UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Admitted Transfer Student FAQs
For students offered admission
Accepting Your Offer of Admission
Q: How do I accept my offer of admission?
A: Accepting your offer of admission includes, agreeing to the Honor Code, accepting your Conditions of
Admission and paying a $250 deposit (if required). The $250 is non-refundable and will be credited towards your
first semester tuition bill.
Q: What is the admission deposit? What does it cover?
A: The $250 deposit is a portion of your first semester registration fees; it is not an extra cost. The funds are a
deposit. Like many other schools, we require a nonrefundable "down payment" to ensure a commitment on the
part of the student. The deposit will show as paid on your first billing statement.
Q: What does it mean that my tuition/enrollment deposit is waived?
A: An admission deposit waiver means that you will have to pay the deposit when fees for the semester are due (in
August for Fall semester, January for Spring semester). For some students, the campus agrees to wait to receive
these funds.
Q: How do I know if my deposit has been waived?
A: If your deposit has been waived you will not be prompted to pay after agreeing to the Honor Code and
Conditions of Admission. You will also see a “Deposit Waived” indicator in your MAP@Berkeley portal.
Q: May I pay my admission deposit a few days past the deadline?
A: Unfortunately, no. There are no exceptions.
Q: How do I pay the admission deposit? Can I pay by check?
A: There are three ways to pay your admission deposit; e-check, credit card, or wire transfer. Paper checks are not
accepted. You must complete each of the following steps by the deadline, in order for your acceptance of your
offer of admission to be considered submitted:
• Navigate to the MAP@Berkeley portal, which will direct you to your Next Steps
• Accept your admission and the Honor Code Agreement and check the box next to each Condition
of Admission, indicating that you understand and accept
• Select Continue
• You will then be instructed to pay the $250 admission deposit in full (plus a 2.75% service charge
for students who pay with credit card).
Q: Why is the 'Accepting my Offer of Admission' still showing on my Task list in CalCentral?
A: If you are still seeing a task to accept your offer of admission, it means you have not gone through ALL of the
steps to complete the process. The final action to complete this process is submitting your $250 deposit.
Q: Why do I see other charges when I try to pay my Admissions Deposit?
A: If you are enrolled in Berkeley's non-degree summer program you may see your tuition charges when you are
accepting your offer of admission. Don't worry! You can pay your deposit now and your other charges later. Click
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Pay next to your account balance. Then, delete the charge you aren't ready to pay, leaving the $250 Admissions
Deposit Item on the list and click "check out".
Q: What is a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)?
A: The SIR is an old term for newly admitted students that is no longer used at Berkeley. We are now encouraging
students to ‘Accept your offer of admission’ and to ‘Pay your admissions deposit’. Please bear with us as we
continue to change the language on our website and other Berkeley communications. If you see a reference to SIR,
please know that means to accept your offer of admissions.
Conditions of Admission
Q: What are the Conditions of Admission?
A: Every offer of admission is conditional. All admitted students have conditions that must be met in order to
sustain Berkeley's offer of admission. When accepting the offer, every admitted student is prompted to read and
accept each of their conditions. You can find a printable version of your Conditions of Admission in the
MAP@Berkeley portal, along with a printable version of your admission letter. Each condition check box must be
selected. The student must then click Continue in order to progress to the admission deposit payment screen.
Q: How do I know whether Admissions has received all of my documents and that I have met all of the
conditions?
A: You will find the list of documents that you are required to submit, along with the status of each document on
the Task list at the center of the CalCentral Dashboard page. Each document will have one of the following next to
it:
• Due Date- IF it has not been received
• Received- IF it has been received and is in the process of being reviewed but is not yet considered
complete
• Complete- IF it has been reviewed by an Admissions Officer
You should print a copy of the FAQ and your Conditions of Admission for your records.
Q: If I am unable to meet all of my Conditions of Admission, what will happen?
A: Typically, your admission to Berkeley will be cancelled. You must contact the Admissions Office using the
Undergraduate Admission Update form, if you believe you will not be able to meet your Conditions of Admission.
The Undergraduate Admissions Update form is available to students on the MAP@Berkeley portal page. For
assistance or questions, call our customer service desk at 510-642-3175.
Transcript and Test Score Deadlines
Q: How do I know which documents I am supposed to send to Berkeley?
A: You should review your Conditions of Admission at MAP@Berkeley - as well as the detailed Cal Central Task list
- for a list of all required official documents and information about how to request each. Review our transcripts
webpage for more details on submitting documents.
Q: How do I confirm that my documents have been received?
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
A: You should review your Cal Central Task list. You will see a listing of all your required final, official documents
that have/have not been received to date.
Q: What happens if I do not provide all of my official documents?
A: Admitted students who fail to provide their official documents or who have misrepresented their coursework,
grades, or test scores, may have their admission to UC Berkeley cancelled. Please refer to your Conditions of
Admission for detailed information.
Q: What makes a transcript official and final? May I fax it or send a scanned copy by email?
A: Fax, email, or paper copies of the official transcript will not meet the requirements. We require an official high
school transcript from your school with a date of graduation, original seal, and signature. If this proves difficult to
obtain, you can contact the Admissions Office at 510-642-3175 to discuss your options.
Q: My grades will not be available until after July 1. Will you cancel my admission to Berkeley?
Q: I forgot to have some/all of my official documents sent to Berkeley, and now it is past the deadline. Can I still
send them?
Q: I am out of the country and will not be returning until after the official documents due date has passed.
Q: I have requested my official transcripts many times, but my school is very slow about providing them.
Q: My official transcripts are coming from a foreign school, and they may not arrive by the deadline.
A: The campus allows you approximately 10 additional days after the deadline to provide all official
documentation. If official documents are not provided, your admission will be subject to cancellation.
Q: My community college transcript shows my high school graduation date. Is that enough?
A: No. You must also submit an official transcript from the high school you attended.
Q: I took a course/courses at UC Berkeley. Do I still need to send that transcript or do you already have this
information?
A: If you were enrolled in a Berkeley Summer Session course, we will already have your transcript information.
However, if you enrolled through UC Berkeley Extension, you must request that the transcript be sent to our office.
Deferring Admission
Q: May I defer my admission to next fall?
Q: I have been admitted to the fall term. May I defer my admission to spring?
A: The Office of Undergraduate Admission rarely approves requests to defer admission to a future term or
academic year. However, students who would like to request a deferral of enrollment may submit the Request for
Deferment form. The Request for Deferment form will be available from June 1 to June 30, 2022. You will receive a
response to your request for deferment by July 31, 2022.
Final Steps to Enrollment
Q: I am an admitted student and I do not know what I am supposed to do now. Is my admission final?
Q: When can I stop checking the website for new requirements?
A: If you meet all of the requirements in your Conditions of Admission, your admission to Berkeley is final and no
longer provisional. However, Cal Central will be your main source for information, so you must check your personal
checklist on a regular basis.
Q: Can I Apply for Housing Before I Accept My Offer of Admission?
A: No, you can only apply for housing after you accept your offer of admission and before the housing application
deadline using your CalNet credentials.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
"Who Can I Talk to About...?"
Q: Now that I am admitted, who can I talk to about the courses that I should enroll in during my first semester
at Berkeley?
A: You will be receiving information about advising for your specific college at your Golden Bear Orientation. You
may also visit the website for your College.
Q: Who do I talk to about a change in my courses, grades, or tests that occurred after Berkeley admitted me?
A: You should report changes to your schedule to the Undergraduate Admissions Update form will be available to
students on the MAP@Berkeley portal page. For assistance or questions, call our customer service desk at 510-
642-3175.
Q: What are my chances of declaring my major in the College of Letters and Science?
A: Most students will not have any issue declaring their majors once they complete all of the lower division
requirements for the department. There are a few majors that are considered "high demand" majors.
For students admitted to the College of Letters and Science, the college does not guarantee admission to the major
selected on the application. It is important that you contact your department right away. Students joining the
College of Letters and Science should provide course syllabi to determine major requirements.
You can see a list of "high demand" majors on this website: http://ls-
advise.berkeley.edu/major/highdemandmajors.html
For information, review the Berkeley Academic Guide or the appropriate major department.
Q: Who do I talk to about the American History and Institutions requirements and the American Cultures
requirement?
A: The American History and Institutions requirement is a University of California requirement. For more
information, click here. The American Cultures (AC) requirement is a Berkeley campus requirement. AC courses are
offered in more than 40 departments in many different disciplines. For information on how to satisfy this
requirement, please visit: http://americancultures.berkeley.edu/
Q: I still have a lot of questions about my enrollment! Who do I talk to?
A: Don't worry, we have you covered. Just go to the Cal Student Central website
[http://studentcentral.berkeley.edu] and check out the top questions. If you cannot find an answer, you can open
a case (instructions are on their website).
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Spring Admission Frequently Asked Questions
For students admitted to the spring term
Spring Admission Status Information
Q: How do you decide who is admitted to the spring semester?
A: Understanding our ability to accept less than a third of the 19,000+ transfer applications, you should regard
your admission to the spring term with pride. We hope you understand that your deferred admission is not a
remark on your academic or personal performance but rather a reflection of the size and rigor of our applicant
pool. Spring and fall admits are different in only enrollment start date and not in benefits, status or potential.
Fall Semester Preceding Spring Enrollment
Q: What are my options for the fall semester?
A: Transfer students may:
• Attend community college (with the approval of the admissions office)
• Work at a temp job
• Intern or volunteer to explore different fields or careers
• Get a jump on your studies. See if your course syllabi and required reading lists are posted online. You can
do a simple search or check this reading list.
• Travel, explore, invent, imagine, innovate...or simply take time off. this is a good time to connect with
fellow classmates who will be coming in spring!
Q: Can I attend another 4-year college or university in the fall?
A: Transfer students may not attend a four-year institution without approval from the UC Berkeley admissions
office. Contact the admissions office for more information.
Q: Can I use campus services and resources during the fall semester?
A: No, campus services are not available to spring transfer students during the fall semester.
Q: Do Spring Admits have the same deadlines as Fall Admits?
A: ALL admitted students must submit the documents referred to in their Conditions of Admission by the
deadline(s) shown in this document.
New Student Information for the Spring Term
Q: Is there an orientation for spring admission?
A: Yes, Golden Bear Orientation for new spring semester undergraduates take place in late fall, before the initial
phase of course enrollment for spring semester. You will be notified of further instructions.
Q: When do I enroll in classes?
A: The Office of the Registrar will email registration information to the address on file with the admission office. Be
sure to participate in Golden Bear Orientation, during which you will receive advising to help you select classes.
Q: Will I graduate later because I'm admitted to the spring semester?
A: Students admitted for spring understandably wonder if they will graduate on time. Transfer students should
consult their college or department advisers after the spring semester begins to determine their graduation time.
Graduation rates for spring-entrant transfers vary more than with other groups, although the two-year rates are
generally rising slowly.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Q: Will my spring admission impact my financial aid?
A: No. There is no impact on your financial aid.
Q: Will my spring admission impact my housing?
A: Although spring semester housing is not guaranteed for transfer students, the Housing Office will make every
effort to accommodate students. In the event that spaces are available in the residential program, the Housing
office must receive your application typically by mid-October. Check out the Housing website to confirm dates and
for other information.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Wait List Frequently Asked Questions
For students offered a space on the wait list
We realize that many students who learn that they have been offered a wait list option to UC Berkeley will have
many questions. We hope that the following information responds to some of the questions you may have
regarding our admission decisions and is helpful in understanding the wait list process.
General Questions
Q: What is the wait list?
A: The wait list is for transfer applicants who were not offered admission due to space limitations but who are
considered excellent candidates for admission should space become available in the current admissions cycle.
Being on the wait list is not a guarantee of receiving an offer of admission at a later date. Because there is no
guarantee, it is important that you consider other offers of admission, and accept an offer at another university,
prior to the national decision day of June 1, 2022.
Q: I had good grades and test scores. Why wasn't I admitted?
A: Each year, over the last decade, UC Berkeley has experienced significant increases in the number of applications
received. Because the number of enrollment spaces has remained relatively constant, admission to Berkeley has
become much more competitive. This year was no exception. For Fall 2022, we received more than 19,000 transfer
applications.
Q: Can I challenge the admission decision?
A: Appeals may only be filed by students who are denied admission. Since the wait list offer is not a final admission
decision, the appeals process is not available. In order to express your interest in our campus and to share more
information for consideration, you may opt into the wait list, by May 15, 2022.
Q: Is there any restriction about who can be on the wait list?
A: Yes. The wait list option is limited to transfer applicants by invitation only. If invited, you must opt in by
midnight, May 15, 2022.
Q: Am I on the wait list automatically?
A: No, you received an offer for space on the wait list, but you need to tell us if you want to remain on the wait list.
Please go to MAP@Berkeley and follow the instructions to remain on the wait list (opt in). Remember, if you want
to remain on the wait list, you MUST let us know by 11:59 PM, May 15, 2022 Pacific Time.
Q: What is the wait list Essay?
A: Students who choose to opt-in to the wait list may choose to complete this optional written statement. While
this is not a requirement, the essay may serve to provide further information to the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions at Berkeley.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Wait list Essay
Share, in 500 words or less - anything we may not have already learned about you through your application.
Topics to use for the statement may include: Awards and recognition obtained since the point of application,
Explanation of any course changes, challenges faced since the point of application. Please remember there is no
right or wrong answer, simply the opportunity to share additional information.
Q: May I send in spring semester grades?
A: Sending most recent grades is optional. Students will be able to list courses and grades OR upload an unofficial
copy of latest progress report/transcript. There is no need to ask school officials to send this information. All
information must be submitted through the online form, and no other types of submission will be accepted.
Q: What are my chances of being admitted to UC Berkeley after being on the wait list?
A: Because we will not know until early June whether any spaces will become available and because the wait list is
not ranked, our staff will not be able to forecast any student's chances of being admitted. Should spaces become
available, our review will focus primarily on your original application. The percent of students admitted from the
wait list depends on the number of enrollment spaces we have available and the number of students who opt-in to
the wait list. Wait list admit rates in recent years have ranged between 20% to 60% depending on circumstances.
Q: Does visiting the campus increase my chances of being admitted from the wait list?
A: No. Our office will make decisions based on the original application and the information in the wait list opt-in
form, only. Additionally, Admissions will not be able to provide interviews or personal appointments for students
on the wait list.
Q: How will I find out if I get an offer of admission?
A: The review of candidates and available spaces will continue through the month of May. You will receive an
email directing you to MAP@Berkeley and will have seven days from the time of notification to accept the offer by
accepting your offer of admission. To check your status, please login to MAP@Berkeley.
Q: Can I opt to be on a wait list for more than one UC campus?
A: Yes, you can opt to be included on more than one wait list, if the option is offered to you by multiple campuses.
(Each campus maintains its own wait list.) If you subsequently receive offers of admission, you may accept only
one. If you accept an admission offer from a campus after you have accepted an offer to another, you must rescind
your acceptance to the first campus. The deposit paid to the first campus will not be refunded or applied to the
second campus.
Wait list Process
Q: What do I do if I am admitted?
A: Wait listed students who receive offers of admission from UC Berkeley must accept your offer of admission,
through CalCentral. You will be notified of the deadline to accept your offer of admission, if you are admitted. The
guide for how to accept your offer can be found in CalCentral.
It is important that you complete all other required documentation, including accepting your Conditions of
Admission, by all specified deadlines.
Q: How long will I have to accept the offer of admission?
A: Approximately one week. You will have seven days from the time of notification to accept the offer by accepting
your offer of admission, including the day you are notified. Your individual deadline date will be fixed; no
extensions will be granted.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Q: What if I already accepted an offer to another campus?
A: If you are offered admission to UC Berkeley and have already accepted an offer of admission to another college
or university, you can still accept your offer. You will need to accept your offer to UC Berkeley and rescind your
acceptance at the other campus. The deposit to the first campus will not be refunded.
Housing and Financial Aid
Q: If I'm admitted off the wait list, will I still be eligible for financial aid?
A: Yes. If you applied for financial aid and submitted your FAFSA to UC Berkeley on time, you will be able to see an
estimate of your financial aid at MAP@Berkeley.
Q: If I am admitted off the wait list, do I still receive the housing priority?
A: Yes, wait-listed admitted students will receive a housing offer, IF you complete the housing application by the
deadline to accept your offer of admission and you indicate “any room, any location” as one of your preferences.
Housing priority can be jeopardized if you do not meet your deadline to accept your offer of admission. Please
check MAP@Berkeley for more information.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Transfer Selection Process
For students not offered admission
We realize that many students will be disappointed to learn that they have not been offered admission to the
University of California, Berkeley. Unfortunately, the extraordinary size and strength of our applicant pool meant
that many highly qualified candidates were denied admission this year. We hope that the following information
responds to some of the questions you may have regarding our admission decisions and is helpful in understanding
our transfer selection process.
Q: Why was I denied admission when I felt that I was a very strong applicant?
A: Due to the highly competitive nature of our transfer applicant pool, hundreds of students who had excellent
academic and personal credentials were denied admission to Berkeley for fall. For fall 2022, Berkeley received over
19,000 applications of extraordinary caliber and talent.
Q: What are the selection requirements for transfer students?
A: Priority is given to applicants who will have completed at least 60 (90 quarter units), but no more than 80
transferable semester units (120 quarter units) that satisfy College or major requirements. Most programs do not
offer admission to students with more than 80 UC-transferable semester units. Exception: If all course work was
completed at a community college, this unit limitation does not apply. Applicants are selected on the basis of
academic performance and preparation, including completion of major prerequisites and general breadth
requirements.
Q: How were transfer admission decisions made?
A: Applications were reviewed by more than 35 readers which included experienced admission recruitment
specialists and student services staff from various campus offices. These readers assessed the applications based
on the strength of the academic record, including the pattern of grades earned over time. All academic and
personal information, including extracurricular accomplishments, employment and personal qualities, was taken
into consideration. Because we recognize that Berkeley applicants vary in their academic and personal
circumstances, the review took into account the context of each student's opportunities and challenges and the
way he or she responded to them. Personal qualities of leadership or motivation, likely contribution to the
intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus, and demonstrated interest in the major area of study were also
considered. However, completion of preparatory coursework and academic performance were given the most
weight in the transfer selection process.
Q: Is any group of applicants given preference in the selection process?
Q: Did more nonresidents get admitted than California residents?
A: As a publicly funded institution, the University specifies in its policies that admission preference be given to
students who are residents of California, and our eligibility and selection guidelines vary accordingly for residents
and nonresidents. However, Berkeley does recognize the contribution of a geographically diverse student
population; more than 20 percent of our entering students are non-California U.S residents and international
students. Factors other than residency status, such as ethnicity, gender and race, are not taken into consideration
in the selection process.
Q: I never received a letter in the mail. Should I be getting one?
A: The Office of Undergraduate Admissions did not send paper letters to students who were denied admission for
fall. Because the overwhelming majority of our applicants prefer to learn of their admission decision electronically,
we post decisions on our secure applicant portal, MAP@Berkeley.
UC Berkeley
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
April 2022
Q: Can I appeal my admission decision?
A: We strongly discourage letters of appeal unless you can provide significant new information for us to consider.
Our transfer selection process involves a careful, individual reading of each application, and it is very unlikely that
we will choose to reverse our original decision. If you decide to appeal our admission decision, please submit an
appeal form online by May 15, 2022.
Appeals completed by May 15 will be considered on time and we will do our best to reply by July 1, 2022. In the
appeal form, you must provide significant new information (i.e., semester grades, additional achievements) for us
to consider. Advise us of any change in your email address in case we need to contact you during the appeal
process.
Even if you choose to appeal, we recommend that you do not delay accepting an admission offer from another
college or university. We do NOT accept appeals mailed via postal mail, telephone, fax, or email. All appeal
requests must be made using this form.
The College of Chemistry, the College of Engineering, and the Haas School of Business do not accept appeals of the
admission decision. We recommend that you accept an admissions offer from another university or consider re-
applying to Berkeley for Fall 2023.
Q: Can I speak with an admissions officer about my application for admission?
A: For reasons of confidentiality and because of the volume of applications we review, it is not possible to answer
specific questions about individual cases over the phone or in person. You may call our Admissions Advising office
at 510-642-3175 if you have general questions regarding the selection process.
**All Admissions statistics are projected and approximations.
