University of California's Record Application Year Explained

The University of California system has gotten more applications this year than ever. The UCs saw a 16% increase in applications just in 2021, showing universities across California that more and more high schoolers are hoping to pursue higher education. While this is great news for universities, many parents and students across the state feel differently. More applications mean more rejections as the University of California has a limited number of slots open each year, and thousands of students were met with disappointment after receiving rejection letters.

The issue at large is two-fold. On the one hand, an increase in college applications may be a result of the university's suspension of ACT or SAT test scores, making the college application process more accessible to students than ever. On the other hand, parents of rejected students are feeling upset that their tax money has been going to fund a state school that their children were not granted an offer of admission. This is leaving parents wondering if earning top grades, being a competitive athlete, and community service are even enough to be admitted into the University of California system.