What is the UC system?

The UC system relates to the University of California. The University of California is not one but, rather, ten distinct U.S. colleges. These colleges are all four-year institutions that dot the state of California, and include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. Nine of the ten UC schools are open to undergraduate applications, while the outlier is for graduate and professional studies only.

The colleges that make up the UC system are notably popular, not least for their locations throughout California, but also for the prestige they carry. Consequently, competition for entrance into any one of the ten UC schools is fierce. To ensure a successful application into the UC schools, it is first important that candidates understand the differences between the UC system and the most standard Common App.

Common App and the UC system

The majority of U.S. college applications employ the Common App system. This requires students to complete a questionnaire on the Common App portal and write one essay of 650 based on one of seven prompts. This essay is then submitted via the portal, in conjunction with any supplemental essays requested by the institutions to which the student is applying.

The UC system is different. It has its own unique portal; its own questionnaire to complete; and requires applications to compose responses to four of eight ‘personal insight’ questions of between 250 and 350 words. It is not enough for candidates to simply copy and paste their responses from their Common App questionnaire into the UC system, nor can they quickly edit down their Common App to fit the personal insight questions. Due to the highly competitive nature of the UC application system, candidates must treat this task as wholly unique.

How to set yourself apart

The ultimate goal of any UC application, or U.S. college application more generally, is, of course, to gain admittance. To do this, students must set themselves apart from their peers. One way to do this is to maintain an impressive GPA, of course. Another is to build an appealing profile through extracurricular activities. UC admissions teams are partial to a well-rounded application that illustrates a person’s academic interests, hobbies, and community involvement. So, candidates should work towards this. It should be noted that these criteria—a strong GPA and balanced profile—are particularly important as UC schools no longer takes into consideration either SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions.

BartyED and U.S. admissions

Applying to any U.S. college, whether via the Common App or UC system, can be a profoundly stressful process. Understanding the requirements of each portal and hitting the right mark on each task is challenging for even the most adept students. BartyED, with its team of expert admissions consultants, have guided numerous students through both the Common App and UC systems. Our experienced admissions consultants understand the intricacies of the UC system and what it is that admissions officers want to see. If you think that you or your child could benefit from the guidance of an expertly trained admissions consultant, be it for Common App or UC system colleges, reach out today by phone on +852 2882 1017 or email us at enquiries@bartyed.com.