Isn’t the portal login “https://apply.berkeley.edu/apply/status”? That’s what I just used to login to my son’s account…
Yes, that is the applicant login! I’m just referring to CalCentral which is for enrolled students to manage their classes and financial aid – some were able to access their account early during my application cycle. Also always down to answer any questions you guys have unrelated to conspiracy theories lol
@TheGuy1 I agree, I did say it was MY take on the system however. As you say, there is a level of arbitrariness in the UC system and there are always exceptions to this basic rule. Regarding to your criticism, I did however, read a post in which the UC Berkeley did something alongs a number application decision. Like a student with amazing stats + good ECs + good essays got a 2, but a international first-gen student with sufficent stats + exceptional ECs + amazing essays got a 2.5, both were admitted. You can probably find it if you do some digging, but I do believe that the UCs do something along those lines. As gumbymom said, its 50% scores and 50% essays and ECs, which would boil down to 4 equal categories as I mentioned above.
UCB is not 50% scores, that’s only for UCSB. Don’t confuse the schools. Based on what I know, GPA and SAT/ACT account for between 60-70% of the scoring at Berkeley.
UCB practices a holistic process, and its decisions are based more or less similarly to the lower tier Ivies. I believe that scores are almost as important as your ECs/Essays because scores don’t communicate any of your personal qualities, leadership abilities, socioeconomic struggles, talents, and etc. I find it hard to believe that students with mediocre scores get in all the time at UCB if scores make up 70% of its scoring. UC Berkeley practices the category system (1,2,3,4,5) and UCB’s admissions officers have often stated that they receive a huge influx of qualified applicants with amazing scores, but yet, near-perfect score students don’t even scratch the echelon of top applicants. That really says alot about the system, and UCB and UCLA practices this much more than all other UCs.
As a result, do I think you are right to some extent? Yes. You are correct when you say that scores are very important, and UCB confirms that. But UCB can fill their entire class with qualified applicants dozens of times over, but that is not what they do. Your GPA and scores are simply the line of sufficiency in which a student becomes a qualified, competitive applicant. Past that line, whether or not this student is worthy of admission is arbitrary based on their ECs/Essays.
Source: “Confessions of an Application Reader” -Ruth Starkman, New York Times 2013
@TheBeyonder Alright! Gotcha. Understood. Thanks for sharing the info and clarifications.
I agree with @ProfessorPlum168 also.
I am definitely getting rejected 
neither did I get the 4 addresses thing nor am I getting the calcentral thing
Between all that I read on here and experienced with my son last year, I feel the majority of people whose portals changed to 4 addresses had some sort of positive outcome, whether it be an acceptance or waitlist over a flat out rejection. No matter what, it is exciting to see some activity/changes happen after months of waiting I remember that. And as a waitlisted applicant I feel they really came in to play just hours before he was accepted as only a couple people’s were changing to 4.
does getting the calcentral thing mean you’re accepted? I have the 4 addresses but no calcentral as of right now
has anyone been able to login to cal central with their MAP credentials? bc for me it directs me to the normal portal login but then says I am unrecognized after I use my portal credentials
@akcha1801 It doesnt mean anything. THe only official signs of decisions are the R+C scholars, MET, GWP, all in mid-feb and 3/28 for all other apps.
While these signs suggest possible acceptance, remember, all apps arent eval’ed yet, and nothing means a definite rejection thats for sure.
Nothing else.
Humans operate the systems behind each portal, so any changes pertaining to each app they might see fit are done.
Hope this helps any anxious app out there.
This race is finally almost over now.
Everyone will be peaceful and happy at the end of this, by 4/1.
Regarding the calcentral page:
Thats what its supposed to do until you are actually admitted (if at all).
Similar webpages are present for MIT and Harvard.
I answered the 4 address thing above.
There is some historical precedence regarding this theory, and given that precedence, the 4 addresses means nothing. There were students who were accepted & denied with both 2 addresses and 4 addresses.
Sorry but what is ”4 addresses” or ”2 addresses”? My S doesn’t login to portal much so would not know the difference between the two. What are they anyway?
I know it’s a really really dumb question. But do I have a possibility of getting in to UCB after being rejected from all the other ones? And waitlisted at Santa Cruz
@liaaa anything is possible! Remember that UC Berkeley is the most holistic UC, and they might love your essays!
which is more holistic, UCLA or UCB? just got rejected from UCLA
So I just got waitlisted by UCLA, UCD, UCSB, and UCSD. Yup I know. ? But I am hoping I have a chance at UCB. ???
Rejected from UCLA and UCSB, got into USC lmao. What’re my chances?
@collegenound2023 Yes. You absolutely do. ?. Hang in there!