So where could you be spending the next four years? From Nobel Prize-winning faculty at Berkeley to Hollywood connections at UCLA, from oceanfront labs at UC Santa Barbara to cutting-edge research at UC San Diego—each campus offers a distinct path to your future.

UC Berkeley (~11% admit rate, ~32,000 students)
The intellectual powerhouse just across from San Francisco, where Nobel-level research meets activist energy. Strong in computer science, engineering, economics, and journalism, with recent recognition as a top global and U.S. public institution.

UC Davis (~42% admit rate, ~31,000 students)
America's food laboratory, surrounded by bike paths and experimental farms. #1 in veterinary medicine and top worldwide in agriculture. Students engage in hands-on learning through animal clinics, food-tech startups, and environmental policy work near California's capital Sacramento.

UC Irvine (~29% admit rate, ~30,000 students)
This campus features a top-10 medical center, national leadership in gaming and computer graphics, and 41 LEED-certified buildings earning "Green College" status. The campus culture is diverse, research-intensive, and collaborative.

UCLA (~9% admit rate, ~32,000 students)
The most-applied-to university in America and #1 public university for eight consecutive years. Located in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood, UCLA is known for its world-famous Film & Television School, David Geffen School of Medicine, and trillion-dollar alumni network spanning entertainment, biotech, and law.

UC Merced (~92% admit rate, ~9,000 students)
The system's newest campus (opened in 2005) just achieved Carnegie R1 "very high research" status in record time. Small college feel with advanced labs in materials science and climate research. The Wall Street Journal ranks it top among public universities for value and social mobility.

UC Riverside (~76% admit rate, ~23,000 students)
Consistently ranked top for social mobility, UCR excels at supporting first-generation and Pell Grant students. Features the world's top entomology department conducting crucial research on mosquitoes, pollinators, and invasive species.

UC Santa Barbara (~33% admit rate, ~24,000 students)
Bike from your dorm to the beach, then attend classes in top-ranked sociology or economics programs. This coastal campus combines physical science research with surf culture and Division I athletics in a tight-knit, high-energy community.

UC Santa Cruz (~65% admit rate, ~19,000 students)
Nestled in redwood hills above Monterey Bay, UCSC combines a unique residential college system with top rankings in computer game design and space science, plus world-class marine biology programs. Students can analyze James Webb Telescope data and beta-test indie games on the same day.

UC San Diego (~25% admit rate, ~33,000 students)
Six miles of La Jolla coastline frame this campus known for research and STEM. Home to the nation's top oceanography program at Scripps Institution and the birthplace of cognitive science. Perfect for STEM students who want cutting-edge research with perfect weather.

The University of California application is refreshingly straightforward: one application where you can select any campuses you would like to apply to. There are no standardized tests (ACT/SAT), no letters of recommendation, and no personal statement required. 

Your application consists of just four key components:

• Courses and GPA / grades (10th and 11th grade only)

• Activities and achievements

• Four Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)

• Basic demographic and academic information

Application submission

• The UC portal opens on August 1, 2025

• Submission period is between October 1 and December 2, 2025

Fees
The application fee for the University of California (UC) system is $80 per campus for domestic applicants and $95 per campus for international applicants.

Every UC campus evaluates applicants using the same 13-factor comprehensive review system, approved by faculty across the system. 

1. UC GPA in approved "A-G" subject courses

2. Course breadth beyond minimum requirements

3. Academic rigor through UC-approved honors, AP, and IB courses

4. California residency advantage (GPA in the top 9% of your high school or statewide)

5. Senior year strength in your 12th grade course schedule

6. Achievement within your school's opportunities (basically, comparing you to your peers)

7. Academic specialization or outstanding strength in one subject

8. Significant projects or academic accomplishments

9. Upward grade trends showing academic improvement

10. Leadership and special talents with meaningful awards

11. Service and engagement in school or community projects

12. Overcoming challenges and personal hardships

13. School and community context that shaped your experience

UC admissions recalculates your high school GPA (based on A-G subjects) in three different ways. Understanding these numbers helps you choose realistic target campuses:

Unweighted GPA: Your A-G grades on a pure 4.0 scale with no bonus points

Capped-Weighted GPA: Adds honors/AP points but limits the boost to eight semesters maximum

Uncapped-Weighted GPA: Includes all allowable honors points with no restrictions

Minimum GPA Requirements

• California residents: 3.0 capped-weighted GPA minimum

• Out-of-state & international applicants: 3.4 capped-weighted GPA minimum

Our Pro Tips

Use our UC GPA Calculator to see all three GPAs instantly and understand exactly where you stand. 

Learn more about the A-G subject requirements of the University of California here.

Calculate Your Numbers
Run your transcript through the UC GPA Calculator to determine your unweighted, capped-weighted, and uncapped-weighted GPAs. These numbers will guide your campus selection strategy.

Choose Your Campus(es)
Select your target campuses before October 1. If possible, visit each campus in person or virtually. Consider applying to a mix across selectivity levels based on your GPA calculations (safety, target, reach schools).

Master Your PIQs
Get a head start on answering the PIQs. Map each Personal Insight Question to specific review factors. Since all UC campuses read the same PIQs, focus on connecting your experiences to the 13-factor framework rather than mentioning specific campuses. Show how your story demonstrates academic achievement, leadership, service, or overcoming challenges.

Maintain Academic Rigor
Keep your senior year course load strong—dropping challenging courses like AP Physics or IB HL Math can hurt your evaluation.

Verify Fee Waivers
Up to four fee waivers are available for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and students who attended California high school for 3+ years and graduated from a California high school, based on financial need. 

Nine world-renowned campuses, one application, three GPA calculations, and 13 review factors. 

Success comes from aligning your story with UC's metrics, backing claims with evidence, and giving the UC a compelling reason to admit you. Your countdown has begun—make every day count toward crafting an application that showcases your unique strengths and potential contributions to the UC community.

Need help navigating this process? 

We are here to guide you through every step of your UC application journey. We have successfully helped domestic and international students gain admission to UC campuses across the system, and we are ready to help you join them. Don't face this alone—let's work together to make your UC dreams a reality. 

Contact us by email to learn more.