Applying to the UCs

The picture above is of UCSB, my alma mater. There have been a lot of changes since my 3.65 GPA got me admitted. Every year admission to the UCs becomes more selective, the uncapped GPA for UCSB is now a staggering 4.5.  As I endeavor to explain the new reality, parents look at me in disbelief, thinking I must be exaggerating. Nowadays, GPA is only one consideration. Rigor comes next. Is the student challenging themselves in the context of their school, is the way the UCs phrase it. To get into Berkeley or UCLA, most students need around 28 semesters of honors or AP classes. Another factor in the comprehensive review is whether a student has demonstrated outstanding performance in one or more areas. However, not all UCs are equally selective. UC Merced is still accessible to most students, with an average GPA of  3.48 - 4.08 and a 88.3% acceptance rate.