do ucs require a personal statement

Applying to UC? Here’s what’s changing

When the University of California application opens Aug. 1, some students may notice a change: UC has done away with the two personal statement essays that it used to require.

Applicants will now be asked to give short answers to four personal insight questions. It’s the biggest change to the UC application in nearly a decade, but don’t get rattled – the change puts students in the driver’s seat.

Instead of having to answer the same generic essay questions as every other applicant, freshman applicants now choose which four questions they want to answer out of eight options. Transfer applicants answer one required question and choose three others out of a field of seven.

UC made the change to give students more say in the kinds of information they share. Applicants can choose which personal stories they want to tell, and provide answers to the questions that are most relevant to their experience.

“That means admissions officers will get a better sense of each applicant,” said Stephen Handel, associate vice president for undergraduate admissions.

“We want students to treat these questions with the same kind of thought and care they would give to answers during an in-person interview,” Handel said. “There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s about helping us get to know you better.”   Also, don’t stress about which questions to choose. There is no advantage to picking certain questions over others. So choose the ones that let you best express who you are. UC wants to know about your life experiences, interests, ambitions and inspirations.

“These questions are meant to let a student’s unique voice and personality shine through,” Handel said.

See the personal insight questions and find tips on writing: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personal-quest…

Keep reading

Cultural racism worsens health inequities between racial…

Racism expressed through cultural norms can perpetuate negative health outcomes for nonwhite groups, according to a UC Berkeley study.

A 15-year-old childhood cancer survivor becomes a cancer…

This summer, young Robert McCabe helped to sequence and analyze a tumor sample in the lab of the UC Santa Cruz Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Answering UC Personal Insight Questions

• by Alexa Carter
• May 18, 2021

For many high school seniors, the college application process can be a scary one. The dreaded writing portion can be especially time-consuming. You have to describe yourself to an application reviewer and hope they get to know you aside from your test scores and course load. Some colleges require long essays; some don’t require them at all. The University of California requires you to respond to four out of eight Personal Insight Questions , and you have a maximum of 350 words for each.

Fear not, though: These are great opportunities to express yourself. The prompts let you describe different aspects of your life instead of feeling confined to writing one impersonal summary. When starting this part of the UC application, I learned a lot along the way.

Prepare in advance: DO!

A rule so simple that it seems obvious. I was in high school once, too, and as a college student, I hate to break it to you, but procrastination still creeps in. The UC application opens on August 1 every year and closes on November 30. That means you have about four months to work on your application. I’m not saying on Aug. 1 you should sit down and knock it all out. In fact, I started looking at my application at the end of October and submitted it in mid-November.

You’re given a large window of time for a reason. This is your college application we’re talking about, so it’s important to take the time to think and pre-plan what exactly you want to write about.

Choose questions based on what you think the reader will like: DON'T!

I'll admit I’m guilty of this one. When I first looked at the Personal Insight Questions I wrote down the four questions I thought would look really good on my application.

It wasn’t until I actually sat down to draft how I wanted to respond to each question that I noticed two were too similar in content. Later in this blog, you’ll see why it’s important to differentiate what you write about. But for the time being, I’ll simply say I went back to the list and picked a question that was a little out of my comfort zone. The new question I chose actually ended up being my favorite response. I felt better making that switch after learning that all of the personal insight questions are viewed equally. Reviewers are looking for thoughtful answers, not necessarily the right answer.

Relate your past experiences to the person you are today: DO!

There are two things to remember when explaining the growth you've experienced facing your challenges:

• If the event happened during your childhood it needs to have had a lasting impact on you.
• If the event happened recently, how have you grown since it happened?

If you're going to talk about a setback you faced — like the time you broke a bone in the second grade — it should describe its lasting impact on you . Either describe its lasting impact or choose another question or instance that aligns better with your current self.

In one of my responses, I wrote about how I fractured my elbow during my junior year and was out for half of the Varsity Tennis season. Through hard work, I was able to place second in the league tournament and made it to CIF with my doubles partner. This was relatively close to when I was applying, and the event had made an impact on my life.

Childhood stories and recent events are great instances where you can show growth. Make sure in either case you make strong connections between the event to how you’ve become the person you are today.

Repeat the same stories: DON'T!

Application reviewers only get 1,400 words to learn about you. This may seem like a lot, but fitting your life into four short responses can be tough. That’s why with so few words, it’s crucial you present diversity in the content. You can do this by picking questions very different from each other or mixing your accomplishments into other prompts. Whatever you choose to do, remember: diversifying is key.

Proofread your work and ask for edits: DO!

When writing my responses I thought they were great, needing not a single revision. I was wrong. When my IB English teacher offered to read my Personal Insight Questions, I thought, “Why not?” I brought her my printed responses and she started marking them up right away. 

At first, I was surprised. Did I really do that bad? When she read her suggestions to me, I agreed with every. single. One.

It’s easy to associate constructive criticism with a pejorative. Sometimes we forget others' suggestions help open our minds to things we don’t always think of on our own. That’s the great thing about being human. We all have our own perspectives. If we embrace it for what it is, we can make our work that much better.

DON’T spend your entire essay talking about an inspirational person

This one seems easy on the surface, but it's really hard to avoid once you get down to writing.

When any of us talk about the most inspirational person in our lives it's hard not to want to include all the context that makes them so great. Again, you only have 1,400 words to give reviewers a peek at what makes up your life, accomplishments, and background.

If you spend 25 percent of that time talking about someone else, it’s even harder for them to get to know you. Inspirational people are huge influences on who we are and it’s hard not to give them the credit they deserve. If you are going to reference them, do it briefly and pivot to how that person’s influence has made you who you are .

Yes, the college application process can be scary to start, but it can also be a fun exercise reconnecting with yourself. You get to share your accomplishments and personality through self-reflection. It might seem awkward sharing it all with a stranger, don’t get me wrong. Think of it more like a written highlights reel. If a friend was describing you to a stranger, what parts of your highlight reel would they want to share?

For information about Personal Insight Questions, check out these resources from the University of California’s website ,  this blog from UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions, and this webpage from UC Davis about Personal Insight Questions.

Primary Category

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

The Role That Essays Play in the UC Admissions

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Why your essays matter, how to approach your essays, understanding and selecting prompts.

Essays are a critical component of your application to the University of California (UC) system. Since the UC system no longer considers standardized tests, like the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB examinations, when reaching admissions decisions, there are fewer data points with which admissions officers can assess candidates. 

A complete application for admission to the UC system consists of three main components: 

• Academic Performance: All of the schools you have attended, coursework you have taken, and the grades you received.
• Extracurricular Involvement: A list of your activities and awards.
• Essays: Four responses to the personal insight questions. 

Since there are fewer components to the application for admission, essays account for up to 35% of the admissions decision at the most competitive UCs, such as UC Berkeley and UCLA . The essays are still an important component of your application to less competitive but still selective UCs, such as UC Santa Barbara, San Diego, Irvine, Davis, and Riverside. And although UC Santa Cruz and Merced will mostly base their decision on your academic performance, your essays are still relevant to their admissions decisions. 

There are many applicants to the UC system who are all equally qualified and have similar academic and extracurricular profiles. For these students, the essays will likely be the single source of information by which admissions officers differentiate between otherwise comparable applicants before making admissions decisions. In this situation, you want the admissions officers to affirmatively choose you over another applicant. 

Since there is no dominant personal statement that you will submit, it is helpful to approach the UC application essays as if they form a portfolio. Each essay should speak to different aspects of your character, commitments, responsibilities, values, and goals. Your essays should provide context, analysis, and self-reflection, and they should not read like a resume or be overly linear or chronological in structure. If you would like to highlight an accomplishment of yours in an essay, you should make sure that you provide context, craft a compelling narrative, and balance description with sufficient analysis and self-reflection. 

There are eight personal insight questions to choose from, and you must provide four responses that are each a maximum of 350 words. Broadly speaking, the personal insight questions fall under two categories. 

The first category of personal insight questions focuses on personal qualities and includes prompts 1, 2, 5, and 7: 

• Prompt 1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.  
• Prompt 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.  
• Prompt 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Prompt 7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?   

The second category of personal insight questions focuses on your accomplishments and interests and includes questions 3, 4, 6, and 8: 

• Prompt 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? 
• Prompt 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Prompt 6.  Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. 
• Prompt 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

To strike a good balance across all four essays, we recommend that you respond to two questions regarding your personal qualities and two questions regarding your accomplishments and interests. Ultimately, you should select the prompts that you are most confident and excited to respond to and that present a holistic view of who you are. 

For more information on writing the application essays for admission to the University of California, review the article on How to Write the University of California Essays .

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 uc application tips you need to get into university of california.

College Admissions , College Info

If you're applying to one or more of the UC schools, you want to make sure you get the application right. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the UC application, from the time you decide to apply to a UC school to when you submit the final piece of the application.

Keep reading to learn when the most important UC application deadline is, which documents you need to submit to complete your application, if you need a separate application for each UC school, and how you can make sure every part of your application sets you apart from the crowd.

University of California Drops SAT/ACT Requirement

In May 2020, the University of California Board of Regents voted unanimously to stop requiring the ACT and SAT as part of admissions applications. The decision was made in part due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the changes will remain permanent, even after the pandemic is over. The decision has been in the works for years, and it's being done to make the admissions process fairer to all students.

For at least through 2025, all University of California schools will be test blind. This means that, even if you submit SAT or ACT scores, they won't be considered as part of your application. ;However, test scores may still be requested for non-admissions reasons, such as determining which classes a student should enroll in. There is a UC-specific standardized test that's currently in development that may replace ACT and SAT scores after 2025, but that hasn't been confirmed. You can learn more about the decision to ignore SAT/ACT scores for admission here .

Important Info About the University of California Application

It's key to know important information about the UC application early on so that you have enough time to gather and submit all the materials you need before the deadlines.

Where to Find the UC Application: You can find the UC application here. This is the application for all University of California schools, so regardless if you're looking for a UC Berkeley application, UC Davis application, etc., they all use this same application.

How to Submit the Application: When you've completed the application, you can submit it by hitting the "Submit" button at the end of the application.

When to Submit Your Application: It's extremely important to know when the UC application deadlines are because missing one could mean your application won't be looked at. Below are the key University of California application dates.

Looking at the above chart, it's clear that the most important date is November 30th . This is the last day you can submit your UC application. UC states right on the website that they almost never accept late applications, so don't miss this deadline!

You'll learn if you've been accepted as early as March 1st, and you'll have until May 1st to decide which school to attend.

How to Apply to the UC Schools

There are four main steps to applying to UC schools. The earlier you begin your application (as early as August 1st) the more time you'll have to complete all the steps and the less pressure you'll be under to meet the deadline. The steps are the same regardless of which UC school(s) you're applying to since all UC schools use the same application (and you only need to submit one application, even if you apply to multiple UC schools).

Step 1: Create an Account

Your step to applying to UC schools is to create an applicant account. This step will only take about a few minutes since you just need to fill out basic information like your email, name, which semester you want to start school, and if you're applying as a freshman or as a transfer student.

Step 2: Complete the UC Application

After creating your account, you'll be immediately sent to the beginning of the application. The University of California application contains eight sections:

You'll answer background and demographic questions, such as your birth date and contact information, which language(s) you grew up speaking, what your family's income is, if you qualify as a resident of California.

Campuses & Majors

You choose which school(s) you want to apply to. There are nine UC schools, listed below, and you can choose to apply to as many as you want, including all nine. Be aware though that each UC school you apply to requires its own $70 application fee ($80 for international students).  If you have a fee waiver, you can apply to up to four UC schools for free.

Here are the UC schools:

• UC Berkeley
• UC Los Angeles
• UC Riverside
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Cruz
• UC San Diego

You'll next select your major. If you're applying to multiple UC schools, you'll need to do this separately for each school since they all have slightly different majors. Some schools also offer the option of selecting an "alternate major" which is your second choice of major if you can't be placed in that campus in your top major.

Academic History

This is a lengthy section where you'll need to enter in information about the high school(s) you attended, all the classes you took in high school, if they were honors or AP, and the grade you got. It's basically like entering all the information on your transcript . (You don't need to submit your official transcript until the summer, after you've been accepted and have decided to attend a UC school.)

Test Scores

Here is where you'll enter information about the standardized test(s) you've taken. Again, SAT and ACT scores won't be looked at during the admissions process, even if you submit them. However, there are other test scores you can submit.

You'll be asked about AP exams, IB exams, TOEFL exams, and IELTS exams on separate pages in the test score section of your application. According to the UC system's application website , "You’ll need to report your scores if you’ve already taken an exam or indicate if you’re planning on taking an exam in the future." None of these exams are required (unless you're an international student needing to show English proficiency), but high AP or IB scores can help strengthen your application.

Activities & Awards

In this section, you'll discuss all the activities you participated in outside of the classroom. There are six categories:

• Award or honor
• Educational preparation programs
• Extracurricular activities
• Other coursework (classes outside UC's "a-g" core subject areas )
• Volunteering/community service
• Work experience

The application explains which activities fall into which category, and there's no need to feel like you need to have activities to put in all the categories, or even most of them. For each category, you can add up to five separate classes/activities/jobs/awards/etc.

Scholarships & Programs

In this section you'll select your eligibility for different scholarship categories, such as ethnicity, career plans, and work experience. There are ten categories, each with multiple characteristics you can select. You'll only select these characteristics once, regardless of how many UC schools you're applying to. This is also the section where you can apply for the Educational Opportunity Program, which is explained in the application.

Personal Insight

This is the section where you'll answer the personal statement questions. There are eight personal statement questions, and you'll need to answer four of them. Each response should be 250-350 words. We recommend that you write your essays in a word document first to make it easier to review them, then paste each essay into the application once you're done editing it.

Below are the eight essay prompts.

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider:   A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider:   What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider:   If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider:   An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider:   A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider:   Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

If you want tips on writing your personal statements, we have a guide on how to write a perfect UC essay for every prompt.

Step 3: Pay Admission Fees and Submit Your Application

Once you've finished each section your application, you can submit it, as long as it's between October 1 and November 30. When you submit your application, first you'll enter in some final demographic information as well as your state of legal residence. Then you'll review all the information you entered to make sure it's correct.

Once everything is set, you'll pay the necessary fees. The application fee is $70 ($80 if you're an international student) for each UC school you apply to. Then you'll click submit, and your application will officially be sent to the UC schools you're applying to!

Step 4: (Optional) Complete Additional Materials

Most students applying to UC schools won't need to submit additional materials, but some will. This will depend on both which schools you're applying to and what you plan on majoring in.

For example, some students planning to major in a fine arts discipline are requested to submit a portfolio. These additional materials are typically only recommended, not required, but doing these extra steps can help give your application a boost.

If you do need to complete additional materials, you will either get a notification in the application or receive an email outlining what you need to do, but it's also a good idea to research your intended major at each UC school you're applying to in order to make sure you're not missing any important recommendations.

University of California Application Checklist

To recap, below is everything you need to submit when you apply to a UC school. Your application won't be considered until the schools receive all the pieces below.

• UC Application
• Application Fee of $70 for each school you apply to
• (Optional) Supplemental Materials

5 Things UC Schools Look at in Applications and How to Impress Them

The UC schools are pretty open about what they look for in applicants and what an applicant needs to have to be accepted. They've listed the qualities they look for in every application , and we've organized those qualities into five categories. Below, we explain what you need to do to excel in each category to create a standout UC application.

#1: Classes You Took

When UC admissions officers look at the classes you took, they're looking at two things: the actual courses you took and how difficult they were.

For the first category, UC schools want to make sure you've taken the classes you need to succeed as a college student at one of their schools. Their minimum requirements are:

• History: 2 years
• English: 4 years
• Mathematics: 3 years
• Laboratory science: 2 years
• Language other than English: 2 years
• Visual and performing arts: 1 year
• College-preparatory elective: 1 year

(These courses are sometimes referred to as the "A-G subjects").

Note that this is the minimum UC schools require; most applicants will have gone well beyond these requirements. Some majors, especially those in math or science fields, require additional classes, so make sure to research the major you plan to take to make sure you're on track.

In general, it's best to take more classes in the fields you plan on majoring in. For example, if you want to major in biology, you should take four years of science and four years of math. If you want to be a history major, you should take four years of history. Doing this shows UC schools that you're committed to the subject and can handle higher-level classes on it.

UC also looks at the difficulty of the classes you took. They're specifically looking for honors, AP, or IB courses since these are more difficult than regular-level classes. If your school offers these classes, you should take as many as you can without overloading yourself and still maintaining a high GPA. Taking difficult classes shows UC schools that you're focused on your studies and can handle the challenge and workload of college classes.

Also, UC specifically mentions the "quality of your senior-year program" as one of the qualifications it looks at, so don't be tempted to slack off senior year with a bunch of easy classes!

It's not enough just to take the classes UC schools want; you also need to do well in them. Your grades and overall GPA are another critical component of your UC application. For all UC schools, you need to have at least a 3.0 GPA in your A-G classes if you're a California resident, or a 3.4 GPA if you're a non-resident. Additionally, you can't have gotten below a "C" in any of those classes.

There is no requirement for classes outside the A-G subjects, but you should still aim to do well in all your classes. UC states that "the strength of your high school record is the most important component in our review" so you want your transcript to be as strong as it can be with a high GPA and record of challenging classes.

Below is a table showing the middle 50% of weighted GPAs of accepted students for each of the UC schools during the 2023 admissions cycle:

To give yourself the best chance of getting in, you'll want to aim for the higher end of the GPA range for whichever school(s) you're applying to. For example, if you're applying to UC Davis, your goal should be to have a weighted GPA of 4.30. You can definitely still get in with a lower GPA (since that's the 75% marker, ¾ of students are getting in with a GPA lower than that), but if you reach that goal you'll have a great shot at being accepted.

#3: Standardized Test Scores

With UC schools becoming test blind, test scores are now less important than they were before. Again, even if you submit your SAT or ACT scores, they won't be reviewed, so they can't help or hurt your application. However, other test scores, such as AP or IB exams, can still give your application a boost, especially if your GPA isn't as high as you'd like it to be. Strong test scores show a mastery of course material and give UC schools further proof that you'd be a strong student.

#4: Extracurriculars

Your extracurriculars are another important part of your UC application. The key to strong extracurriculars is to emphasize your passion and leadership skills. You can do this by pursuing extracurriculars in a field related to your future major, sticking with them, and achieving leadership roles in them.

Some things UC states that are looking for in extracurriculars include:

• Special talents, awards, or achievements
• Leadership experience
• Significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus.

They list the following examples of "strong" extracurriculars:

• Special talent in visual and performing arts, communication or sports
• Intensive study and exploration of other cultures
• Significant community service
• Significant participation in student government

Don't feel like you need to have all or even any of these experiences; they're just given so you can get an idea of what UC schools are looking for. Basically, any extracurricular that you're passionate about, skilled in, and have shown some leadership potential for is a great extracurricular to include on your UC application.

#5: Personal Statements

Your UC essays should show three main things:

• Who you are
• Why you want to attend a UC school
• What's important to you

Maybe you're a lifelong nature lover who wants to attend UC San Diego to take advantage of all the different ecosystems nearby that biology students can study. Perhaps you've always been obsessed with space and want to attend UC Berkeley and major in aeronautical engineering.

Whatever your story is, this is the place for UC to hear it, and it's the best place in your application to show them who you really are as a person. For a more in-depth look, read our guide on how to write outstanding UC essays.

Automatic Admission for California Residents

If you're a California resident, who meets at least one of the following two requirements, you will have a guaranteed spot at a UC school.

• You rank in the top 9% of California high school students, according to the UC admissions index .
• You rank in the top 9% of your graduating class at a participating high school. This is known as "Eligible in the Local Context" ( ELC ).

Be aware that this doesn't mean you'll get into every UC school; it just means you'll get into at least one, as long as space is available (which there typically is). If you're a California resident who has met the above requirements and aren't admitted to any of the UC schools you applied to, you'll be offered a spot at another campus as long as space is available.

Summary: UC Schools Application

If you're applying to a UC school, you want to make sure you know every application step you need to complete. The most important UC application deadline to be aware of is November 30th (or December 1st if you started your application by November 30th) . This is the last day you can submit your application.

In addition to completing the application, you also need to submit your transcript and any additional materials your specific school and major require. UC schools are test blind currently, so they won't review SAT or ACT scores, even if you do submit them. You only need to submit one application regardless of how many UC schools you're applying to, but you'll need to pay a $70 application fee for every school.

Regardless of whether you're working on a UC Davis application, UC San Diego application, UC Berkeley application, etc. all UC schools look for similar qualities in students. You'll need to complete the A-G courses, take difficult classes, have good grades, participate in extracurriculars, and have strong personal statements.

Work to make your application as strong as you can across each of these areas to give yourself the best shot of getting into your dream UC school.

What's Next?

Want to learn more about the University of California schools? We have an in-depth guide to the UC schools to make it easy for you to compare the schools and see which is best for you.

Working on your UC essays? Check out our guide on how to answer every UC essay prompt to get great writing ideas.

Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Personal statement

Most uc campuses require a personal statement in addition to a statement of purpose. make yours count..

While the statement of purpose highlights the goals and experiences related to the research area you plan to pursue, your personal statement (also called a history or diversity statement) is an opportunity for the review committee to learn about the unique qualities and perspectives you’ll bring to the program.

Crafting a strong Personal Statement

Simply put, the statement of purpose is about your work, while your personal statement is about you – and how you’ll contribute to the diversity of ideas. Draw on your unique background to present yourself as an ideal candidate for the graduate program to which you are applying.

Tell your story This is your opportunity to expand on your background, highlight unique experiences, challenges and triumphs and give the committee a more compelling reason to accept you. If a personal statement is not requested, consider incorporating this content into your statement of purpose. It is in your best interest to offer supplemental information when given an opportunity.

Describe goals, achievements and challenges

• Describe your academic and career goals and highlight how graduate school will advance them.
• Tell how personal experiences shaped your aspirations, and don’t shy away from discussing poor grades or large time gaps in your resume.
• Address any particular challenges you’ve faced, and how you worked to overcome them.
• Focus on issues that have had an impact on your education, such as being raised in a single parent household, working to help support family, thriving in unsafe environments, persevering with physical or other challenges or coming from an underrepresented minority group.

Showcase experiences related to diversity 

• Mention your engagement in programs that increase diversity in your chosen field, such as participation in undergraduate academic preparation, diversity and equity programs, higher education pathways and summer research opportunities, and mentoring underrepresented students.
• Explain how your experiences have deepened your understanding of the barriers facing ethnic minorities, women, and others underrepresented in higher education or how your experiences have helped advance efforts to improve inclusion of these groups.
• Highlight research you have conducted that addresses underserved populations, such as issues of race, gender, equity and inclusion, disparities in health or educational access, and human rights. Mention artistic and cultural works you have produced that reflect diverse communities and voices not well represented

Remember, write a statement specifically tailored for the program to which you are applying. This allows the admission’s committee an opportunity to see exactly who you are.

• College Application

UC Personal Statement Examples

Use our UC personal statement samples to learn how to write a college essay for these prestigious institutions. The UC application system has eight prompts that they refer to as “personal insight questions.” Not unlike other college essays , the UC prompts cover very common college essay topics familiar to all applicants, including background, family, strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, and so on. You can go through UC personal statement samples if you are finding it hard to write supplemental college essays of your own. Practicing the writing of supplemental essays will give you the confidence to easily overcome that obstacle when the time comes to submit your application to the university. Read on to learn how to write the best UC essay for your application.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 9 min read

Uc personal statement requirements.

Before we go ahead and have a look at each prompt and the UC personal statement samples, let us go over the UC personal statement requirements.

According to the UC application requirements, prospective candidates must choose to respond to four out of the eight available questions. Each essay has a word limit of 350 words.

UC also offers a piece of advice by suggesting that while the questions you choose are up to you, you should choose the prompts that are “most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.” Keep in mind that the prompts are quite open-ended, so you have a lot of creative freedom when it comes to writing your essays. Try to choose prompts where you can showcase the qualities valued by the UC schools, such as leadership, creativity, diversity, academic prowess, and so on.

Learn how to write your college essays:

Now, let’s review expertly written UC personal statement samples. Below are essays that were written in response to four out of the eight prompts, as is required by UC. The fifth one is a bonus.

Prompt 1: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

In my junior year of high school, I set a goal for myself: I would start a jazz club. Although we had several music clubs, including acapella, classical, and rock – there were none for the music I loved: jazz. To me, jazz is a genre that transcends race and nationalities. It is the music of “understanding.” By my junior year, I’d been playing the saxophone for five years, mostly at home, and wanted to continue to play with others. I also wanted to expose my peers to the music that meant so much to me. 

However, I also understood that jazz is the kind of music that attracted a distinct following. One must be exposed to live jazz before one can appreciate the beauty of this genre. I, therefore, knew I had to start by creating a buzz before considering forming a club, or it would be a club of one. And to create this buzz, I had to expose my schoolmates to live jazz and, therefore, create a jazz band.

I started looking for band members among my classmates. Not only did I ask my school to advertise my search in the school newspaper, but I also put up flyers at the entrance of the school to attract musicians. 

Slowly, over three months, I found four musicians to form our jazz quintet. Once we had set up our rehearsal schedules and practiced a few songs, we were confident enough to perform our first gig at the upcoming “Culture Day” hosted by our school.

After enthusiastic ovations for our last song, we took the opportunity to announce our intention to form a school jazz club and welcome everyone to join us in appreciation of this eclectic genre.

Shortly after our performance, we had our club. Over the last year, the club has grown exponentially. I continued to practice with my band and other club members, and we even began to invite local jazz musicians to play with us. Today, the club is growing strong and I hope will remain a part of the X high school for years to come.  (350 words)

As you can see from the UC personal statement samples and prompts, the UC schools are trying to understand what kinds of experiences you will bring to the college community. Remember, research each UC school to strategically choose experiences and skills to highlight in your essay.

Want to learn more about UC schools?

The UC personal statements are submitted using the UC application system, so you will simply be banned from submitting your work.

Your essays should be stories. Tell the admissions committee who you are and what got you to where you are today.

Don’t forget to spell check and make sure there are no grammatical errors.

UC schools are some of the best universities in the world. This means, the competition for admission each year is cutthroat.

Focus on ways you can increase your chances by creating exceptional personal statements and essays.

You can only join a UC school if you have a minimum 3.0 GPA as a California resident and a 3.4 GPA if you are a non-resident.

Not everyone is good at writing personal statements. But, you can go ahead and work with college essay advisors to get some pointers on how to write a competent personal statement.

It really doesn’t matter if the UC prompts change every year or not. The point is that you learn to write the best essays that you can and succeed in getting admitted to the university – regardless of the prompt.

The first thing you need to remember is that the personal statement is like a story about you. If you look at the prompts for the UC personal statements, you can see that they ask about you and how you affect – or are affected by – your community, your background, your experiences, and so on.

To make your personal statement stand out, you need to tell a compelling story when answering the prompts.

Since you’re talking about your life and experiences, you can go with a semi-casual tone. Avoid vulgar terms, stay away from controversial topics, and never write about current hot topics in politics.

Remember: you want to leave a good impression with the admissions committee – so don’t shoot yourself in the foot by inadvertently offending them.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions, get started now.

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your college applications stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into your dream college or university or you don't pay.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

• Search This Site All UCSD Sites Faculty/Staff Search Term
• Chair's Message
• Continuing Lecturers
• Graduate Students
• Postdoctoral Fellow
• Emeriti Faculty
• In Memoriam
• Visiting Artists
• Academic Advising
• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Annual Schedule
• Academic Opportunities
• Scholarships, Grants & Internships
• Career Paths
• MFA Program
• PhD Program
• Financial Support
• Speaker Series
• Artist In Residence
• Awards & Honors
• EDI Graduate Student Funding
• Academic Personnel
• Compliance and Required Training
• Financial Services
• Human Resources
• Instructional Resources for Faculty
• Miscellaneous
• Undergraduate
• Freshmen Admissions

Freshmen applicants interested in the Visual Arts must complete the UC Application in order to be considered for admission. Those who have completed the UC Application and are interested in pursuing a Visual Arts major may submit an optional art portfolio to enhance their overall UC application. The Visual Arts faculty will review the portfolios submitted and share their evaluation with the UC San Diego Admissions Office. The optional art portfolio may assist the overall application review. Deadline to submit: December 8, 2023.

Students who select Visual Arts as their major when applying to UC San Diego will receive a notice through the UC Application site with information regarding the portfolio and link for submission. Please note, you can prepare your optional art portfolio in advance but will not be able to submit it until your UC Application has been completed.

To prepare a portfolio if you are interested in Media, Studio, ICAM, or Speculative Design:

• Determine 1-4 images (up to 5MB each) or up to 5 minutes of video content (up to 250MB each) that represents your art practice
• Create an artist’s statement of no more than 500 words that briefly describes your art practice and how your selected Visual Arts program will help to cultivate this practice

To prepare a portfolio if you are interested in Art History:

• Provide a previously written research paper or paper excerpt (no more than three pages) that showcases your interest in art or cultural history and research (you can draw on the disciplines of art history, history, sociology, anthropology, communication, literature and other areas of cultural inquiry).
• Provide a personal statement of no more than 500 words that describes your interest in art history, your future professional goals, and your specific interest in the UCSD Visual Arts department.

It is important that those interested in UC San Diego and the Visual Arts department are knowledgeable about the college system, our majors, minors, and student opportunities. The more you prepare prior to your application, the better the fit will be if you join us in the fall as a Triton! Learn more about the UC Application and requirements .

• Transfer Admissions

Writing the Personal Statement

Helpful tips and advice for drafting a compelling personal statement when applying for graduate admission.

Make sure to check the appropriate program website to find out if your statement should include additional or specific information.

What does this statement need to accomplish?

The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a member of the academic community, giving the committee an image of you as a person.

This is also where you represent your potential to bring to your academic career a critical perspective rooted in a non-traditional educational background, or your understanding of the experiences of groups historically under-represented in higher education and your commitment to increase participation by a diverse population in higher education.

What kinds of content belongs here?

Anything that can give reviewers a sense of you as a person belongs here; you can repeat information about your experiences in your research statement, but any experiences that show your promise, initiative, and ability to persevere despite obstacles belongs here. This is also a good place to display your communication skills and discuss your ability to maximize effective collaboration with a diverse cross-section of the academic community. If you have faced any obstacles or barriers in your education, sharing those experiences serves both for the selection process, and for your nomination for fellowships. If one part of your academic record is not ideal, due to challenges you faced in that particular area, this is where you can explain that, and direct reviewers’ attention to the evidence of your promise for higher education.

The basic message: your academic achievement despite challenges

It is especially helpful for admissions committees considering nominating you for fellowships for diversity if you discuss any or all of the following:

• Demonstrated significant academic achievement by overcoming barriers such as economic, social, or educational disadvantage;
• attendance at a minority serving institution;
• ability to articulate the barriers facing women and minorities in science and engineering fields;
• participation in higher education pipeline programs such as, UC Leads, or McNair Scholars;
• Academic service advancing equitable access to higher education for women and racial minorities in fields where they are underrepresented;
• Leadership experience among students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education;
• research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion;
• research that addresses health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups;
• artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.

At UC, we view high school and college counselors as our partners and colleagues. We are here to provide information, resources and support for you so you can help your students get to UC.

Quick Reference Guide

Your go-to guide on systemwide admission requirements, policies and practices..

New this month

University of california announces application totals for fall 2023 admission.

Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter or see our past issues. Visit the searchable archive for past issues.

Subscribe Archives

Preparing students

Go over admission requirements, timelines, the application process, campus profiles of admitted students and more..

Freshman Transfer

Learn more about UC's events for counselors and sign-up now!

Questions? 

We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions from applicants.

• How to Apply

FAQs for Applicants

• Coronavirus Impacts on Admissions

Programs and Application Deadlines

Completing your application, application requirements, graduate application fee, letters of recommendation, exam scores, gender, pronouns, and sexuality application questions, undocumented/dream scholars applicants, admissions decisions, incoming students, international teaching assistants, other topics, coronavirus impacts.

My undergraduate institution switched to Pass/Fail grading for some academic terms and/or courses in 2020 and/or 2021. Will this negatively impact my application?

No. As admissions bodies review applications in future admissions cycles, we will respect decisions made by individual students and/or by their academic institutions with regard to the enrollment in or adoption of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, Pass/No Record, Credit/No Credit, Pass/Fail and other similar grading options during the pandemic disruptions. You can read UCSB’s full statement  here .

Can the GRE requirement be waived if I’m unable to sit for the exam?

Many departments have opted not to require the GRE for 2023 applicants. Please see our  Departments and Programs page  to determine whether or not the exam is required for the program to which you are applying (if the GRE is not listed under "Requirements," then it is not required). If your program requires the GRE, you will need to take the exam and submit your scores in order to complete your application.

Will UCSB accept TOEFL ITP Plus, Duolingo, or other language exams in lieu of the traditional TOEFL iBT?

The following exams are accepted for meeting English Language Examination admissions requirements: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL PBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition; IELTS (Academic), IELTS Online (Academic), IELTS Indicator, and Duolingo English Test (DET). The following exams are not accepted: TOEFL ITP Plus, TOEFL Essentials, and other exams not specifically noted above. If you are unable to take a required language exam in time to meet your application deadline, please contact your  department/program  of interest directly for more information.

What graduate programs does UCSB offer?

 A list of graduate programs offered is available on the  Graduate Departments and Programs page .

What is the application deadline?

The deadline varies by department. To determine the deadline for your department of interest, visit the  Graduate Departments and Programs page . You are strongly advised to submit your online application and all required supporting materials well in advance of the official deadline.

May I apply after the deadline?

Do not apply after the deadline unless you receive advance permission and instructions from the both the Graduate Division and the Staff Graduate Program Advisor (GPA) in the academic department. If you do not receive permission from the Graduate Division and department to apply after the deadline, do not apply. Your application fee will not be refunded, and your application will not be reviewed.

May I apply to more than one program?

Only one application may be submitted per application quarter. Simultaneous applications are not accepted.

What should I do if I applied to more than one program?

If you accidentally applied to multiple programs, you must choose the program to which you would like to apply and ask the Graduate Division (email us at  [email protected] ) to withdraw your application(s) to the other program(s). Also, please notify the academic departments of your decision. The application fee for your withdrawn application is non-refundable.

How many students are admitted to each program? How many receive funding?

The UC Doctoral Program Statistics Infocenter provides annual campus-wide and department-specific admissions, enrollment, and alumni outcomes data. You may also contact your department/program of interest directly with specific questions. 

How do I apply to graduate school?

Please visit the  Online Graduate Application . A paper version of the application is not available. In order to ensure that your application is complete by the department's deadline, please (1) complete and submit your online graduate application, (2) pay the application fee, and (3) submit any additional materials required by the academic department.

Where do I send my application materials?

Please submit the following materials in your online graduate application:

• Statement of Purpose;
• Personal History and Diversity Statement;
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Letters of Recommendation (referee information and waivers);
• Transcripts;
• Application payment, if paying by credit card;
• Any supplemental materials marked for online submission by your Department. See the  Departments & Programs  listing for details.

Please send to the Graduate Division:

• Application fee, if not already paid by credit card during application submission;
• Official GRE and TOEFL scores (if applicable), sent electronically from ETS. UCSB's institution code is 4835, and the department code should be left blank.
• Official IELTS scores (if applicable), sent in the mail or electronically.
• Official Duolingo English Test (DET) scores (if applicable), sent electronically.

I’m completing the Education History section of the application, but my school/institution does not appear on the drop-down list. What should I do?

Schools are listed alphabetically in the institution drop-down menu after you have selected the location. First, double-check that you have entered the correct location. Next, check to see if your school is listed under a common abbreviation (for example, a California State University may be listed under “CSU”). If you still cannot locate your school, select "Other" from the drop-down menu and then type the name of your school into the text box exactly as it appears on your transcripts. 

What is my application status? Is my application complete?

Your  application status  is available online using the email address you used and the password you created when you started your application.

Whom should I contact if I cannot remember my password?

Your password can be reset  online . An email will be sent to the email account that you used to originally create your application. If you do not receive an email with an updated password, first check your junk or spam mail. If you still do not have access to your updated password, please contact  Graduate Division Admissions .

What do I do if the deadline is approaching, but the department has not received my materials?

You must check your  Application Status  and Application Sections online to determine which materials have been received. Contact your department/program of interest if you are not sure which materials are still needed. Application deadlines are typically strict, requiring that all materials, including test scores, be received by the application deadline. The Graduate Division Admissions staff can confirm whether your application fee, fee waiver, and test scores have been received (note: you can also check your Application Status Page for this information). Please contact the Staff Graduate Program Advisor in your academic department regarding all other application materials.

I called and emailed the department, but I did not get a response. What should I do?

Please be patient. The departments are very busy and it can often take several business days to return either your email or phone call. Please make sure the information you are looking for cannot be accessed on the academic department or Graduate Division websites.

How can I update my name and contact information?

If your name or contact information has changed during the application process, email  Graduate Division Admissions  and the department  Staff Graduate Program Advisor  with your updated information. If you are updating a mailing or email address, include a date when the address will no longer be valid. If you need to change your personal information after completion of the online Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and online Statement of Legal Residence (SLR), please contact the  Office of the Registrar .

What is the minimum GPA requirement?

To be considered for admission, you must have received a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited university prior to the quarter for which you seek admission, and have at least a B average (3.0 GPA) in your undergraduate coursework. Satisfaction of minimal standards does not, however, guarantee admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of spaces available. As a consequence, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

What do you require in the Statement of Purpose?

Review the Statement of Purpose guidelines located on the  How To Complete the Online Application page . The length of your Statement of Purpose can depend on the individual departmental requirements, though approximately two pages or more is typically recommended. For additional information about the Statement of Purpose, speak to the Staff Graduate Program Advisor Graduate in the academic  department  to which you are applying or click here .

In addition to the Statement of Purpose, applicants are also required to submit a (1) Personal History and Diversity Statement and a (2) Resume or Curriculum Vitae. Instructions for each document are located in the Statements and Supplemental Documents section of the online application and on the Graduate Division’s  How to Complete the Online Application page . Note that applicants are required to respond to different prompts/questions for each statement and that statements must be written in essay format.

Do I need to order UCSB transcripts if I attended (or I am currently attending) UCSB?

No, you may upload an unofficial UCSB transcript to your application for review. If you are admitted, the Graduate Division will verify your coursework and degree(s) completed. However, the UCSB Graduate Division reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admissions process, and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) are found.

How do I pay the application fee and how much is it?

The non-refundable graduate application fee is  $135.00 for US citizens and Permanent Residents; and  $155.00 for all others , paid in US dollars by check, money order, or credit card. Please make checks and money orders payable to UC Regents. Checks and money orders must be drawn on a bank that has a branch in the United States and mailed to the Graduate Division with the Check/Money Order Submission form found on the final page of your  Online Graduate Application . Applicants may also pay using a Visa or MasterCard, but only at the point of submission. Cash is not accepted.

May I receive a fee waiver?

A limited number of fee waivers are available for qualified US citizens and permanent residents. McNair Scholars and California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) applicants are among those eligible. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.

How do I apply for a fee waiver?

You may apply for a fee waiver within the  online application .  Within your application click on the Payment Information tab and scroll down to the fee waiver information. Submit your request online by selecting the option relevant to you and uploading your supporting documentation. You must submit your fee waiver request at least two weeks before the application deadline. Do not submit a fee waiver request the day before the application deadline; it will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed. 

How will I know if my fee waiver has been processed?

You will receive an email once a decision about your fee waiver has been made. You can also check the Application Info box, located at the top of your online application, to view your fee waiver status. If your fee waiver has been approved please complete your online application and submit your application on or before the  application deadline . If your fee waiver is denied you will receive an email with information as to why it was denied. If you believe you qualify for a fee waiver under a different option, or made an error in your first request, you may submit another request. If you do not qualify for a fee waiver you must pay by credit card or check/money order on or before the application deadline. Do not submit a fee waiver request the day before the application deadline, it will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed.

When will my recommender(s) be contacted by UCSB? Will they receive an email automatically when I type in their email address?

Once you submit the required electronic waiver, our system will automatically email your recommender a request for a letter of recommendation. Once you finish the online application, you will be able to log back into the Application Status page at your convenience to send a new request to your recommender if you wish to do so.

My recommender has not received a recommendation request from UCSB. Why hasn't the request been sent and what should I do next?

 If you have already completed a mandatory waiver and your recommenders still have not received a message, please ask your recommenders to set their email accounts to allow messages from Graduate Division,  [email protected]  and [email protected] . It is possible that the messages we sent were filtered out by your recommenders' email spam settings.

How can I re-send the request for a recommendation to my recommender?

You may prompt the electronic system to send new emails to your recommenders. To do so: 

Please  log in to your electronic application  and go to your Application Sections page.

In the Letters of Recommendation section, hit click on the Edit button.

To generate a new request for a recommender, click on the Resend button next to their name.

Note : A new email will generate a new link for your recommender, invalidating the link in the original email. Your recommender should refer to the most recent email received when submitting your letter.

I want to add a new recommender or modify recommender information. How can I do that?

To add or edit recommender information, complete the following steps:

• L og in to your electronic application  and go to your Application Sections page.
• Click on the Edit button next to the recommender for whom you wish to modify information.
• You may add up to four recommenders in the Letters of Recommendation section. If you have already input three recommenders, you may click the link to add a fourth.
• You may replace a recommender with someone new if they have not yet submitted a letter of recommendation. To do so, click on the Delete button next to the recommender you wish to remove. Then, use the Add Recommender button to add a new recommender. If you replace a recommender, please notify them personally, as they will no longer be able to upload a letter per the instructions UCSB has provided them via email.

May I use a letter service to submit my letters of recommendation in hard copy?

You may use a Letter Service to submit your letters of recommendation. Letter Services may submit letters via mail or online. Even if a Letter Service is submitting letters on behalf of a recommender, you still must enter the recommender name, email address, and institution into the online application. You must fill out an electronic waiver for the recommender. You may then identify that the letter will come from a Service. You may also indicate whether the Letter Service will send the letter electronically or in hard copy.

May I ask more than four recommenders to submit electronic letters of recommendation?

No. Our electronic application will only accept four letters of recommendation electronically per applicant. If you have more than four recommenders, additional recommenders must submit hard copy letters of recommendation via mail to the department to which you are applying.  Coversheets  are required for hard-copy letter of recommendation submissions.  Please also contact your  department  to determine whether or not more than four letters of recommendation can be reviewed with your application.

Am I required to take the GRE?

The  GRE  is required for some of our graduate degree programs, but not all of them. Be sure to review the complete list of application requirements on our  Department and Programs page  to determine whether or not the program to which you are applying requires the General GRE (if the program requires the GRE, it will be listed in the Requirements section of the page). Some departments also require applicants to take the Advanced GRE Subject Area tests; check with the academic department for  specific requirements .

Do you have my test scores?

Once you ask ETS, IETLS, or Duolingo to send score reports to UCSB, please allow up to three to four weeks for processing. Please also be sure to report your exam information by completing the Exam Scores section of your application. Once your scores have arrived, the status of your scores in this section of your  eApp  will be updated accordingly. If you have not self-reported your scores in your online application, we will not be able to locate your official scores from ETS. Please note that the Graduate Division will not supply test score reports to applicants, outside persons, or other institutions.

If you have specific questions about the status of your scores, please login to your account portal or contact the exam administering organization directly. If you have additional questions after doing so, you may contact UCSB Graduate Admissions at [email protected]. All inquiries regarding IELTS scores must include your Test Report Form (TRF) number.

I ordered my GRE scores to be sent to UCSB. Why haven’t they been received?

When ordering your GRE scores or sitting for the exam, if you listed UCSB only as your Undergraduate Institution (UI) and not as a Graduate Institution (GI), we will not receive them. You will need to reorder your scores through ETS. UCSB must be listed under "Graduate Institutions" in the "Designated Score Recipients" section of your score report. If you ordered your GRE scores to be sent to the GI, waited 3-4 weeks for processing, and checked your status via your online application, you may e-mail  [email protected]  to inquire about the status of your scores. Please attach a copy of your score report.

What if my test scores will arrive after the department's deadline?

Contact the department if the scores will arrive after the deadline. A delay in your test scores could make your application incomplete and ineligible for application review.

Will UCSB send copies or a printout of my test scores to me or other schools?

No, all exam score reports become property of UCSB Graduate Division Admissions and cannot be reprinted or recreated for applicants, outside persons, or other institutions.

How do I update my test scores if I took the test again?

You can request the new scores be sent to UCSB. For admissions purposes, UCSB reviews the  most recent and complete set of scores reported . It is not possible to mix-and-match the best scores (TOEFL MyBest® and IELTS One Skill Retake scores are not accepted ). If you want to improve your test scores, you need to retake the entire test. If you have already submitted your online application with complete scores and wish to replace them, please first notify the department and the Graduate Division.

What are competitive scores?

The Graduate Division does not set minimum score requirements for the GRE. Some academic departments do have certain exam standards and you should contact the department directly. GRE scores must be valid within the five years after your exam administration date. If you are not sure when your scores expire, please contact  ETS  directly to inquire.

For nonnative English speakers who are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) the minimum score requirements can be found here . Please note that some departments or programs may also require higher minimum scores. TOEFL, IELTS, and DET scores can be no more than two years old at the time of application.

Will you accept a photocopy or pdf of my test scores?

No. The Graduate Division requires official scores, submitted directly from ETS, Duolingo, or the International English Language Testing System. GRE scores are valid for five years after your test administration date. If you are not sure when your scores expire, please contact  ETS  directly to inquire. Please do not send your original paper score report since you may not be able to obtain another copy and the Graduate Division is unable to release the original copy back to you or another university.

The following exams are accepted for meeting English Language Examination admissions requirements: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL PBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition; IELTS (Academic), IELTS Online (Academic), IELTS Indicator; and Duolingo English Test (DET). The following exams are not accepted: TOEFL ITP Plus, TOEFL Essentials, and other exams not specifically noted above. If you are unable to take a required language exam in time to meet your application deadline, please contact your  department/program  of interest directly. Or see the How to Apply Guide for more information.

May I waive English Language Admissions Requirement?

Exemptions from the English language admissions requirements are permitted for applicants who have completed an undergraduate (bachelor's or equivalent) or graduate (master's, doctoral, or equivalent) degree at an institution where the verified sole official language of instruction is English. Refer to the How to Apply page for complete details on how to qualify for an exemption.

Why did UC ​Santa Barbara add questions pertaining to gender identity and sexual orientation to the Graduate Application?

On October 8, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 620, which includes a request that UC provide the opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to report their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression on any forms used to collect demographic data.  In 2012, then UC President Mark Yudof created and charged the Task Force & Implementation Team on LGBT Climate and Inclusion (LGBT Task Force) with developing priorities, strategies, and expected resource requirements to advance recommendations submitted by the LGBT Working Group of the President’s Advisory Council on Campus Climate and Inclusion. On May 30, 2014, the LGBT Task Force presented a report to UC President Janet Napolitano with a recommendation to implement AB 620.  In September 2014, UC President Janet Napolitano formed the President’s Advisory Council on LGBT Students, Faculty, and Staff, which is comprised of faculty, LGBT Center staff, students, and community experts. They were charged with making the UC system a gold standard for LGBT issues, and to provide recommendations for the implementation of AB 620 by collecting data on gender identity and sexual orientation through the admission application.  Providing the LGBT community with the option to self-identify supports the University’s priorities of creating an inclusive and welcoming campus environment across the UC system. Including these questions on the graduate application will signal to applicants that UC is an inclusive environment and that the LGBT community is part of it. As with all other demographic questions on the admission application, providing gender identity and sexual orientation data will be voluntary, optional, and as required by law, not impact admission decisions.

Why does the UC Santa Barbara graduate application include questions pertaining to pronouns?

The University of California's nondiscrimination policy includes protections for sex and gender identities. A key element of creating a safe space for people of all sexes and gender identities is the respectful use of pronouns. Asking UCSB community members what their pronouns are and consistently using them correctly is one of the most basic ways to show respect. To learn more about pronouns and why they are important, please visit the  UC Santa Barbara Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) web site .

What is the wording of the questions pertaining to pronouns, gender identity and sexual ​orientation?

Here is the wording for the application questions pertaining to pronouns, gender identity, and sexual ​orientation:

1. Pronouns

• She/Her/Hers
• They/Them/Theirs
• Ze/Hir/Hirs
• I do not use a pronoun
• Other, please ask
• I use all gender pronouns
• None (will not display)

2. Gender Identity: How do you describe yourself?

• Female  
• Trans Female/Trans Woman
• Trans Male/Trans Man
• Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming
• Different Identity
• No Selection

3. Sexual Orientation: Do you consider yourself to be:

• Heterosexual or Straight
• Gay or Lesbian
• Not listed above (please specify)
• No Selection 

How were the gender identity questions developed?

The Transgender Health Advocacy Coalition in Philadelphia, PA developed the two-step question protocol for gender identity data collection in 1997. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health and UC San Francisco began advocating the use of the two-step protocol in 2007, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted it in 2011. The two-step method was also cognitively tested by two research teams as part of the Williams Institute’s research on best practices to identify transgender people and other gender minorities through population-based surveys.

How was the sexual orientation question developed?

The Williams Institute at UCLA recommended the question regarding sexual orientation after a five-year study of sexual orientation measures. The question has been thoroughly tested and is currently in use in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), and other state-level surveys. In keeping with approaches employed by NHIS and CHIS, respondents are provided a space to self-identify if the available answer options do not suit them.

How will UC Santa Barbara use responses?

Data collected on gender identity and sexual orientation will provide UC Santa Barbara with meaningful population data necessary for targeting resources and other student support services (e.g., scholarships and themed housing). These data will also enable campuses to develop curricular and co-curricular offerings that reflect students’ diverse perspectives, and that promote a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. As a recipient of federal Title IV financial aid funds, UC Santa Barbara is required to gather and report demographic data for undergraduate and graduate students, including gender data. For federal reporting purposes (i.e., IPEDS), it is recommended that Trans Female/Trans Woman be reported as Women, and Trans Male/Trans Man be reported as men. In addition, genderqueer and gender non-conforming individuals should be reported as their sex assigned at birth.  Data collected should be included on the student record, unless the student opts for “only aggregate” reporting. If a student opts for exclusion from their personal record, these data should be maintained in aggregate form at the campus and student classification levels.  Students will be provided with an avenue to update or change their gender identity or sexual orientation data through online campus student portals or an alternate method determined by the campus.

What is the definition of the terms used in the data collection questions?

• Bisexual  – A person whose primary sexual and affectional orientation is toward people of the same and other genders, or toward people regardless of their gender.
• Gay  – A sexual and affectional orientation toward people of the same gender.
• Gender  – A social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity.
• Gender Expression  – How one expresses oneself, in terms of dress, mannerisms, and/or behaviors that society characterizes as “masculine” or “feminine.”
• Gender Non-Conforming  – People who do not subscribe to gender expressions or roles expected of them by society.
• Gender Queer  – A person’s whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside of the dominant social norm for their assigned sex, is beyond genders, or is some combination of them
• Heterosexual/Straight  – A sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of a gender other than their own.
• Lesbian  – A woman whose primary sexual and affectional orientation is toward people of the same gender.
• Transgender  – Used most often as an umbrella term; some commonly held definitions: 1) someone whose gender identity or expression does not fit within dominant group social constructs of assigned sex and gender; 2) a gender outside of the man/woman binary; 3) having no gender or multiple genders.
• Trans Man/Trans Male  – A female-to-male (FTM) transgender person who was assigned female at birth, but whose gender identity is that of a man.
• Trans Woman/Trans Female  – A male-to-female (MTF) transgender person who was assigned male at birth, but whose gender identity is that of a woman.​​​

Who is a Dream Scholar?

Student who qualify for AB 540 legislation and are undocumented fall into the category of Dream Scholars. The terminology is UCSB specific; it reflects the academic success of these students on our campus. 

Can Dream Scholars apply for graduate studies at UCSB?

Yes. The UCSB Graduate Application is available to all applicants online .

How much does the application cost for Dream Scholars?

The application fee for Dream Scholars is $155. Dream Scholars may request a fee waiver . You may apply for a fee waiver within the online application. Within your application click on the Payment Information tab and scroll down to the fee waiver information. Submit your request online by selecting the option relevant to you and uploading your supporting documentation. You must submit your fee waiver request at least two weeks before the application deadline. Do not submit a fee waiver request the day before the application deadline; it will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed. 

Is in-state tuition available for Dream Scholars?

UCSB recognizes the AB-540 nonresident tuition exemption. All admitted applicants who choose to attend UCSB must complete a Statement of Legal Residence (SLR), which determines the tuition and fees assessed. You can find more information about UCSB’s SLR process and AB540 regulations on the  Office of the Registrar's web site . 

Do Dream Scholars need to fill out a FAFSA?

No. Dream Scholars should not file a FAFSA for UC Santa Barbara. Dream Scholars who qualify for the AB-540 nonresident tuition exemption should file the  California Dream Act Application  by the posted deadline (March 2nd of the year prior to enrollment) to be considered for financial aid.

Are Graduate Student Dream Scholars able to hold teaching and/or research assistantships?

If a student has DACA certification, they may have an opportunity to work as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR), Teaching Assistant (TA), Teaching Associate, Reader, or Tutor through their program. (Note: If a student is eligible for DACA, but not for AB 540, they can still be employed by UC). 

What other types of funding are available to Graduate Student Dream Scholars?

UCSB regularly offers fellowships, scholarships, and “block grants” to graduate students to help cover tuition, fees, and stipends.  Dream Scholar graduate students who have AB 540 status are eligible for block grants, private scholarships, and fellowships donated to the UC Regents and administered by the UC. (Disclaimer: Some fellowships may be restricted to only US citizens/permanent residents.  Additionally, some fellowships require employment, in which case the student must have DACA certification.)  If a student does not have AB 540 status, that student cannot receive institutional fellowships or block grants from either UC or from private donors administered through UC. 

Does UCSB have any point of contact for Dream Scholars?

Yes. Information is available on the  UCSB Dream Scholars resources page . The UCSB  Dream Scholar Resource Team  is an active campus network of staff and faculty who “promote diversity, create safe spaces, and provide direct assistance and mentorship to Dream Scholars.” Finally, UCSB has a very active, student-run organization called  IDEAS  (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success).

How do I find out about my admissions decision?

You will be notified by email when a decision has been made on your application, and your  Application Status Page  will be updated with a decision letter.

When will I find out about my admissions decision?

Most departments begin reviewing applications shortly after the application deadline and continue doing so over several months. The time needed to finalize admissions decisions varies greatly depending on the size of the department, the application deadline(s), and other factors. Admissions decisions are typically released throughout winter and spring, Please be patient if you have not yet received a final decision on your application.

I have been admitted, now what do I do?

Congratulations! Complete the  Statement of Intent to Register  through the Application Status Page. This form lets us know whether you plan to attend UCSB. If you accept the offer of admission, your information will be transmitted to the Office of the Registrar. If you also received a financial offer with your admission, you will need to formally accept or decline the offer according to the instructions outlined in your offer letter. If you inform us you are not coming, we will close out your application. Additionally, please notify your department of your decision and inquire as to whether there is any additional information that they need.

How can I find out why I was denied?

The academic departments make all admissions decisions. Contact the  department  to which you applied.

If I was denied, may I reapply?

Yes, you can reapply if it is in your best interests and those of the department. If, after consulting your department, you are encouraged to reapply, you will need to submit a new online application and pay a new application fee. Please contact the  academic department  where you last applied to determine what application materials, if any, can be reused.

May I have my application materials?

No, the application file and all contents are property of UCSB and will not be released to the applicant or another institution. This includes, but is not limited to, transcripts, letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, and test scores. You may, however, continue to log into your online application and access materials that you previously submitted yourself. 

What is "provisional admissions status" and how do I remove it?

Provisional Admissions Status means that you were granted admission under the condition that you will provide final/official transcripts (and other documents, if applicable) from all post-secondary institutions as well as any missing application materials. These materials will be noted in your decision letter from the Graduate Division and in the Required Documents tab of your online application. See below for final/official transcript requirements. Details of the document submission requirements are described on the  Admitted Students web page (refer to Step 2).  

What are final/official transcripts? How do I submit them?

If sending paper documents by mail, transcripts and other documents are considered official when they are sent to the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division directly from the school in the institution's sealed envelope, with all official seals and stamps intact. If sending electronic documents, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution's approved official document delivery service to  [email protected]  to be considered official. Transcripts are considered final when all grades have been finalized and posted to your official student records and all degrees reported have been finalized and conferred. If you reported a degree in your online application (such as a master's degree or credential) that you do not intend to complete after all, please contact your  department  immediately.

Have you received my documents?

You may review which document(s) are still needed (and determine which have been received) at any time. To do so:

• Log into your eApp by clicking on the Existing Applicants option.
• Select the  Required Documents  tab and review the information provided

If a partial set of documents was received, your Decision Letter and your Required Documents tab will reflect only the portion that is still pending (for example, “final/official transcripts in the native language of your institution,” indicates that we have received only the English version). When all required documents have been received, your admissions status will be changed from Provisional Admission to Unconditional Admission and the Required Documents tab will no longer display. Once your status is changed to “Unconditional” no further action is required.

Note: Due to the high volume of documents we receive, please allow 4-6 weeks for review and processing of your documents after the expected date of delivery to campus.

What if I will not be able to meet the deadline to submit my final/official transcripts?

Please contact the Graduate Division’s admissions staff at  [email protected]  to request an extension. Extensions are not guaranteed.

When do I receive my registration materials?

If you accept the offer of admission via the Statement of Intent to Register, your information will be transmitted to the Office of the Registrar, registration information will be generated, and registration instructions will be emailed to you. If you do not receive an email from the Registrar by August, contact the  Office of the Registrar . International applicants should review the  Office of International Students and Scholars  website for additional steps and information.

Do graduate students have to pre-enroll?

No. Graduate Students have registration priority over undergraduates in all courses.

Where may I receive financial support information?

 The University will contact you concerning available campus aid if you completed a FAFSA or received a funding offer. Visit  Financial Support  or contact your department regarding funding opportunities. All domestic applicants must complete the  FAFSA .

Who handles matters of legal residency?

The  Office of the Registrar  handles all matters of legal residency. Please contact the  Residence Deputy , (805) 893-3033 with specific questions.

Who handles visas and I-20s for international admits?

The  Office of International Students and Scholars  provides service and support to international students.

What is the testing requirement?

All prospective international teaching assistants (TAs) whose first language is not English are required to take the TA Language Evaluation in order to be certified for sole classroom teaching responsibility. This exam is scheduled by your department faculty and conducted through the  English for Multilingual Students (EMS)  Program prior to the beginning of each quarter. The Language Evaluation requires the prospective TA to give a brief oral presentation in English and respond to questions from a panel of department and EMS faculty.

The University will contact you concerning available campus aid. Visit  Financial Support  or contact your department regarding funding opportunities. All domestic applicants must complete the  FAFSA .

May I take classes without applying to graduate school?

Yes, you can take classes through  UC Santa Barbara Open University  or  Summer Sessions . These programs are separate from the graduate application process. Please consult these departments regarding courses and deadlines.

More questions?

Contact Graduate Admissions .

Home » University Of California, Santa Barbara » Do Uc Require Personal Statements?

Do Uc Require Personal Statements?

Table of Contents

When the University of California application opens Aug. 1, some students may notice a change: UC has done away with the two personal statement essays that it used to require . Applicants will now be asked to give short answers to four personal insight questions.

Do UC read personal statements?

Not every UC reads the Personal Insights for transfers so your great essay might not even be seen. Yes, it’s true: Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego, Merced and Davis are the only UCs that read the transfer Personal Insights. Santa Barbara, Irvine and Santa Cruz do not. However, every UC sees the additional comments.

Do you need a personal essay for UC schools?

Some colleges require long essays; some don’t require them at all . The University of California requires you to respond to four out of eight Personal Insight Questions, and you have a maximum of 350 words for each. Fear not, though: These are great opportunities to express yourself.

Who Read UC personal statements?

Each application is usually read by at least two people (students who are not UC-eligible are usually checked by one person to see if there were any application errors, additional reviews are required when application scores differ by more than a predefined value for the holistic review campuses; UCLA has stated in the

How important are UC personal insight questions?

Nothing tells it to admissions offices more clearly than answers to Personal Insight Questions.

What do UC schools look for in essays?

The UC schools will be looking for students who can make meaningful contributions to their campuses . In your essay, you should showcase that you’re an individual who isn’t afraid to step up, involve others, and work to improve a part of the community you describe.

What is UC personal statement?

What is the personal statement? The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the people reading your application . Think of it as your interview with the admissions office. Be open, be honest and be yourself.

What does UC look for in students?

all UC schools look for similar qualities in students. You’ll need to complete the A-G courses, take difficult classes, have good grades, participate in extracurriculars, and have strong personal statements .

Do UC’s see senior grades?

UCs do look at courses you take in senior year and take the rigor into consideration when evaluating you for admission; but as long as you maintain satisfactory grades (typically an unweighted B average, with no non-passing grades, is sufficient), your performance in your senior year courses will not affect your

What is the minimum GPA you need in order to apply to a UC school?

UC has a specific way to calculate the grade point average (GPA) it requires for admission. California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement.

Are the UC personal insight questions the same every year?

The UC Personal Insight Questions can be used to apply for all University of California schools. The questions for the 2021-2022 school year remain the same as the previous year .

How much do UC essays matter?

You should shoot to hit at least 275 words for each essay , though. The UC system also emphasizes that all the prompts are evaluated equally; that is, no prompt is more or less valuable to answer than any of the others. The UC essays tie into the UC admissions criteria in an important way.

Can you reuse UC essays?

Can I use the same Personal Insight essays I used last year? Yes, you can. There may be new information from this last year that will create a better essay, but the point is you can certainly reuse the essays .

How do you write a good UC essay?

How to write an essay for UC Prompt 3:

• Choose a topic.
• Imagine what someone else writing an essay on the same topic might write about using the Values Exercise—in other words, brainstorm the cliché version.
• Once you’ve done this, vow to NOT discuss only these values in your essay.
• Choose several uncommon values.

What UC essays should not do?

Avoid common mistakes in Your Personal Insight Essays: Talking about one campus: You’re talking to all UC campuses you apply to in your responses. Inappropriate use of humor . Creative writing (poems, clichés) Quotations: We want to know your thoughts & words, not someone else’s.

How many paragraphs should UC essays be?

three-paragraph The good news is that most 350-word, three-paragraph essays follow a standard structure. Some students treat their UC essays as short-answer questions, which might imply that you don’t need an outline.

How long does it take to do UC essays?

Once you’ve done all the preliminary steps for filling out the application, actually filling out each school-specific application and writing their supplemental essays should only take 5-10 hours .

How do you write a UC personal insight question?

The UC Personal Insight Question Prompts Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill?

How long should UC personal insight questions be?

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to any 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words .

How do you answer UC prompt 3?

Don’t misread the question. The key words in the prompt are “develop” and “demonstrate.” The prompt wants you to focus on a skill or talent that you worked on over time, got better at, and used for some purpose that’s meaningful to you. Develop: The focus of the essay should be on your improvement.

What is the easiest UC to get into?

The easiest UC schools to get into include UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced , all of which have acceptance rates over 50%.

By Antonia Leonard

Antonia Leonard is an education expert who has dedicated her life to helping students achieve their academic goals. She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel.

Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. She is also a strong advocate for equal opportunity, and she works tirelessly to ensure that all students have access to quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status or race.

Antonia is a gifted educator, and she is widely respected within the education community. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including being named one of the "Top 10 Educators to Watch" by Education Week magazine.

You might also like:

What is ucsb best at, is ucsb a college town, is uc santa barbara a good engineering school.