I recently attended the 2026 University of California Counselor Conference, hearing directly from representatives across the UC system and all nine undergraduate campuses: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced.

I also attended sessions focused specifically on choosing a major and how UC admissions officers evaluate activities and awards.

There was a lot to absorb. But these are the 10 things I think students and families considering the UCs should know.

Applying to the University of California isn't the same as applying to most other colleges. From unique application requirements to PIQs, admissions criteria, and deadlines, this guide covers everything you need to know to navigate the UC application with confidence.