Does Berkeley accept based on major?

Yes, UC Berkeley admits by major, especially for competitive fields like Engineering, Computer Science (CS), and certain high-demand Letters & Science (L&S) majors (like Psychology), where admission is much tougher than for general L&S. While you apply with a primary and alternate major, Berkeley primarily reviews your primary choice, with alternate consideration only if space permits.

Does UC Berkeley consider major?

Students can select a primary major and an alternate major. Berkeley only guarantees the review of the primary major at this time.

Do UC schools accept based on major?

You can declare a major, or apply as undeclared, on your UC application form. For first-years applying to a major in the College, your choice of major will neither help nor hurt your prospects for admission. In fact, a large number of first-year applicants apply as undeclared.

What is the easiest major to get into at UC Berkeley?

The "easiest" major at UC Berkeley often means applying to the broad College of Letters & Science (L&S), as it admits many students without strict major caps, allowing you to declare later, with Interdisciplinary Studies, Linguistics, or certain humanities/social sciences showing higher transfer acceptance rates, while avoiding highly impacted programs like Engineering or CS. For first-year applicants, applying to L&S with a less-impacted major is a common strategy for broader entry, as many programs within L&S don't have major-specific caps for freshman entry. 

What is the hardest major to get into at Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are primarily in high-demand fields like Computer Science (CS), Engineering (especially EECS/ECE), the Haas School of Business, and Data Science, often within impacted colleges, but also specific Letters & Sciences majors like Political Economy, Public Health, and Operations Research, known for extremely low admission rates (sometimes single digits for CS) and high applicant numbers. 

What is a Major? Exploring UC Berkeley's Undergraduate Colleges

Does Berkeley consider second major?

Q: Can applicants to Berkeley select more than one major on the application? A: Students can select a primary major and an alternate major. Currently, Berkeley only guarantees the review of the primary major and will not review students for an alternate major.

What are the top 3 hardest majors?

While subjectivity plays a role, Medicine, Engineering (especially Aerospace, Chemical, Biomedical), and Physics/Mathematics consistently rank among the top 3 hardest majors due to intense workloads, complex problem-solving, deep analytical skills, and demanding coursework, often involving advanced concepts in math, science, and critical thinking, with Chemistry and Architecture also frequently cited. 

What are high demand majors at Berkeley?

High-Demand Majors at Berkeley:

• Art Practice.
• Operations Research & Management Science (Analytics)
• Political Economy.
• Public Health.
• Social Welfare.

What is the lowest GPA UC Berkeley will accept?

Minimum Admissions Requirements

A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and.

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.

Which UCs don't admit by major?

For example, Berkeley admits most students to the College of Letters and Science without consideration for major-specific space limitation (except for the “high-demand” majors) and UCLA does not consider major-specific space limitation at all for the College of Letters and Science (students are simply admitted to the ...

Are 2 majors and 2 minors too much?

A double major and double minor can be manageable and rewarding if you're passionate and organized, but it's often too much for many students, risking burnout, lower grades, and extended graduation time, as the heavy workload can interfere with life balance and hands-on experience, with employers often valuing major depth and experience over numerous minors. Evaluate your university's course requirements, personal discipline, and career goals (e.g., grad school vs. direct entry) to see if the added breadth outweighs the significant time commitment and potential stress. 

Does UC accept based on major?

While freshman applicants to UC indicate a proposed primary and alternate major for each campus, major choice is generally not a factor in freshman admission.

Which is harder, UCLA or UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley is generally perceived as having tougher academics, especially in STEM, with a more cutthroat, theory-focused environment, while UCLA offers a strong academic challenge but balances it with a better social scene, though both are highly selective and academically rigorous, with specific majors (like EECS at Berkeley or CS at UCLA) defining the true difficulty level. 

When to declare major at Berkeley?

We encourage students to declare a major by the end of their second year or beginning of their third year. However, some majors have specific timelines for declaration (see the Declare or Change a Major for more information). Consider your options!

What is the hardest major to get into at UC Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are primarily in high-demand fields like Computer Science (CS), Engineering (especially EECS/ECE), the Haas School of Business, and Data Science, often within impacted colleges, but also specific Letters & Sciences majors like Political Economy, Public Health, and Operations Research, known for extremely low admission rates (sometimes single digits for CS) and high applicant numbers. 

What kind of student goes to Berkeley?

We look for persistence, passion, and a desire to give back. It doesn't matter whether you're the first in your family to attend college or you're the latest in a long tradition of educational excellence: You stand up and you stand out.

What major will get you the most money?

The highest paying college majors are consistently in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math), especially Computer Science & various Engineering fields (Computer, Chemical, Electrical) and Healthcare-related tracks, often leading to lucrative roles like Software Engineer or Anesthesiologist, with Business, Finance, & Economics also offering high returns, especially in mid-career for leadership or data-focused roles. 

What is the #1 easiest major?

There's no single #1 easiest major, as it depends on your strengths, but Psychology, Education, English, and Criminal Justice frequently rank as the easiest due to higher average GPAs and less demanding technical skills compared to STEM fields, often focusing on human behavior, societal structures, and communication. Majors like Sociology, Social Work, and Communications are also commonly cited as easier liberal arts options. 

What is the rarest major?

There isn't one single "rarest major," but rather a group of very niche fields like Puppet Arts, Egyptology, Ecogastronomy, Bagpiping, and Fermentation Science, often offered at specific universities, attracting few students due to their specialized nature, limited broad career paths, or unique focus, though they can lead to rewarding careers in arts, museums, parks, or food industries. 

Which major has the most dropouts?

Dropout rates by major:

STEM fields have higher attrition than non-STEM majors overall. Computer science has a 10.7% early dropout rate (among the highest) Business and engineering also show high early losses. Only 40% of those who declare STEM majors complete the degree.

Does Berkeley admit by major reddit?

UC Berkeley: Major choice is a factor for admission into the College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Chemistry (COC). Changing majors within the CoE after enrolling is not guaranteed, unless one is CoE undeclared. Alternate majors considered starting Fall 2023.

Has UC Berkeley release decisions in 2025?

A batch of early decisions was released on February 7, 2025; rest of the decisions became available at MAP@Berkeley on March 27, 2025. All decisions became available at MyAdmissions on March 7, 2025. All decisions became available at Applicant Portal on March 14, 2025.