As one of the largest systems of higher education in the world, the University of California (UC) is an application destination for many, with hundreds of thousands of students applying each year. Here are expert insights on what UC admissions officers look for, and how to ace your UC application so you end up at the top of the application pile.
What UC Admissions Officers Look for
By now, you should be familiar with the UC admissions requirements. And while the official website will offer a detailed breakdown of what students are expected to include in their application, it doesn't answer the question of: "What do UC admissions officers really care about?" Let's help you answer that question now.
Ultimately, admissions officers are looking for:
- How students have challenged themselves academically and their course rigor. A strong grade in an easier elective is less impressive than a student who took AP or IB courses.
- Students who have contributed to their communities in meaningful ways. This is their first look into how you may contribute to their campus community.
- How students plan to make the most of their time in college (academically and socially). All colleges want to make sure they're admitting students who will perform well and thrive in their environment.
- If a student is genuinely passionate about their intended major. This includes how students have fostered their interest in the classroom and in their communities.
10 Tips to Ace Your UC Application
1. Keep track of deadlines.
The UC application opens on August 1st, but students cannot apply until the submission window opens on November 1st. The final date a student can submit a UC application is November 30th.
Keeping track of these key deadlines is crucial to ensure you plan enough time to finalize every component, craft strong Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), and maximize your application to the fullest.
Pro tip: No one likes technical glitches, so we recommend students aim to submit their applications between November 4th and November 26th to avoid the possibility of servers crashing.
Related: UC Application Deadline Guide (2025)
2. Have your transcripts handy.
The UCs require students to self-report their academic history instead of submitting official copies of transcripts. You must report everything exactly as it appears on your transcript (so no changing that B in math class to an A). If you took any summer classes for academic credit or community college classes, make sure to report those too.
Pro tip: The academic history section will take a while, so make sure to leave plenty of time to complete it and check it a few times. It helps to have a friend review it with you and a snack handy!
3. Understand A-G academic requirements.
The UCs have academic admission requirements for all students regardless of residency. These are called the A-G courses and refer to specific subject areas. Check to make sure you are A-G qualified—otherwise, the application will flag missing subject areas before you start the application submission process. The UCs also have specific GPA requirements for residents and nonresidents, so be sure to calculate whether you qualify with your A-G courses.
Pro tip: California residents can see what classes count for A-G subject areas through this searchable database. Out of state and international students should reach out to the UC campuses they are applying to for clarity regarding courses if they have specific questions.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to the UC Application Process
4. Campus and major choice matters.
Students apply to all UC campuses through the one UC application, but make sure to pick the campuses you’d actually want to go to (it’s $80 per campus (US) and $95 per campus (international and non-immigrant) for applications! Students who qualify for fee waivers will receive 4 different campuses that offer different majors, so look over what’s offered at each school before making your choices.
Pro tip: Certain programs, typically those in the arts, require a supplemental application. If you are applying to a program that requires a supplemental application, make sure to list that major first because it will trigger an email from the UC campus for that major with instructions on how to upload those supplemental application components.
5. What is this UC San Diego college choice thing?
Each UC campus is pretty special, but UC San Diego (UCSD) works to make the campus feel more intimate by placing students in one of seven colleges. Students have to rank their choices on their UC application if they elect to apply to UCSD. Each college at UCSD differs in terms of campus location and housing, and each college also has different general education requirements (the classes each student has to take before graduation, regardless of major). Definitely look over the different colleges before you apply because it’s very difficult to change once placed in a college at UCSD.
Pro tip: This is a great one page overview of the different colleges and the academic requirements associated with each! Be sure to bookmark for reference when you fill out that section of the UC application.
6. Understand the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is offered to California residents and Native American scholars from any state. It is designed to assist students from first-generation and/or disadvantaged backgrounds with support like mentorship, financial help, and advising/counseling when they are at a UC campus. To be considered, you will need to indicate your interest on the UC application and make sure to fill out the sections about your family size, parents’ level of education, and household income. There is also a brief statement you will need to submit to talk about why you are interested in EOP.
Pro tip: Not sure if you qualify for EOP? Reach out to your school counselor or a college counselor for more guidance.
7. Maximize your activities section.
The UC application allows students to list up to 20 different activities on the application. These are broken up into different categories (award or honor, educational preparation program, extracurricular activity, other coursework, volunteering/community service, and work experience), and each has a different character count limit.
Pro tip: Before filling out this section, sit down and make a list of all the activities you’ve been involved in. Remember: informal activities and family responsibilities count, too! Anything you spend time doing outside of class is fair game for the application.
Related: How to Find Summer Activities for College Applications
8. The UC Personal Insight Questions aren’t like other college essays.
On the UC application, students will pick 4 out of 8 PIQ prompts and respond in 350 words. The big thing to remember is that these are designed to be answered like interview responses. It’s important that you answer the prompt clearly with examples to support your responses. Each question is weighed equally, so choose the ones that will help the reader get to know different aspects of you and your story.
Pro tip: The UCs have a great worksheet (English, Spanish) to help you brainstorm. Make sure to leave time to read through your responses and have someone you trust read them over before you submit.
9. Use the "Additional Information" section.
The UC application has 2 places for applicants to provide additional information. The first opportunity is after the Academic History section, and the other is after the Personal Insight Question section. These sections are meant for you to add any other information that the reader needs to review your application holistically. Examples would be explaining curricular choices, special programs you participated in, or aspects of your high school that are unique. Do not use these sections to answer another Personal Insight Question.
Pro tip: If you or your family were substantially affected by COVID, consider including that information in these additional information sections. Examples include changes to your high school’s grading policies, drastic changes to family/home life, etc.
10. Remember the UCs are test-optional.
Each year, students review UC admissions requirements and ask, "Can I still submit my test scores?" While technically, students can submit scores, UC admissions officers will not take them into consideration when evaluating applicants.
Pro tip: If you're a student who intends to only apply to UC campuses, you may want to skip out on the SAT or ACT entirely and spend that time ensuring you're performing well in all your academic classes.
When To Ask for Help on Your UC Application
Getting accepted to a UC campus is challenging, no matter how qualified you are. Whether you're considering UC Berkeley, UCLA, or any other UC, knowing when to seek help is just as important as putting your college application together.
If you have your eyes set on a UC, you may want to consider extra support if:
- You're looking to apply to the more competitive UCs such as Berkeley, Los Angeles, or Irvine.
- You're applying to a UC as an out-of-state applicant and have trouble understanding UC-specific requirements.
- You're applying to a UC as a transfer student, where you're expected to navigate unique deadlines, requirements, and acceptance rates.
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About Us: With more than twenty-six years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.
