How to Get Into UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley receives more than 125,000 freshman applications a year, the largest pool of any highly selective university in the country, and admits students by college and major, not just to the campus. Join Brennan, a former UC Berkeley admissions reader, for How to Get Into UC Berkeley, an inside look at how Berkeley’s comprehensive review really works and why it rewards a different kind of application than private universities do. You’ll learn how the UC application differs from the Common App, how Berkeley calculates its own GPA and reads every student in the context of their school, and what separates a file a reader can champion in committee from one that reads as simply “solid.” You’ll also walk through a real Empowerly student’s two-year path to admission to Berkeley’s MET program, and hear live from a current Berkeley freshman about how her application came together. Whether your student is just starting high school or finalizing their PIQs before the November 30 deadline, this session will show you exactly what it takes to stand out at Berkeley.

In this webinar, you'll learn:

• The UC App Isn’t the Common App: No letters of recommendation, no early decision, no test scores, and four equally weighted PIQs. Brennan breaks down the structural differences that change how families should plan.
• Inside Comprehensive Review: Berkeley computes its own GPA, reads rigor against your school’s opportunities, and admits by major. Learn what readers actually respond to, and the common mistakes that sink strong students.
• How a Real File Came Together: See how one Empowerly student went from strong but undifferentiated to admitted to a 1–2% program, then hear directly from a current Berkeley freshman about what made the difference.