Cal Admit Rate Hits Record Low

By Bay City News

Applications for freshman admission to the University of California at Berkeley hit a high this year, but the percentage admitted for the fall semester is at a record low, campus officials said Tuesday.

UC Berkeley officials said 61,695 applicants were vying for about 13,000 available spots. In all, 13,037 students, or about 21 percent, received offers to start this fall or next spring.

The admissions rate for the fall semester was 18 percent – the lowest rate on record for the university. Last year, the fall admissions rate was 21 percent.

Anne De Luca, associate vice chancellor for admissions and enrollment, said there has been a "dramatic increase in applications." Last year, 52,900 students applied, compared to 36,000 applicants 10 years ago.

"The students who received offers of admissions were truly the best of the best; their diligence paid off," De Luca said in a statement.

The number of California-resident admissions to UC Berkeley remained virtually unchanged, with 9,278 offers made this year to California students compared to 9,267 offers last year.

Admissions for international and out-of-state students dropped by nearly 15 percent, with 3,759 offers this year compared to 4,403 last school year. According to the University of California Office of the President, all other UC campuses increased their offers of admission to out-of-state and international students, offering a spot to 18,846 such students for the coming academic year compared to 13,144 last year.