Do UC admissions talk to each other?

No, UC admissions officers don't "talk" to each other about individual applicants during the initial review; each campus evaluates your application independently, but they do communicate after decisions are made to manage accepted students who might commit to multiple campuses, preventing one student from taking multiple spots. Think of it like nine different chefs (campuses) using the same ingredients (your application) but making unique dishes (decisions) for their specific campus, with different priorities.

Do UCs know what other UCs you applied to?

Each UC campus evaluates each application without knowing the status of the same application at another campus. In making admission decisions, campuses do not consider where you've applied or your admission status to other campuses.

Do colleges share applicant info with each other?

Some schools can ask.

There is a group of highly selective colleges that shares their Early Decision student list among each other, but only AFTER those students have been accepted—so no worries about affecting the odds there.

What is the 9% UC rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

What is the easiest UC to get into in California?

Among UC schools, UC Merced has the highest acceptance rate at 91.7%. Meaning, most applicants get accepted. This makes it the easiest UC to get into.

7 Psychological Triggers That Make Admissions Officers Say Yes

Which 60 colleges are being investigated?

U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment

• American University.
• Arizona State University.
• Boston University.
• Brown University.
• California State University, Sacramento.
• Chapman University.
• Columbia University.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Do admission officers fact check?

The answer is yes, though not in the way you might expect. While they may not investigate every club meeting or community event, college admissions officers rely on cross-referencing, context, and their professional instincts to identify truth from embellishment.

Does an 89.5 round up to a 90 in college?

Whether an 89.5% rounds up to a 90% (an 'A') in college depends entirely on the professor and the course syllabus, as there's no universal rule; many professors do round .5 or higher, but others strictly adhere to the syllabus, which often sets 90% as the official start of an 'A' without rounding, so checking your syllabus and asking your professor is crucial. 

What extracurriculars do UCs look for?

UC First-Year Admission – Extracurricular Activities

• Community Service and Volunteering.
• Educational Preparation Programs.
• Internships.
• Summer Programs.
• Other Ideas. Research Programs. Independent Projects.

Which UC has the most applications?

1️⃣ UCLA – 145,904. 2️⃣ UC San Diego – 130,841. 3️⃣ UC Berkeley – 125,910. 4️⃣ UC Irvine – 121,095.

Should I submit a 3 AP score to UCLA?

UCLA awards credit for AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. The credit you receive depends on the College/School your major belongs to: The UCLA College.

Do rejections come after acceptances?

Usually acceptances come out first. This gives admits more time to choose whether to enroll. Additionally, this may prevent them from prematurely rejecting someone before enough admits have accepted their offer. Rejected applicants are usually the last priority of the school since they're not coming to their school.

Is 1480 a good SAT score for UC Berkeley?

Average SAT: 1415

The average SAT score composite at UC Berkeley is a 1415.

Do any UC decisions come out early?

No, UC decisions don't come out "early" in the traditional Early Action/Decision sense, as the system doesn't offer those, but some campuses release batches of decisions in late February or early March before the main March release, often for special categories like recruited athletes, Regents scholars, or certain programs, while most students hear by the end of March.
 

Do admissions officers actually read your essays?

They may spend only a few minutes reading your essays, so it's critical to make a strong impression in that short time. Beyond the basics—whether you've answered the prompt, written within the word limit, and used proper spelling and grammar—there are a few things admissions officers look for in every essay.

Is a 67% acceptance rate good?

According to U.S. News, college acceptance rates average out to 70.1%. Although the hardest colleges to get into have less than a 10% acceptance rate, Pew Research Center found that over half of U.S. universities have an admissions rate of 67% or higher.

How to stand out to admissions officers?

At the end of the day, admissions officers aren't looking for a long list of superficial involvements. They want to see real commitment, growth, and passion. Instead of spreading yourself thin, focus on: Quality over quantity – Fewer, deeper involvements will always stand out more than a long, shallow list.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

What college is 100% acceptance rate?

Yes, many colleges have a 100% acceptance rate, often through open admissions policies, meaning they accept all applicants who meet basic requirements, including many community colleges, specialized career schools, and some online or regional universities like Broward College, Empire State University (SUNY), University of Maryland Global Campus, and Utah Valley University, though availability and specific programs vary. These institutions guarantee admission for qualified applicants, focusing on accessibility, with some examples including Delta State University, Montana State University Billings, and the Academy of Art University. 

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to skyrocketing costs, overwhelming student debt, and a perceived poor return on investment (ROI), especially with AI changing jobs and stronger alternatives like skilled trades emerging, leading many to seek faster, cheaper paths to financial stability and job security. They've seen Millennials' debt struggles, witness online success stories, and value hands-on training over traditional degrees, making college less of a guaranteed ticket to success.
 

What is the best UC school?

UC Berkeley and UCLA are the top two public universities in the country, with seven UC campuses in the top 25 and all nine undergraduate campuses in the top 45, according to the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 22) by U.S. News & World Report.

Which is the lowest ranked university in the USA?

A new ranking has named the worst school in America in 2025. According to a ranking from Think Impact, the worst school in America is Florida Memorial University, which is a private coeducational institution located in Miami Gardens, Florida.