Does UC Berkeley Require Recommendation Letters?

Question

I'm starting my UC application soon and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the requirements. One thing I can't easily find a clear answer to is whether or not UC Berkeley actually requires letters of recommendation (like from a teacher or counselor) as part of the application. 

I've already asked a couple of my teachers for rec letters for other schools, but I want to make sure I follow everything UC Berkeley needs so I don't miss anything important. Do they expect these, or is it totally optional or not offered at all? Also, has anyone here ever had the option to submit a rec letter for UC Berkeley as part of the process?

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm mainly planning to apply for engineering if that makes any difference.

Accepted Answer

UC Berkeley does not require letters of recommendation for admission as part of the standard undergraduate application, including for engineering programs. When you submit your application through the UC Application portal (which covers all University of California campuses), you’ll notice that there isn’t a section asking for teacher, counselor, or other recommendation letters.

In most cases, you cannot even submit recommendation letters unless specifically requested by Berkeley after you apply. There is a rare exception called "Augmented Review," where a very small number of applicants may be asked to submit recommendations after submitting the main application, but this is an invitation-only process. If this happens, Berkeley will contact you directly. This typically happens to a tiny percentage of applicants where the admissions committee feels extra context could help. For 99% of students, though, you won't be sending any rec letters.

Because Berkeley (and the rest of the UC system) places a strong emphasis on academic achievement and personal insight questions, make sure you focus your efforts on those essays and your activities section. For example, if you’re applying to engineering, use your personal insight responses to showcase your passion for the field, leadership, and any engineering projects rather than worrying about who could write you a letter for this application.

You’ve already done the right thing by lining up letters for other schools that require them, but you can safely cross this task off your UC Berkeley to-do list unless you get a direct request from the campus after applying. Good luck with your application!