
The scuttlebutt, especially here in California, home of the UC system, is that it is nearly impossible to get in. Stories about the straight-A honors student with 10 APs, Captain of the baseball team, President of the Mathletes, and founder of a startup who got rejected from every campus abound. Which begs the question, what is up with the UCs?
Every year, UC hosts counselor conferences across the country, and I couldn’t wait to go in person for the first time in a long time to get updates straight from the horse’s mouth. Here are some “fun” and important facts about this past admissions cycle:
The big takeaways from the data above:
If you want a UC option, apply broadly within the system, not only to the most selective campuses.
Think carefully about your major. Don’t just pick one because it feels familiar, especially if it’s a high-demand major. If you genuinely want to study a high-demand major, know that if you do not choose it initially, you may not be granted admission after you have matriculated.
Don’t choose high-demand majors as your second choice major. Not all campuses consider second-choice majors, but it is a good rule of thumb.
The UCs are competitive. Look to the Cal States if you are a California resident and would like to pay in-state tuition.
It’s also important to note that most UC campuses hire hundreds of outside/seasonal readers to get through the 100,000+ applications that many campuses receive. UCLA alone received 145,909 applications last year. Moving through that many applications efficiently means readers have little interest in flowery language, imagery, or storytelling in their Personal Insight Questions/essays. Be direct and use the application to share as much as you can about your life experiences. Do not share the same story more than once. Remember to focus on impact; when it comes to the UC application context is KEY.
If you need help with your college application, listen to our podcast for more tips, advice, and interviews with experts. You can also contact us to learn more about working one-on-one with a Village coach.