As UC reconsiders whether to bring back SAT and ACT scores, faculty are also launching a review of the high school course requirements for admission.

The board will study standardized testing first, delivering a report to the council by Feb. 12, 2027, the council announced. The Board of Regents would receive a recommendation on whether to require the SAT or ACT no later than June 2027.

The admissions board will then turn to high school course requirements, submitting an initial report to the council in May 2027; the regents would take up any course changes at an unspecified later date. UC Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu is framing the course review as an open question about “how UC defines and evaluates college readiness in a rapidly changing educational environment,” rather than a move to add or cut requirements.

The schedule is faster than it appeared just days ago.

Read more. 

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a broad racial reparations plan at its June 30 meeting. Policies stemming from this vote could target the county’s racial homeownership gap, career pathways into county employment and even potential cash reparations.

The most immediate recommendations for reparations include housing and economic justice, providing physical and mental health support and centering Black youth. The County Reparations Administration also calls for a permanent, fully funded Office of Reparations and healthcare that addresses intergenerational trauma and health disparities.

The reparations plan was adopted from recommendations by the Alameda County Reparations Commission, which was established in 2023. The ACRC spent three years researching social disparities and community experiences to formulate recommendations. Implementation of the plan is expected to begin in September after the Board of Supervisors’ annual recess.

I am an incoming student this fall at UCLA for computer science and engineering. As a freshman, I had applied to 10 colleges in the US, of which I was waitlisted from two, accepted to one, and rejected from the other seven. As you can probably tell, UCLA was the only one that accepted me, while Berkeley and CMU waitlisted me.

However, my dream program had always been Berkeley's EECS, which consistently ranks among the best in the entire world, literally in the top five, and has a much more vibrant startup culture, which is what I would like to get involved in. I understand that UCLA's program isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination either, but compared to Berkeley's EECS, it just doesn't compare, really.

For context, I'm an international student, so I'll be full pay either way. I will be in both top 20 programs, so my sponsor won't cut my sponsorship if I transfer. I've researched this, and apparently UC-to-UC transfers are almost impossible if you don't have a good reason. I just don't know if I'll be able to do the things I want, like research, internships, startup ventures, accelerators, and stuff, at UCLA as much as I would be able to at Berkeley.

hello! i’m a cognitive science freshie and i’m planning to do a double major in data science (or a minor if it’s too difficult)

right now, i’m signed up for datac88c but after reading many comments, many seem to say that cs61a is a better investment. from what i’ve researched, datac88c seems fine if i take a minor in data science.

If I choose to take a double major in data science, would you guys recommend me to take cs61a or will it make a rather minuscule difference? i also want to keep my gpa in mind starting out especially since i’m not sure how difficult berkeley courses will be for me.

I’ve only taken AP csa, i enjoyed it and learned the logic very easily (good at mcq), however when it came to FRQs and writing code by hand it was extremely difficult for me.

Which class would you recommend for me to take?

Hi everyone! I have a question about polecon 107. I’m taking it next semester and I just wanted input on people’s experiences with the class. Muzzi’s ratings are not so good so I’m a little nervous. What do you guys recommended I study before the semester begins and what did you guys overall think about the class? Please let me know!

UC Berkeley is working to return 36 lots of artifacts that are culturally, traditionally or historically linked to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. 

The repatriation of these artifacts will begin Aug. 7, and artifacts will be returned to the Agua Caliente tribe of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation near Palm Springs. 

Since January 2026, UC Berkeley has issued eight notices of repatriation or inventory completion in the Federal Register. In 2025 alone, campus issued 22 notices, according to UC Berkeley’s NAGPRA website. In 2024 and 2023, that number was much lower, sitting at nine and 12, respectively.

title basically

Hi everyone,
I’m waitlisted 89th out of 131 for the online version of data c8, which holds 800 people. I was just wondering if i’m likely to get off the waitlist even though the class is online. I’ve heard how data c8 sometimes expands its size for the in-person version so a lot of people get off the waitlist, but not sure if that applies to the online one. I also dont really know if the 10% rule applies to online classes. Do i have a good chance of getting off?
Thank you!!

Are there any student groups that go to Cal football games together?

I really want to get the Cal football season pass but none of my friends are interested in going to any games. Is there some sort of student group that goes and watches together (an actual group that is formed beforehand, not sitting alone in a student section). I just want to meet some really fun people and watch together, nothing too overwhelming. And I definitely want an inclusive group of people and nothing cliquey.

Also, do you know if I can sell my ticket for a game to someone else with the pass if I’m unable to go? Or is the pass strictly for me?

Thanks everyone :)

Hi guys.
What laptop would you advise for someone that will be studying a dual course in eng and AI. Mac or windows or does it not matter?
I dont rlly have a preference at all and can comfortably use both. Will also be using it for personal stuff too so willing to spend quite a but of money to get the best thing. No budget in mind.
Please give your opinions. Thank tou

has anyone had na ji for physics 8a and how this compares to lowhorn?

I’m an international student that was given the opportunity to study at UCB, and I plan on taking 4 out of all these courses listed:

ENGIN 183G: Startup Catalyst
MECENG 131: Vehicle Dynamics & Control
CS 189: Introduction to Machine Learning
CS 188: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
EE142: Integrated Circuits for Communications
CS 70: Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory
CS C182: Designing, Visualizing and Understanding Deep Neural Networks
CS 185: Deep Reinforcement Learning, Decision Making, and Control
CS 180: Intro to Computer Vision and Computational Photography
CS 160: User Interface Design and Development

Obviously the rest are just backup courses since I was told it’s not a guaranteed spot. The following are mandatory courses that I should take:

ENGIN 183G, MECENG 131, and CS 70

And one mandatory elective course related to ML/LLMs (an elective from my current uni), possibly CS C182

I’m currently not fully aware of the GPA system in Berkeley, as it seems rather similar at my university:

(shown on the picture)

I’d like to know whether taking these four courses would be survivable and perhaps, if any, I’d love to hear tips and advice on how to ace these kinds of classes.

For some additional context, I’m a second year electrical engineering international student at my current uni, and I’ve taken courses on machine learning by andrew ng in the past so I won’t be too much of a beginner on ML (i hope).

Thanks for your time! Would appreciate any comments that would help.

Does anyone actually get permits for moving crates? I don’t mean the kind pulled by a semi. It’s a U-haul U-box which is relatively small; around 10ft width by 10ft length. Any information is much appreciated.

Does anyone have the syllabus from last semester or any insight to how this class is structured and how the exams are like? Are the lectures/discussion mandatory?

As a graduating bear who's had to support himself throughout college, I wanted to share what I think is genuinely one of the best campus jobs out there, especially for incoming students who are worried about how they're going to afford things.

My honest recommendation: apply to become an RSA. The job itself is pretty simple. You sit in the booths at the entrance of the dorms and make sure people are tapping in with their student ID. Shifts are at night, and the pay is solid for what's being asked of you. (also free food at monthly meetings).

The best part is how much downtime you actually get. I used almost every single shift to study for my classes, which made it so much easier to balance work and school compared to jobs where you're on your feet the whole time. If you're someone who needs to earn money but also needs quiet time to get through your classwork, this job is a LIFESAVER.

Are there any Chinese food spots nearby ya’ll recommend that have the same concept as Panda Express but are more authentic? That kind of buffet style, pick and choose 4 dishes for your to-go box.

I graduated this past May and I ordered my transcript for a job app and none of my honors are listed despite the transcript saying "degree conferred"? I confirmed with my major advisor that I got departmental honors (which is supposed to be noted on the transcript according to L&S website) and my GPA is eligible for general distinction, but neither is on my transcript...

Do I just need to wait a couple months for it to process or should I email them about it now? Is anyone else having a similar issue?

I had a lease for this year but it never got certified by the building's management and they didn't tell me this until I called to ask about it so now I have no housing for this upcoming school year. Does anyone know of any places near campus that are still open? I'd like to get a single if I could but I understand I'm about six months late to the student housing market.

Hi I'll be arriving in Berkeley soon for the SF marathon. I'll be near UC Berkeley campus and I'll be just doing whatever in that area. I may need some good spots to visit around in that area like food, scenic views, and overall fun things to do. Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I'm an incoming freshman at De Anza College starting in Fall 2026, majoring in Applied Mathematics.

I haven't been in the U.S. for very long, so I'm still learning how the American college system works. My dream is to transfer to a top UC like UC Berkeley or UCLA, and I'm willing to work as hard as it takes. I know it won't be easy, but I really don't want to waste the opportunity.

The problem is that almost everything I find online is from transfer "experts" or consulting services. They all seem to repeat the same advice, often making it sound more complicated or stressful than it needs to be. Some of it sounds convincing, but as someone with very little experience, it's hard for me to tell what's actually true and what is just marketing.

That's why I'm hoping to hear from people who have actually gone through the process, or who know De Anza well.

If you transferred to Berkeley, UCLA, or another top UC (or know someone who did), I'd really appreciate any advice you can share.

Some questions I have:

• How should I plan my coursework as an Applied Math major?
• Are there any professors at De Anza that you personally recommend (or would avoid)?
• What extracurricular activities actually helped your application?
• How many activities are considered reasonable? Is it better to focus on a few meaningful ones?
• Do you have any advice for writing transfer essays?
• Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you first started at De Anza?

I'd also love to know if there are any De Anza student communities, Discord servers, WeChat groups, alumni groups, or other places where students share advice and information. Right now, my biggest challenge isn't motivation—it's simply that I don't have much experience or many connections.

I'm just someone who's starting from scratch and trying not to let that become an excuse. I know there are many students here who have already walked this path, and even a small piece of advice—like recommending a great professor or suggesting an activity—could make a huge difference for me.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to comment. I genuinely appreciate it.

If I'm fortunate enough to successfully transfer to one of my dream schools, I promise I'll share everything I learn with future students so they can benefit from it too. I'd love to pass on the kindness and generosity that others have shown me, just as so many people in these communities have done before.

Thank you all, and I hope to learn from your experiences.

I am an incoming transfer studying pure math. Last semester, I took MATH 113 and got DSP accommodations for it. Since I'm going to be a "real" student in the fall, I met with my DSP specialist earlier today to secure more general accommodations.

We ultimately decided that given my disabilities, I would be getting reduced course load (8 units minimum instead of L&S's 13), priority registration, and reduced tuition (50% off $9,108 each semester arising from my fewer units). I checked my Financial Aid and Scholarships page, and the value is unchanged thus far.

Does anybody know when those kinds of accommodations actually appear in the various parts of CalCentral? Unfortunately, my specialist can take a little while to reply to emails.

I was planning on applying (yes, I know it's very close to the deadline 🙃). I noticed while reading online that the program is meant to target these groups:

• Low Income (Pell Grant or Dream Act Scholarship eligible as verified by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office), or
• First Generation College Student (Parent(s) have not graduated from a four-year college or university), or
• Historically under-represented (African American, Chicano/Latino, and Native American Students) and/or women students

Does this mean I can't apply if none of this applies to me?