After waking up, students applying to UC Berkeley this year were heartbroken by an early "email notification" from the admissions office...
The email stated: UC Berkeley will be forced to reduce at least 3,050 (one-third) undergraduate freshman enrollment spots for Fall 2022, which means it will issue at least 5,100 fewer admission offers.
One month before admission decisions are released, UC Berkeley's announcement is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for 150,000 applicants and their families.
Although the university is still appealing to the California Supreme Court, any legislation, even if approved and signed by the governor, would not take effect until next year. For students applying to UC Berkeley this year, it is honestly too late.
Review of UC Berkeley's Enrollment Reduction Incident
The lawsuit was initially filed by a local Berkeley nonprofit, Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. They argued that UC Berkeley's student population has surged in recent years, yet the university has failed to provide adequate housing, forcing many students to rent off-campus and driving up housing prices.
This directly led to the displacement of some low-income residents. The resulting homelessness increased garbage and noise in the community, severely impacting the neighborhood environment.
The plaintiff's demand was for UC Berkeley to address its housing shortage, insisting that for every additional student enrolled, the university must add a bed rather than shifting the housing burden onto the city community.
Ultimately, the judge ruled that UC Berkeley must find ways to mitigate all negative impacts of increased enrollment, and until it meets the court's requirements, it cannot expand enrollment.
In response to this ruling, the University of California Board of Regents has been actively appealing, explicitly requesting a stay on January 28 this year. However, the appellate court denied the request on February 10, and now UC is appealing to the state Supreme Court.
These developments have forced UC Berkeley to send out the enrollment reduction email notification to this year's applicants.
Ongoing Drama in the UC System
UC Reducing International Student Enrollment Quotas
As early as last June, the enrollment reduction budget bill passed by the California government poured cold water on international applicants:
Starting in fall 2022 and over the next five years, the three highly sought-after campuses—UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego—will reduce the proportion of out-of-state undergraduate students from 22% to 18%, freeing up approximately 4,500 spots for local students.
According to the state's specific reduction requirements, cutting 4,500 spots means an average of 900 fewer students per year, including both out-of-state domestic and international students.
Now, with the need to reduce the international student proportion while also capping overall enrollment, this double blow is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for international applicants!
UC Completely Eliminates SAT/ACT Standardized Tests
Last November, the University of California formally decided to completely eliminate standardized admissions tests: SAT/ACT scores will no longer be used as a selection criterion for admissions, and alternative entrance exams will not be adopted.
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If applicants choose to submit SAT/ACT scores in their applications, the scores will only be used for course placement purposes after enrollment. They will have no impact on admission decisions or scholarship awards.
California School Districts Phasing Out D and F Grades for High Schoolers
California high schools are not spared either. In the name of educational equity, districts in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, and others are preparing to eliminate the assignment of D and F grades.
If students in these districts fail exams or fail to complete assignments, they will be allowed to retake exams or submit make-up work.
California school districts claim this measure is to help and encourage students to continue learning, improve their chances of being admitted to public universities, and mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic, especially for Black, Latino, and low-income students.
However, such "equity" moves like eliminating D/F grades paint a grim competitive picture for out-of-state and international students applying to UC.
UC Applications Becoming More Difficult Is a Done Deal
It now seems that the trend of UC's elite schools becoming harder to get into is a foregone conclusion.
As a public university, many of UC's decisions are influenced by the local political environment—a harsh reality.
As international students, only by planning and preparing early and enhancing your own abilities can you remain "invincible" in the ever-changing application landscape.
We advise everyone to understand their strengths as soon as possible, improve their weaknesses, and be fully prepared for applications. Maintain your GPA, excel in standardized tests, enrich your experiences, and strive for the greatest chance of entering your dream university.
