How do you submit letters of recommendation to UC Berkeley?

Question

I'm starting to work on my UC applications (I'm a rising senior), and I'm a little confused about the recommendation letter process for UC Berkeley. I've heard that the majority of UCs don't require or accept letters of recommendation, but I've also seen that Berkeley sometimes has a supplemental section?

Can anyone explain the exact steps to actually submit letters of recommendation to UC Berkeley if they invite you? Is it something you just upload yourself, or do teachers have to send it in? I'm worried about missing some hidden deadline or step in the process.

I'm aiming to be super organized about this so if anyone could share their recent experience, that would be awesome. Especially if you know how you found out if you were invited and how much time they give you and your recommenders to submit. Appreciate any advice or walkthroughs from people who have done it or know the process!

Accepted Answer

For the general University of California (UC) application, including Berkeley, most applicants are not required to submit letters of recommendation. In fact, you cannot submit recommendation letters unless specifically invited by UC Berkeley after you submit your application.

Here’s how it typically works: Once you've submitted your UC application in November, some Berkeley applicants are invited in December or January to provide two letters of recommendation. These invitations usually go out via email, so it’s very important to keep an eye on both your inbox and your spam folder after you submit your application—use the same email you put on your application and check it regularly.

If you receive an invitation, Berkeley will provide a secure link for you to upload recommender information. At that point, you don’t upload the letter yourself. Instead, you provide the email addresses of your recommenders (usually teachers or counselors), and Berkeley contacts them directly with instructions and a secure link to upload the letters. You do not write or upload the letter yourself.

The timeline is usually tight, ranging from about 2-3 weeks after the invitation is sent, so you should reach out to your recommenders in advance and let them know it’s a possibility. If you’re worried about time, you could even let them know now and ask if they'd be willing to write a letter so they aren't caught off guard if you’re invited. That way, they're prepared to quickly upload once they get the request.

Here’s an example: Sarah submitted her UC application on November 30, and got an email from UC Berkeley on January 5 inviting her to provide two recommenders by January 22. She had already spoken to her English teacher and coach about being possible recommenders. When the email came, she entered their details into the Berkeley system, and each teacher received their own email with upload instructions. Both submitted letters within the two-week period.

In short: Only submit recommendations if invited; you cannot upload them yourself; recommenders upload directly via a Berkeley link. Double check your email after you apply and notify your teachers ahead of time that it’s a possibility!

If you have further questions, UC Berkeley’s admissions site posts detailed, current instructions each cycle—worth bookmarking. Good luck staying organized!