Hello,
I recently applied to some UCs (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara & San Diego)
I got an email from Berkeley basically giving me the option to submit two recommendation letters. I just wanted to know what this means because I thought UC schools don’t even accept rec letters. Is this necessarily a good thing or should I be worried? In my UC Berkeley portal as well I’ve been invited to submit a video essay/video interview. I already got the rec letters from my counselor and one of my teachers but I’m just curious as to why they asked.
Here’s part of the email:
Thank you for applying to UC Berkeley. We would like to invite you to submit letters of recommendation to add to your admission application.
This is optional. If you decide not to submit letters of recommendation, we will continue to review your file with the information you provided in your UC Application.
You may submit up to two letters of recommendation. If you choose to submit, one letter should be from an academic teacher.
The deadline for your recommenders to electronically submit their letters of recommendation to UC Berkeley is January 3, 2024.
It doesn’t seem to mean much. It used to mean that you fell into the “maybe” pile, but last year they seemed to be doing things differently and it’s not totally clear how the LORs were being used and what exactly they meant, especially for relatively local students. Almost all applicants from my daughter’s school got the request last year, including my daughter. Of those, some got in and some didn’t.
It’s possible it still means a “maybe” as it did in the past, but I’m not totally sure.
I would recommend you submit them, however. Strong recs can help your overall application package - take advantage of the opportunity. Good luck!
Berkeley is the only UC that asks for LOR. Don’t read too much into receiving (or not receiving) a request.
To further reassure you, @worriedmomucb 's daughter received a LOR request. She ended up being accepted to Berkeley early and was offered a nice scholarship.
Ah forgot to mention that in some previous years, the requests often went to applicants in certain categories, such as first generation college students, etc. But that doesn’t seem to have been the case last year.
UC Berkeley has been asking for LOR’s since 2015. Based on the 2022 BOARS report, they were focusing on Low income, First generation applicants along with in recent years some High Stat and Local Bay Area HS schools. Just browsing the Reddit posts, this year most of the students are low income or first generation although a few high stat applicants have been selected.
It is a good thing so make the most of this opportunity.
There is no test optional…The UCs are test blind, so no applicants have submitted test scores.
That may have triggered it then as it sometimes has in the past.So this is generally good because it gives you an opportunity to let UCB know more about you and to learn more about your story and who you are. Take advantage of that opportunity and use it to your advantage.
But I have a question.
You are both out and state and low income…There is no need based aid for out of state students and very little merit. How will pay for a UC (around $70K/year)? Hopefully you have thought about this!