berkeley essay requirements

Berkeley Writing Assessment

Entry-level writing and the berkeley writing assessment.

The Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a reading and writing proficiency requirement. It is a prerequisite to the Reading and Composition (R&C) requirement. R&C is a two-part (A & B) college-level reading and writing requirement assigned to all Berkeley undergraduates. Check the Berkeley Guide to review information from your college for more details.

All students entering UC as first-year students should fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement by the end of the first year of enrollment at Berkeley. The ELWR may be satisfied with a qualifying test score , a college-level English composition course taken before starting at Berkeley, or a passing score on the Berkeley Writing Assessment.

The next Berkeley Writing Assessment will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm.

Register here for the september assessment., all assessments take place online.  you may take the assessment only once..

A $196 fee for taking this assessment is charged after you finish the assessment. Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you have already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.

Please read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to your general questions. 

I have another question about the Assessment. Who do I contact?

You can email College Writing Programs at [email protected] or call the front desk at 510- 642-5570. 

General Questions

What is the berkeley writing assessment.

The Berkeley Writing Assessment is a 2-hour timed reading and writing activity done online. It is made up of a reading passage and questions that you will write an essay in response to, without the assistance of outside readings, books, websites, ChatGPT, or other people. You will also complete a survey that tells us about your experience with writing and writing classes.

• Read more about What is the Berkeley Writing Assessment?

Who should take the Berkeley Writing Assessment?

If you do not have a qualifying exam score at this time, or a C or higher in an English Composition course completed before starting Berkeley, you should consider taking the next available assessment.

The advantage of taking the upcoming assessment is to guarantee you will have the results in time for fall semester enrollment in mid-July to best determine if you will take ...

• Read more about Who should take the Berkeley Writing Assessment?

How do I sign up for the Assessment?

If you are a newly admitted first-year student who has accepted the offer to attend Berkeley, you will be assigned a Task in your CalCentral Dashboard to complete an Entry Level Writing Evaluation form. If you are a continuing Berkeley student, there is a registration link on this page.

You may take the Berkeley Writing Assessment only once.

• Read more about How do I sign up for the Assessment?

How is the Assessment scored?

Each student essay will be read by two raters, working independently, to assign it a score from 1-6. The two scores are combined for the final score.

• Read more about How is the Assessment scored?

How do I pass the Assessment?

This is not an exam in the traditional sense. The Assessment doesn't have passing or failing grades. Instead, it will tell you which composition class is best for you given your skills and experience. If you receive a combined final score of 8 or higher, you will be recommended to take a 4-unit Reading and Composition Part A course in the department of your choice, including College Writing Programs. If your score is lower than 8, you will take College Writing (COLWRIT) R1A , a 6-unit ...

• Read more about How do I pass the Assessment?

How much does the Berkeley Writing Assessment cost?

There is a $196 fee for taking this assessment which is charged after you finish the assessment to your dashboard. You can view the charge in the Cal Central dashboard under the "My Finances" tab. Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who have qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.

• Read more about How much does the Berkeley Writing Assessment cost?

Can the fee for the Berkeley Writing Assessment be waived?

Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you have already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.

• Read more about Can the fee for the Berkeley Writing Assessment be waived?

I have a conflict with the most recent Assesment. Are there any make-up times?

Yes, the Berkeley Writing Assessment will be offered two times each year: the May administration (primarily for incoming students) and once during the fall semester. Note that you may take the Assessment only once . If you do not receive a qualifying score the first time you take the Assessment, and you have no other qualifying scores or acceptable transfer course completed prior to stating Berkeley, you should enroll in COLWRIT R1A

• Read more about I have a conflict with the most recent Assesment. Are there any make-up times?

Do I need to take the Assessment in order to enroll in COLWRIT R1A?

No, you may enroll directly in COLWRIT R1A without an assessment score. Many students appreciate taking the course as a way to improve their reading and writing skills in a small class environment (College Writing classes have only 14 students per section). The class is designed to set you up for success with your future writing assignments at Berkeley.

• Read more about Do I need to take the Assessment in order to enroll in COLWRIT R1A?

I took the BWA. How long will it be until I get my score?

It generally takes around 3 weeks for your essay to be scored and for the score to be submitted before it appears in your records. You can find your BWA scores on your Cal Central dashboard under the "My Academics" tab.

• Read more about I took the BWA. How long will it be until I get my score?

How do I know which test scores satisfy ELWR?

A list of accepted tests and scores is found on the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement page.

• Read more about How do I know which test scores satisfy ELWR?

Is the digital SAT approved to meet the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)?

No, unfortunately the digital SAT has not yet been approved to meet the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).

• Read more about Is the digital SAT approved to meet the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)?

I am confused about ACT Scores. How do they count?

There are two types of ACT scores: a score on English Language Arts (ELA) which is given if you complete the optional Writing test; and another score on English + Reading if you do not complete the optional Writing test.

If you have an ELA score, you will need a 30 or better to meet the ELWR.

If you have an English + Reading score, you will need a combined score (a sum of the English and Reading scores) of 63 or better to meet the ELWR . The combined score must be from a single sitting, in other words, from the same exam. You cannot combine scores from multiple exam...

• Read more about I am confused about ACT Scores. How do they count?

How and where do I send my exam scores to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)?

If you intend to use an exam score to satisfy the ELWR, you must request that your official scores be sent to Berkeley via the testing agency's website as soon as all of your scores are available to make sure they're received in time. Be sure to use the college code 0444 for the ACT and 4833 for the SAT.

• Read more about How and where do I send my exam scores to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)?

Can I use scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) to satisfy the ELWR?

No, not for the Entry Level Writing Requirement. TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores may be used to demonstrate English language proficiency , but are not acceptable for the ELWR.

You can see which exams may be used to satisfy the ELWR on the UC ELWR website .

• Read more about Can I use scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) to satisfy the ELWR?

Can I use my Smarter Balanced score to satisfy ELWR?

No. The Smarter Balanced score is used by some campuses as an additional piece of information for placement into courses. UC Berkeley does not currently use the Smarter Balanced Assessment.

• Read more about Can I use my Smarter Balanced score to satisfy ELWR?

I am waiting on an AP or IB score - why should I consider taking the Assessment in May?

If you are interested in enrolling in an Reading and Composition course during the fall semester, then satisfaction of Entry Level Writing must be confirmed before the start of enrollment in mid-July. It may be to your advantage to take the Assessment in the annual May date as a back up in case you do not receive the minimum score needed on your AP or IB exam.

If you decide not to take the Assessment in May, and you do not receive a qualifying AP or IB exam score, you can still take a make-up Assessment during the fall or spring semester ...

• Read more about I am waiting on an AP or IB score - why should I consider taking the Assessment in May?

Will my Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) course I completed in high school satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement if I haven't taken the exam?

No, an AP or IB course alone will not satisfy the ELWR. You must have an acceptable score on these exams to meet the ELWR. You can view acceptable exam scores on the University of California ELWR website .

• Read more about Will my Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) course I completed in high school satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement if I haven't taken the exam?

College Level Coursework

I have taken an english composition course that may qualify. how do i know if the course i completed will satisfy the elwr when will i know should i consider taking the assessment.

A California Community College course that is published on ASSIST under the General Education/Breadth agreement as articulated to ENGLISH R1A or ENGLISH R1B will satisfy Entry Level Writing. You must earn a grade of “C” or better for the course to meet ELWR. Follow the steps below to determine if your California Community College course articulates to ENGLISH R1A or ENGLISH R1B:

Visit ASSIST.org

In the box labeled “Search below for articulation agreements” select:

Academic ...

• Read more about I have taken an English composition course that may qualify. How do I know if the course I completed will satisfy the ELWR? When will I know? Should I consider taking the Assessment?

My school offers Dual Enrollment classes at the affiliated college. Will these courses meet the ELWR?

College level coursework must be posted on an official college transcript to be considered for meeting the criteria listed for College Courses and satisfying ELWR. If the college level course you completed is posted on your high school transcript only, it will not satisfy the ELWR.

• Read more about My school offers Dual Enrollment classes at the affiliated college. Will these courses meet the ELWR?

Can I complete a college level English course in the summer prior to starting at Berkeley in the fall to meet the ELWR?

Yes, you can complete a college level English course if it meets the qualifications for a College Course. If you choose to complete a college level English course in the summer, you may need to wait until the spring term to register for the next course in the Reading & Composition requirement since your college credit likely won’t be posted in time for fall class registration. If you complete a college level English course in the summer and don’t receive a C grade or better, you may choose to complete the Berkeley Writing Assessment (BWA) on a make-up day, or register directly for...

• Read more about Can I complete a college level English course in the summer prior to starting at Berkeley in the fall to meet the ELWR?

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UC Berkeley Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are UC Berkeley's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UC Berkeley and build a strong application.

School location: Berkeley, CA

This school is also known as: Berkeley, UC Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley

Admissions Rate: 11.4%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is 11.4% . For every 100 applicants, only 11 are admitted.

This means the school is extremely selective . Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.

After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress UC Berkeley application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

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UC Berkeley GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.9

The average GPA at UC Berkeley is 3.9 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.9, UC Berkeley requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.9, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UC Berkeley hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UC Berkeley will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UC Berkeley SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1415

The average SAT score composite at UC Berkeley is a 1415 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for SAT test scores.

UC Berkeley SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1300, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1530. In other words, a 1300 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1530 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UC Berkeley has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that UC Berkeley requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that UC Berkeley will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1530, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

UC Berkeley ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UC Berkeley likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 31

The average ACT score at UC Berkeley is 31. This score makes UC Berkeley Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 28, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.

Even though UC Berkeley likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 28 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 31 and above that a 28 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 34 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to UC Berkeley, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 34.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UC Berkeley considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in . If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1530 SAT or a 34 ACT . You should also have a 3.9 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

For a school as selective as UC Berkeley, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1530 SAT or a 34 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

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• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UC Berkeley here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application None
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests Optional
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 30 March 31

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 110 Berkeley, CA 94720
• Phone: (510) 642-6000 x6000
• Fax: (510) 642-7333

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

You will submit a University of California application, which opens in August but can only be submitted during the month of November. The application consists of the online form, including your personal statement, and sending your ACT/SAT scores. Berkeley (and the other UC schools) have an interesting poilcy about letters of recommendation, transcripts and portfolios:

"As part of the UC application process, UC Berkeley and other UC campuses do not ask applicants for transcripts, portfolios, letters of recommendation, or other supporting documents. Applicants are expected to self-report their grades from their own transcripts, honestly and accurately. If a student is admitted and enrolled, the official transcripts are checked against what the student reported in the application. Any discrepancies can result in cancellation of enrollment.

When it comes to other supporting materials - such as art portfolios, letters of recommendations, resumes, etc. - UC Berkeley does not consider these during the application review. We expect the reported grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, personal statements, and additional comments to give us the full picture of a student's experience and aspirations. This is why it is so important to answer each section of the application thoughtfully and thoroughly.

Sometimes, during the application reading process, we do select a very small number of applicants to answer supplemental questionnaires. These questionnaires are designed to add clarity to information or answer questions that may arise during our application reading. Being selected - or not selected - for these questionnaires does not reflect a student's admissions status. The questionnaires are optional, but they do allow for Letters of Recommendation to be sent on the student's behalf. This is the only time we ask for Letters of Recommendation. Applicants are not able to request to be sent a questionnaire."

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UC Berkeley, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UC Berkeley.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UC Berkeley. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UC Berkeley, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UC Berkeley, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UC Berkeley is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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“I love Berkeley. Our students give me hope for the future.” Robert Reich, professor of public policy and former U.S. secretary of labor

University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley

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Want to see your chances of admission at University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short responses.

Please respond to any 4 of the 8 questions below.We realize that not all questions apply to all applicants, so be sure to select the 4 questions that you believe give us the best information about you.All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. Responses to each question should be between 250-350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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University of California, Berkeley

Essay requirements.

Academic Requirements

Costs & Scholarships

Rather than having to write one longer essay, applicants to the University of California, Berkeley and all other UC schools submit four shorter essays (up to 350 words) in response to prompts freely selected from a list of eight Personal Insight Questions . The questions are wide ranging, designed to help you introduce yourself to the school and tell them about your aptitudes, leadership qualities, community service, or other extracurricular activities, interests, or skills.

Short Answer Questions

You must respond to four of the eight prompts offered, and each response can have a maximum of 350 words. See the Personal Insight Questions page provided by UC Admissions for additional guidance.

350 words maximum

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Helpful Resources

Perfect Personal Essays

You’ll find a quick overview of important tips and pointers for how to approach your essays, formatting guidelines, and more, along with a link to our free eBook: Perfect Personal Essay 2023, filled with expert advice and strategies to help ensure your essays stand out!

How To Format & Structure Your College Application Essay

Your essays are a chance for admissions officers to get to know you beyond your grades, test scores, and ECLs. But how do you craft essays that reflect who you are AND impress the admissions officers?

Everything You Need To Know About The Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays are required by many highly selective institutions in addition to the personal essay included in your Common Application. You can learn all about what they are and why they’re important here.

Get Your Essay Reviewed

Feel confident when submitting your college application essay by getting it reviewed by a professional admissions expert..

Writing the Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should convince the admissions committee that your achievements show promise for your success in graduate study. Think of the statement of purpose as a composition with four different parts.

Make sure to check on the appropriate departmental website to find out if your statement should include additional or specific information.

Part 1: Introduce yourself, your interests and motivations

Tell them what you’re interested in, and perhaps, what sparked your desire for graduate study. This should be short and to the point; don’t spend a great deal of time on autobiography.

Part 2: Summarize your undergraduate and previous graduate career

a) Research you conducted. Indicate with whom, the title of the project, what your responsibilities were, and the outcome. Write technically, or in the style of your discipline. Faculty are the people who read these statements.

b) Important paper or thesis project you completed, as well as anything scholarly beyond your curricular requirements.

c) Work experience, especially if you had any kind of responsibility for testing, designing, researching or interning in an area similar to what you wish to study in graduate school.

Part 3: Discuss the relevance of your recent and current activities

If you graduated and worked prior to returning to graduate school, indicate what you’ve been doing: company or non-profit, your work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned. You can also indicate here how this helped you focus your graduate studies.

Part 4: Elaborate on your academic interests

Here you indicate what you would like to study in graduate school in enough detail to convince the faculty that you understand the scope of research in their discipline, and are engaged with current research themes.

a) Indicate the area of your interests. Ideally, pose a question, define a problem, or indicate a theme that you would like to address, and questions that arise from contemporary research. This should be an ample paragraph!

b) Look on the web for information about departments you’re interested in, including professors and their research. Are there professors whose research interests parallel yours? If so, indicate this. Check the specific program; many may require you to name a professor or professors with whom you might work.

c) End your statement in a positive manner, indicating your excitement and readiness for the challenges ahead of you.

Essential Tips

1. What the admissions committee will read between the lines: self-motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student.

2. Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in an active, not a passive voice.

3. Demonstrate everything by example; don’t say directly that you’re a persistent person, show it.

4. If there is something important that happened to you that affected your grades, such as poverty, illness, or excessive work, state it. Write it affirmatively, showing your perseverance despite obstacles. You can elaborate more in your personal statement.

5. Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.

6. Unless the specific program says otherwise, be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
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AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines

Personal insight questions

• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

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• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
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Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
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• Santa Barbara
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• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

Download our worksheets:

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Essays help us learn about who you are as a person and how you will add to our community. We seek candidates from a broad range of industries, backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences.

Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles - Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. We encourage you to reflect on your experiences, values, and passions so that you may craft thoughtful and authentic responses that demonstrate your alignment with our principles. 

Below are the required essays, supplemental essays, and optional essays for the Fall 2024-2025 application cycle. 

Required Essay #1

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words max)

Required Essay #2

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations.

(300 words max)

Required Essay #3

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships.

Video Essay

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles . Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life.

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Optional Essays

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

Optional Information #2 

Supplemental Information

• If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.
• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per week
• List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.
• If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

Video: Extracurricular Supplement Tips

Cindy Jennings Millette, Senior Associate Director of Full-time Admissions, shares how we evaluate extracurricular and community involvement.

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• Transfer Requirements

At UC Berkeley, the world’s premier public university, you can excel beyond, exchange ideas and, ultimately, change the world.

• You are a transfer student if you have completed coursework during a regular session at a college or university after high school (the summer session immediately following high school graduation does not count).
• While the UC gives California community college applicants priority over other transfer applicants, we also accept applications from those applying from institutions outside of the California Community College system.
• UC Berkeley only accepts applications for the Fall term. The UC Application is available in August the year prior to the Fall term you are applying for.

The minimum requirements for Berkeley transfer admissions are listed below. It is important to note that transfer admission requirements will vary by college and major, however there are a number of requirements that are common across all colleges. These requirements must be complete by the end of the spring term prior to the fall term you are applying for:

• Completion of general education/breadth requirement
• Please note that every course offered at your institution is not UC-transferable
• For non-California Community College students click here for information on how to determine what courses are UC-transferable
• Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 in all transferable college-level coursework
• Please note that some majors require a minimum GPA in these courses

Learn about transfer admissions information by college .

Transfer applications are reviewed using a comprehensive review process. While no one attribute or characteristic guarantees the admission of any applicant to Berkeley, transfer students can be most competitive by excelling in the academic areas.

While academic indicators are weighted more heavily than other parts of the application, other factors are considered in the Comprehensive Review process. The following are examples of qualities and attributes we consider in the Comprehensive Review process:

• The applicant’s full record of achievement in college-level courses, including number of units, general education, and major preparation courses.
• Personal qualities of the applicant, including leadership ability, character, motivation, insight, tenacity, initiative, originality, intellectual independence, responsibility, maturity, and demonstrated concern for others and for the community are considered.

These factors can be demonstrated in different ways whether it is traditional clubs/organizations, home life, work life, or other life experiences.

• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus. In addition to a broad range of intellectual interests and achievements, admissions readers seek diversity in personal background and experience.
• Achievement in academic enrichment programs, including but not limited to those sponsored by the University of California or California Community Colleges.

Race, ethnicity, gender, and religion are excluded from the criteria.

All achievements, both academic and nonacademic, are considered in the context of the opportunities an applicant has had, and the reader’s assessment is based on how fully the applicant has taken advantage of those opportunities. For an applicant who has faced any hardships or unusual circumstances, readers consider the maturity, determination and insight with which the applicant has responded to and/or overcome them. Readers also consider other contextual factors that bear directly upon the applicant’s achievement, including linguistic background, parental education level, and other indicators of support available in the home.

The review recognizes a wide range of talent and creativity that is not necessarily reflected in traditional measures of academic achievement but which, in the judgment of the reader, is a positive indicator of the student’s ability to succeed at Berkeley and beyond.

Students who have completed UC-transferable coursework at any four-year institution at any point in time may be ineligible for admission if they exceed the unit maximum policy for admission. Please note that students with all coursework completed at a 2 year institution will never exceed the unit maximum admission policy. To determine if you have exceeded the unit maximum for admission you must first understand and apply the UC lower-division maximum transfer credit limitation policy. Once you do that you apply the Unit Maximum Admission Policy.

UC lower-division maximum transfer credit limitation policy:

Units earned through AP, IB, and /or A-Level examinations are not included in the limitation and do not put applicants at risk of being denied admission

Units earned at any UC campus (extension, summer, cross/concurrent and regular academic-year enrollment) are not included in the limitation

Unit Maximum Admissions Policy:

• After applying the UC lower-division maximum transfer credit limitation policy, all junior/senior (upper division) and all UC units (lower division and upper division) are added to that total unit count. If the resulting unit count exceeds 80 semester units (120 quarter units), the student is ineligible for admission.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams can be used to benefit students in two ways. Exams with scores of 3 or higher on AP exams, or 5 or higher on IB higher-level exams can be used for unit credit. Units from credit-bearing exams can help students meet the unit minimum requirement, but will not be counted toward the unit maximum admission policy. Students can also use AP and IB exams for general education and/or subject credit and are encouraged to review ASSIST.org or guide.berkeley.edu for more details. For more information on how AP credits can be used, review the UC Exam Credit Matrix .

International students have the same transfer admission requirements as all other students. International English Exams (i.e. TOEFL or IELTS) are not required for admission since English proficiency is assumed when completing the Reading and Composition requirement or completing an IGETC certification. However, they can be beneficial to the student’s success if admitted to Berkeley.

Effective for the fall 2025 application cycle, Berkeley will no longer require IGETC/Cal-GETC, Essential Skills, or UC Reciprocity for eligibility for students applying to the College of Letters and Science and the College of Computing, Data Science and Society. Students will have to complete University of California 7-course pattern to satisfy eligibility requirements for admission.

Berkeley will still require a minimum 3.0 GPA (higher than the University of California's minimum), and will continue to require a minimum of 60 semester units.

This change in policy will not impact students applying for fall 2024 admission. However, those applying for fall 2025 admission and beyond will need to consider this as they are planning their courses. ( NOTE : IGETC will continue to be used to meet the L&S essential skill and 7-course breadth requirements, which are separate from admission requirements.)

Check this page for more details about this changing policy.

More Transfer Admissions Resources

• Transfer Information by College
• Transfer Courses for Reading & Composition
• Transfer Applicant Resources
• Transfer Applicant Checklist

Berkeley TECHVocacy 2024: Emerging Tech Advocacy Summit

Every emerging tech (e.g., the internet, crypto, AI, AV) seems to start in an adversarial posture with policymakers and the public. Does it have to be this way?

Join us on Monday, May 13th, for this pioneering event, co-sponsored by the  Berkeley Center for Law and Business ,  Haas Business School Entrepreneurship Program , and the Berkeley Center for Responsible Decentralized Intelligence with support from Berkeley Space Center . Our inaugural TECHVocacy 2024: Emerging Tech Advocacy Summit aims to reboot the advocacy landscape for emerging technologies.

Keynote Speaker:

Incoming Chancellor of UC Berkeley; formerly, Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, UC Berkeley

Our innovative summit structure throws away the long-winded panels playbook. We will train emerging tech startup founders, and the advisors/lawyers who represent them, on how to effectively and authentically advocate for themselves to policymakers and the public.  

• 6 curated speakers who will each do a 6-min lightning talk, followed by an expert panel of facilitators who will guide a discussion on what made the speakers effective, and which traps they did not fall into when talking to policymaker and general public audiences.
• Real-time media training demos to showcase the challenges of communicating technical ideas effectively and empathetically.

Our speakers’ experience include government service in the White House, Congress, and federal and state agencies, as well as in-house experience leading public policy efforts at tech companies that have dominated headlines in the past.  Our media trainers have extensive experience as on-camera reporters and prepping senior executives at major multinational tech companies.

This full day in-person only event will be hosted at the Haas Spieker Forum on the UC Berkeley campus.  The event is free, but space is limited. Advance registration is required and will be reviewed by the organizers.  

Confirmed speakers and facilitators

Brandon Borrman , VP of Global Comms at Mozilla, former VP of Global Comms at Twitter

Ben Brooks , Global Head of Public Policy at Stability AI

Darek DeFreece ,  Founder of Berkeley Space Center, Regent Emeritus, University of California

Lauren DiGeronimo , Managing Director at TrailRunner International

David Caragliano , Global Head for Ads Safety at Google

Betsy Cooper , Director of the Aspen Tech Policy Hub, former U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Zachary Fallon , Partner at Ketsal, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Stavros Gadinis , Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law

Anne-Marie Kelley , Partner at Mercury Strategies, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, former U.S. Senate

Avy Mallik , General Counsel of California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, former U.S. House of Representatives

Vignesh Ram , Vice President Public Policy at Serve Robotics

Jennifer Sanasie , Anchor and Producer at CoinDesk

Sheila Warren , CEO of Crypto Council of Innovation, former Head of Data, Blockchain, and Digital Assets at World Economic Forum

JoAnn Yamani , VP of Communications & Marketing at Adeia, former Congressional Counsel at U.S. Congress

Interested in being a sponsor? Contact us [email protected] .  

Organizing Committee:

Karin Bauer , Program Director, Berkeley Center for Responsible, Decentralized Intelligence (RDI)

Angeli Patel , Executive Director, Berkeley Center for Law and Business, former White House Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Rhonda Shrader, Executive Director, Berkeley-Haas Entrepreneurship Program

Hermine Wong, Lecturer, UC Berkeley Law School, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, White House Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Department of State

Program Details

Emerging/disruptive tech startup founders, startup executives, investors, in-house counsel, and students. 

A summit that trains emerging/disruptive tech startups founders and those who advise and counsel them to set themselves apart as trusted resources in conversations with policymakers and the general public.

9:00 AM –  Registration

9:30 AM –  Welcome Remarks / Setting Forth the Problem Statement

9:45AM – 10:30 AM Session 1: Internet/Social Media

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Session 2: Crypto/web3

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM KEYNOTE REMARKS (with lunch)

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Session 3: AI/4th Industrial Revolution

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM  Media Training for Tech Founders/Lawyers

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM   Closing Remarks

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM  Networking Session (w/appetizers & bar)

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On Politics

Trump’s hush-money trial heads into the unknown as jury deliberations begin.

The start of jury deliberation in the former president’s criminal trial is a moment of genuine uncertainty.

• Share full article

By Jess Bidgood

Today, at 11:28 a.m., a jury of 12 New Yorkers began deliberating in the criminal trial against former President Donald Trump.

It’s worth lingering on that point. The first former president ever to be tried for a crime — a man who would like to be, and possibly will be, president again — is stuck in a courthouse in Manhattan, waiting for a jury to announce his legal fate.

It’s a sharp contrast from the norm in a presidential campaign where so much has seemed baked in, starting with two candidates. Trump and President Biden emerged from primary elections that generated nothing in the way of suspense to face each other in a matchup Americans have already seen.

This, instead, is a moment of genuine uncertainty.

We have no idea what the jurors will decide. We have no idea how it will shape the campaign in the months to come or whether, whichever way it goes, voters will care.

We just know that none of this, rife as it is with tension and absurdity, has happened before.

For Trump, who is not allowed to leave the courthouse while deliberations unfold, it’s a rare situation in which he has no control, as my colleague Maggie Haberman pointed out today . He can’t change the rules at court or dispatch his allies to appeal to the jurors. He just has to wait, uncertain as everybody else.

On Wednesday, however, he sought to puncture the aura of uncertainty. He marched to the ever-present cameras in the courthouse hallway and denounced the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, as “corrupt” and “conflicted.”

“Mother Teresa could not beat the charges,” he declared.

It was a move straight out of Trump’s playbook, finely honed over two presidential campaigns, one successful and one not: Say the game is stacked against you, whether or not you’re going to win.

Outside the courthouse on Tuesday, the actor Robert De Niro, a surrogate for the Biden campaign, veered off script to present a little certainty of his own, suggesting at once that Trump was guilty and that he might get off.

“The fact is whether he’s acquitted, whether it’s hung jury, whatever it is, he is guilty, and we all know it,” De Niro said, as hecklers tried to drown him out. “I’ve never seen a guy get out of so many things, and we all know this."

It was an uncanny scene — the actor known for playing gangsters seemingly accusing Trump of being one.

But neither man is right. Only 12 New Yorkers know what will happen to Trump — and they may not yet be sure themselves, having deliberated for only about four and a half hours before heading home for the day on Wednesday.

That is a strong signal that the system is working. No one knows what will happen because now, after a two-month trial, it’s simply up to 12 Americans to agree on something.

INTO THE REPLIES

Your questions about the trial, answered

A while back, I asked you to send me your questions about Trump’s hush-money trial in New York. Many of your questions centered on what’s happening now: the deliberations, the potential verdict and the sentence Trump might face. Today, I’m diving into the big knowns and unknowns, inspired by what you all wanted to know.

How long will it take the jury to reach a verdict?

We truly, absolutely, completely, 100 percent do not know. It’s up to them.

Does the encounter alleged between Trump and Stormy Daniels have to be proved for Trump to be found guilty?

No. Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels. And while prosecutors did call Daniels to the stand, where she told her story of the episode in explicit detail, they needed to prove only that Trump falsified business records as part of a scheme to stop her going public with her allegations.

This is a case where the purported crime is in the cover-up.

Has Trump been charged with interfering with an election?

No. Trump is charged with falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanor unless it is done to cover up a second crime. In this case, prosecutors say that Trump falsified business records to hide a conspiracy to promote his election in 2016 “by unlawful means.” So the idea of election interference is woven into the charges against Trump — but it’s not the crime of which he is actually accused.

Is a unanimous decision from the jury required for conviction? Could Trump be found guilty of some charges but not all of them?

Yes and yes. To convict Trump on any of the 34 counts he faces, the jury must unanimously find that there is proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury would also need unanimous agreement to acquit Trump on any of the 34 counts. That means the jury has to make 34 separate decisions — which means Trump could be found guilty of some but not all of the counts.

It’s important to note, though, that while the jury needs to be unanimous to secure a conviction of the crime of falsifying business records, it does not need to take a unanimous view of the “unlawful means” Trump is accused of having used in the election conspiracy that prosecutors say took place.

If a unanimous verdict can’t be reached, the judge could declare a mistrial, and prosecutors would have to decide whether or not to bring the case again.

If Trump is found guilty of at least one felony charge, will that disqualify him from running for president?

No. The Constitution lays out only a few requirements to be president, and a clean criminal record is not one of them. Presidents simply have to be natural-born citizens, and they must be at least 35 years old. And they need to have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

If Trump is convicted, will he lose the right to vote?

He probably would, but it depends on sentencing . Trump is registered to vote in Florida, where people who are convicted of a felony lose the right to vote while they are completing their sentence — including prison time, probation time and paying off any financial obligations related to their conviction.

If Trump is unable to complete his sentence before Election Day, he could apply for clemency to have his voting rights restored — a process that would require the approval of officials including Gov. Ron DeSantis, his former primary rival. He could also switch his voter registration back to New York, where convicted felons are allowed to vote while on parole or probation.

If Trump is convicted, will he go to prison? And where would he go?

For this question, I consulted my colleague William K. Rashbaum, who’s written extensively about New York law enforcement and Trump’s cases there. Here’s what he said:

If convicted, Mr. Trump faces a sentence that could range from a period of probation to four years in prison — what is known as a custodial sentence. If he were sentenced to up to a year, he would most likely serve that time in a city jail. A longer sentence would probably mean state prison. Some legal analysts with experience in this area see what’s known as a split sentence as the most likely outcome if he is convicted; that means six months in jail and six months of probation.

Would Trump get Secret Service protection in custody?

Yes, according to William , who said any jail or prison sentence would not be served in a standard jail or prison environment. Experts say he would most likely be incarcerated in an empty or closed facility or wing, with Secret Service agents by his side around the clock.

Can Trump be president from prison?

No one really knows, as my colleague Maggie Astor has reported . Nothing in the Constitution bars an imprisoned person from serving as president. Maggie has written that he could sue to be released, arguing that being imprisoned prevents him from fulfilling his duties as president.

“We’re so far removed from anything that’s ever happened,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert and the dean of the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, told Maggie. “It’s just guessing.”

If Trump is found guilty, what are his options for an appeal?

If he’s convicted, Trump is expected to mount an appeal that could take months or even years to resolve, and that would most likely delay his serving any prison sentence. I asked my colleague Alan Feuer, who is covering Trump’s legal travails, to tell us a little bit more about what we could expect.

There will be many possible legal issues Trump’s lawyers could exploit on appeal — everything from the decision to let the jury hear about catch-and-kill operations before the Stormy Daniels hush-money deal to how the jury instructions were designed. But it’s not really possible to say at this moment which ones they will focus on.

What is the status of his other cases? Will he face any more trials before Election Day?

With each passing day, it looks more unlikely that Trump will face another pre-election trial, as each of the three remaining cases is bogged down with its own form of delay, Alan said.

Here’s how he broke down the status of each of the three cases:

A Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity will help decide if the Jan. 6 case goes to trial sooner rather than later.

The judge in the classified documents case is poised to make decisions that will determine if that proceeding goes in front of a jury any time soon.

And the election interference case in Georgia is awaiting an appellate ruling on whether the district attorney who brought the charges should be disqualified before any solid trial schedule can be set.

Jess Bidgood is a managing correspondent for The Times and writes the On Politics newsletter, a guide to the 2024 election and beyond. More about Jess Bidgood

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race: News and Analysis

Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts  in his hush-money trial, making him the first American president to be declared a felon , a stain he will carry as he seeks to regain the presidency.

President Biden and Trump both see Black outreach as critical to winning in November. But their approaches differ in fundamental and revealing ways .

Biden has trailed Trump in the polls for months, but three states probably offer his clearest path to victory, Nate Cohn writes .

Tuned-Out Voters:  Politically disengaged Americans are increasingly Trump-curious, but Biden has a shot at winning some of them back. Reaching them in a changed media environment will be his challenge .

Texas G.O.P. War:  The Texas House speaker, Dade Phelan, survived a primary challenge from a Trump-backed activist, but many other Republican incumbents were ousted in bitter primary races .

Sowing Election Doubt:  Trump has baselessly and publicly cast doubt about the fairness of the 2024 election  about once a day, on average, since he announced his candidacy.

Trump’s Bygone Era:  The greed-is-good era of the 1980s was the last time Trump's preferred public image was intact, and he’s been returning there in ways large and small .