General Admissions Questions
Am I eligible for admission even though I did not major in biological sciences or a related discipline as an undergraduate student?
We understand that people may decide to change career paths or their interests may shift. If you can demonstrate in your application that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in this program, then don't let your undergraduate major deter you from applying.
Do you offer rolling admissions?
No, the application cycle starts in early Fall and admissions decisions are announced in early Spring.
Will I be notified when my application is complete?
Yes, after your application materials are processed, you will receive an email notification informing you that your application is complete and will be reviewed by the admissions committee.
Can I update my application after I have submitted it?
No, you cannot make any changes to your application after you have submitted it, even if you submitted your application prior to the deadline.
Will there be interviews?
Yes, we will be conducting interviews as part of the admissions process. Interviews will be held over Zoom.
Academic Records and Test Scores Questions
Do I need to upload official transcripts with my application?
No, you just need to upload unofficial transcripts with your application. UC Berkeley Graduate Division will require you submit official documents after you have accepted your admissions offer and enrolled in the program.
My GPA is not on a 4.0 scale. What do I do?
You can leave the GPA field blank. You still need to provide your undergraduate transcripts regardless.
What if I am still in school or have not yet completed my degree?
You can upload your most current unofficial transcript. It must include grades from your most recently completed semester or quarter. Once you have accepted your admissions offer, you must submit your official transcript indicating that you have completed your undergraduate degree.
Letters of Recommendation Questions
How can I check the status of my letters of recommendation?
You can check on the application status page. You will also receive an email notification when a letter writer has submitted their letter.
Can my letter writer submit a hardcopy of their letter?
Please do not submit or mail hardcopies of recommendation letters. We only accept letters through the online application portal.
Do I have to waive my right to see my letters of recommendation?
You can decide either way, but keep in mind that some letter writers will not write a recommendation unless you waive your right to see them. This is something you should discuss with your letter writer when you ask for a recommendation. You should also note that letters are generally seen as more reliable if you have waived your right to access them.
Can I submit my application if my letter writers have not yet submitted their letters?
Yes, you can submit your application even if your letter writers have not submitted their letters yet. They will still be able to submit letters after you've submitted your application.
What do I do if my letter writer still hasn't submitted their letter and the deadline is approaching?
Check to make sure that you've sent the initial invitation to your letter writer. If it's been a while since you've sent the invitation, think about following up with them to make sure they received the link from the application portal, or consider sending them a friendly courtesy reminder that the deadline to submit their letter is approaching.