⚠ Notice – The latest updates on the evolving COVID-19 policies and resources for the campus community.
Due to the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, our office will be closed until further notice. If you need to reach us, please submit an inquiry online by going to Contact Us.
Berkeley Summer Experience
Join us for the 2020 Berkeley Summer Virtual Experience.
Faced with our new reality due to the current circumstances with COVID-19, we have had to re-think what would have been Berkeley Summer Experience for 2020. We are moving to an online platform and expanding it to a week during the Fall semester, which will allow us to reach more students than we’ve historically been able to.
Berkeley Virtual Experience is a series of comprehensive application workshops and information sessions that is intended to introduce prospective students to the UC application and admissions process, as well as the UC Berkeley undergraduate experience. During the program, students will learn how to present a strong application for UC admission, meet current students and/or alumni, and learn of the many resources and activities offered at one of the world's leading universities. Participants of Berkeley Virtual Experience receive support that does not end after the program. Our admissions staff continue to support students through the application cycle to prepare students with their applications.
Goal of the Program
Berkeley Virtual Experience is built to serve first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students. We offer strategies for crafting a competitive UC Application, while introducing them to resources designed to help students succeed on the UC Berkeley campus. While the resources we’ll connect you with at BVE are Berkeley-specific, similar programs exist throughout the UC system.
2020 Program
This year, Berkeley Virtual Experience will take place virtually from September 21-September 27.
- The program is free of charge for students who are selected.
- To participate, students will need internet access and a device (e.g. laptop, computer, phone) to stream live sessions on Zoom.
- BVE will be a combination of live and pre-recorded sessions. A detailed schedule will be sent to participants upon confirmation.
- Due to capacity constraints, we are not able to accept every applicant. Rest assured, pre-recorded sessions will be made available to the public in October.
Eligibility & Selection
Eligibility criteria for this program are as follows:
For the High School Program
Applicants must:
- attend a high school in California
- have an unweighted GPA of at least a 3.5
- be a senior in high school in fall 2020
- have access to internet*
- have capacity to participate in live sessions*
For the Community College Session
Applicants must:
- attended a California Community College
- have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3
- have completed at least 30 semester transferable units by the end of spring prior to session
- have access to internet*
- have capacity to particiate in live sessions*
*If you are unsure of your ability to access the internet or capacity to participate in live sessions, please provide details in the additional comments of your BVE application.
2020 Timeline
| July 15 | Live webinar for counselors & CBO coordinators |
| July 17 | Application goes live |
| Mid-July - Late August | Nomination forms & applications will be accepted |
| August 18 | Applications Due |
| Sept 21-27 | Berkeley Virtual Experience 2020 |
| October 5-26 | Participant feedback on Personal Insight Questions from admissions staff |
Inquiries
If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at: berkeleysummerexperience@berkeley.edu (link sends e-mail)
Attention Counselors, Teachers, and Community-Based Organization Coordinators:
If you are interested in nominating a student(s), you must register for the Counselor Webinar on July 15, 2020, after which the nomination form will be made available to you. We strongly encourage all counselors to attend the webinar. If you cannot attend, a recording will be emailed to all registrants.
Students who are nominated by a school counselor or CBO coordinator will receive priority consideration when we select students for the program. Please note that interest in this program usually exceeds capacity and, while we cannot guarantee that every nominated student will receive a space, we will make every effort to select as many students as possible. Students must apply in order to be considered.
PLEASE NOTE: We are asking schools/organizations to please limit your nomination to no more than three students.