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Located in California, UC Berkeley stands at the pinnacle of U.S. higher education, securing the top spot in Forbes' 2021 Overall and Public University Rankings. Globally renowned, UC Berkeley is particularly celebrated for its College of Engineering, which ranked 3rd among U.S. engineering colleges in the 2023 U.S. News survey. The Computer Science major at UC Berkeley also claimed the top position in the 2022 U.S. university major rankings.



About UC Berkeley

Diverse Majors and Academic Excellence

UC Berkeley's College of Engineering offers a wide array of majors, including Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Each of these programs consistently ranks within the top 5 among U.S. engineering programs, reflecting the college's commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

 

Faculty and Learning Environment

The faculty at UC Berkeley includes numerous Nobel laureates and leaders in their respective fields. With an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 6:1, students benefit from personalized attention and mentorship from world-class experts.



UC Berkeley Admission

Competitive Admissions and Requirements

As a public institution with global acclaim, UC Berkeley attracts a highly competitive applicant pool. The overall admission rate stands at around 20%, with the Computer Science major admitting students at an even more competitive rate of 8%. Admission to UC Berkeley's College of Engineering, excluding majors like Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Science (CS), typically requires an average GPA of 4.3, an SAT score averaging 1540, and an ACT score averaging 34.

 

Future Admission Trends

Starting from the spring semester of 2025, UC Berkeley, along with other UC campuses, will no longer consider voluntarily submitted standardized test scores for admission evaluation. Instead, the university plans to introduce its own admission tests from the fall semester of 2025 onwards.

 

Emphasis on Extracurricular Activities

In light of these changes, extracurricular (EC) activities will play a pivotal role in admission decisions. UC Berkeley values qualitative depth in EC involvement over mere quantity, encouraging applicants to engage in activities that align with their passions and showcase their unique talents and interests.

 

Recommendations for Prospective Students

Early engagement in subject-specific competitions, basic coding courses, and campus capstone projects can lay a solid foundation for prospective students. As students advance through high school, participating in high-level competitions, research paper competitions, STEM-related volunteer activities, and research experiences can strengthen their candidacy.
 

For those aspiring to a Computer Science major, courses like AP Calculus BC and AP Computer Science A, coupled with participation in seminars and research-focused AP Capstone courses, can demonstrate a student's ability to tackle complex problems and innovate.

 

Navigating the admissions process at UC Berkeley's College of Engineering requires strategic planning, academic excellence, and meaningful extracurricular engagement. By preparing diligently and aligning their interests with UC Berkeley's rigorous academic standards, prospective students can position themselves as strong candidates for admission to one of the world's leading universities.