Cracking the UC Application: A comprehensive guide
Understanding the UC application process
The University of California (UC) application process is complex and many highschoolers, especially first-generation students feel lost when completing. Now it is more competitive than ever to get into a UC with over 250,000 applications this year.
The UC system employs a holistic admissions process, ensuring that your entire application,
not just a single aspect, is considered. Key components of a successful UC application include:
- Academic Performance: Maintaining a high GPA while challenging yourself with rigorous courses.
- Extracurricular Activities: Demonstrating a wide range of interests and skills through activities.
- Essays: The UC personal insight questions (PIQs) offer an opportunity for the admissions officers
to understand more about your story and circumstances. The UC application requires you to fill out 4 out of 8 of the PIQs. To stand out, focus on being creative, original, and showcasing who you are.
General Tips
- Tell a Story: Structure your essays using vivid language and storytelling.
- Be yourself: Admissions officers don't expect a high schooler to be an accomplished CEO or run a global non-profit.
- Be a Leader: Showcase your leadership potential, you don't have to have an official position to be a leader.
- Be Open: If you have circumstances explaining why you have bad grades for a semester or stopped doing ECs for a year, then share it.
- Do What you Love: You should never do an activity because it will "look good for college." Almost any activity can look impressive if you can show that you have grown because of it.
UC Application Timeline
