<p>Well, like PointZero pointed out, it usually isn't too smart applying to all the UCs; however, in the class of 2005, my friend applied to all the UCs besides Merced and ONLY got into UC Riverside and Berkeley.</p>
<p>Right up until the end of May, she was about ready to pack to the Inland Empire, but finally got word of getting into CAL. It's situations like these where applying everywhere would make sense.</p>
<p>^
Oyama :o at your friend... Awkward.</p>
<p>One statistic available (UCOP site?) that I recall was that for those that applied to 4 UCs, 86 or 87% got into at least one of the four choices. Also remember that only about 16% of high school graduates in California graduate with all the UC requirements which also helps narrow the field. One person I know only applied to UCD (only one she would consider), got rejected (but was UC eligible) and got acceptances to UCR and UCM later in the year when they went through the list of kids that were UC eligible that didn't get in any where. She saved money on the application fees (but declined both offers).</p>
<p>Applying to all the UCs is something that many kids do. How many? No idea, but it isn't rare, merely uncommon, probably. Why do they do it? Well, I think some just want to see where they will get in/ what options they have in the system, some do not have much of an idea where they want to go, some are seeing what sort of fin-aid and merit aid they will get from each school (and each $60 (or less depending on monetary factors) may seem quite small to the possible results from this experiment), some plan on attending the "best" one the get into, it's incredible ease . . . <em>shrug</em> It's a significant (for many) immediate cost of about $540 dollars (this coming year), but for some the benefits far outweigh the monetary costs, the only con I can see if one does it. Little time is wasted (an extra minute or two, five to ten if you're trying to figure out UCSD's college system :p).</p>