Prospective First Year Students' Frequently Asked Questions:

How are admission decisions made? 
The campus selects its freshman class through an assessment that includes a comprehensive review of your academic performance as measured primarily by:

• your weighted and unweighted UC grade point average (calculated using 10th and 11th grade UC-approved courses only).
• your planned 12th grade courses.
  
• your pattern of grades over time.
• the number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have.
• your level of achievement in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your school.
• your scores on the ACT Assessment Plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests.
• your scores on AP or IB exams.
• honors and awards which reflect extraordinary intellectual or creative achievement.
  
• sustained participation in rigorous academic enrichment and outreach programs.
• qualifications for UC Eligibility in the Local Context.
  

In addition, the review includes an assessment of:

• an examination of your likely contribution to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus.
• diversity in personal background and experience.
• qualities such as leadership, motivation, concern for others and for the community.
• non-academic achievements in the performing arts or athletics, employment or personal responsibilities.
  

What are the University of California freshman eligibility requirements?
Because the number of applicants exceeds the space available for admission, Berkeley uses factors that go beyond the minimum admission requirements to select students.  Admission to UC is a two-step process:  eligibility and selection.  All freshman applicants must complete courses in the University of Calfiornia’s A-G subject platter and present scores on required tests.

Required subjects:
A. History/Social Science – 2 years required.
B. English – 4 years required.
C. Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 recommended.
D. Laboratory Science – 2 years required, 3 recommended.
E. Language Other than English – 2 years required, 3 recommended.
F. Visual and Performing Arts – one year.
G. College Preparatory Electives – one year.

Required tests:
The University of California requires that applicants complete the ACT Assessment plus Writing Test or the SAT Reasoning Test.  In addition, all applicants must complete two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas selected from history, literature, mathematics (Math Level 2 only), science or a language other than English.

Applicants to the College of Engineering are strongly encouraged to take the SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) that is closely related to the applicants intended major.

What is the academic profile of the freshman admitted for fall 2006?

If I don’t think I will be admitted into the college or major I want, can I apply to another one and switch after I’m on campus?
Although it may be possible to change from one undergraduate college to another after enrolling at Berkeley, it may be very difficult to do, depending on the college.  You will be expected to register in courses for the college or major to which you originally applied.  We advise you, therefore, to apply to the field of study that best suits your educational goals.  Transfer to another college after admission is subject to a rigorous review process and is not guaranteed.

How do I know if Berkeley is the right university for me?
A visit to the campus is the best way to find out what UC Berkeley has to offer.  No matter how much you've read or heard about Berkeley, nothing can compare to seeing it for yourself.  We hope that you will take us up on this invitation:  tour the campus, listen to an admission presentation, explore the surrounding area, and talk informally to some of the people in the Berkeley campus community.  To plan your visit, your first stop on campus should be Visitor Services, located in 101 University Hall. Campus tours leave Visitor Services Monday-Friday at 10:00 a.m.  These student-led tours are free of charge and last about an hour and a half. Admission presentations for prospective students are also available most weekdays; check the links above to confirm tour times before you arrive on campus. 

What does it cost to attend Berkeley?  

* Estimated budget; subject to change
** Non-resident tuition & fees add $18,684

How can I pay for Berkeley?
About two-thirds of Berkeley undergraduates receive financial aid, which is primarily need-based. Applicants apply for university-sponsored scholarships automatically when they apply for admission; a separate form, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for grants, loans and work-study.  Please visit the Financial Aid Office Web site (http://students.berkeley.edu/fao/) to learn more.

Where will I live?
You have a wide variety of housing choices at Berkeley.  The campus guarantees housing to new students who are admitted to the fall semester and meet the housing application deadline.  Most residence halls offer dining facilities, seminar/study rooms and on-site academic services such as tutoring, advising, and computing assistance.  In addition, the campus maintains over 1,000 apartments for students who are married, single parents, or domestic partners.  Also available are "theme houses" that combine residential living with a particular academic focus and nearly 3,500 spaces in student cooperatives, fraternities, and sororities.  For more information, please visit the Residential and Student Programs website at http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/

What can I do when I’m not in class?
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): The UC Berkeley student chapter of ASCE has grown to be one of the most well regarded engineering chapters on campus and throughout the country.  Our continued success is demonstrated by the fact that in the past two years, we’ve been voted “Best ASCE Chapter of the West”.  The chapter offers a range of professional (career fairs, resume and interview workshops), academic (EIT review sessions, field trips to construction sites, and monthly meetings with guests speakers), and social activities (faculty-student socials and intramural sports teams).  In addition, ASCE sponsors three competition teams, the Concrete Canoe Team, the Steel Bridge Team, and the Environmental Team. 

Over 400 Campus Organizations:  The Berkeley campus is an eclectic, interesting and varied place to live and to learn, and this is truly reflected in the wide range of clubs and student organizations available. Cal students can join the Marching Band, the Cal Hang Gliding Club, radio station KALX, ethnic associations, humor and literary magazines, debate team, and a variety of cultural and political groups.  If you can't find one that suits your interests, you may even form your own organization—new groups are constantly forming and changing to meet the needs of our students.

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities: A large percentage of our students take Berkeley's public service mission to heart. Cal Corps Public Service Center coordinates a wide variety of programs for students who want to volunteer for a community organization, work with an established campus group such as Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity or Raza Recruitment and Retention Center, or pursue internship opportunities to supplement their classroom experience. The Berkeley Career Center is another excellent resource for internships, both in the corporate and nonprofit arenas.

Arts and Cultural Events: As a Cal student, you can take advantage of an exciting variety of on-campus lectures, concerts, forums, seminars, festivals, plays, exhibits, and films offered by world-acclaimed scholars and performers—so many that you need to check the calendar of events to keep up.  In addition, a host of arts, entertainment and sports activities are within minutes from campus in San Francisco, Oakland and other surrounding Bay Area communities.  Downtown Berkeley, a short walk from campus, offers four movie theaters (22 screens), highly-regarded theater, live music, artist cooperatives, and many other cultural venues.

Cal Bear Athletics: Berkeley is a member of the PAC-10 Division I Conference and offers a full range of men's and women's intercollegiate sports.  You can watch the Cal Bears fight it out on the football field, tennis court or track, or take advantage of the campus' extensive sports and recreational facilities yourself.  Cal has a comprehensive intramural sports program, offering everything from co-ed flag football to martial arts.