berkeley met essay example

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Ultimate Guide to the UC Berkeley M.E.T Program

In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, innovative programs that bridge disciplines are paving the way for a new breed of professionals. The Berkeley Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) program combines the power of business acumen and engineering prowess. The M.E.T. program at the University of California, Berkeley, is rewriting the rules of education and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

The Berkeley M.E.T. program offers students the unique opportunity to earn dual degrees – a B.S. in Business and a B.S. in Engineering. This fusion of disciplines is carefully designed to empower graduates with a holistic understanding of technology, entrepreneurship, and management. This program equips students with the skills to not only develop groundbreaking technologies but also to effectively navigate the business ecosystem surrounding them.

One of the most exciting aspects of the M.E.T. program is its emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Through a blend of rigorous coursework, experiential learning, and real-world projects, students are primed to become catalysts of innovation. The curriculum is strategically curated to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling students to recognize opportunities, assess risks, and bring innovative ideas to fruition.

The Berkeley M.E.T. program thrives on collaboration and interaction. Students benefit from a vibrant community where they engage with like-minded peers, esteemed faculty, and industry experts. The multidisciplinary nature of the program encourages cross-pollination of ideas, fostering an environment where students are not confined to traditional silos but are encouraged to explore, question, and experiment.

The M.E.T. program has garnered immense support from various industries, leading to robust partnerships and opportunities. Students gain access to internships, mentorships, and networking events that pave the way for promising careers. Whether students choose to lead tech startups, innovate in established corporations, or embark on their entrepreneurial ventures, graduates are equipped with a versatile skill set that transcends boundaries.

The Berkeley M.E.T. program has the following academic tracks:

Aerospace Engineering (AE): The students gain leadership skills for aerospace technologies including sustainable aviation, autonomous flight, and space exploration.

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS): The students will explore the fields of computer science and electrical engineering. They will also take courses in finance, competitive strategy, and leadership.

Mechanical Engineering (ME): The students will delve deeper into topics including robotics, energy science, and design biomaterials. The students will also complete coursework in macroeconomics and marketing.

Bioengineering (BioE): The students will acquire leadership skills in the biotech industry and explore synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology fields.

Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR): The students acquire skills to design and drive global businesses.

Civil Engineering (CE): CE is the intersection of data structures and natural environments.

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE): The students gain business acumen and computational skills with a fundamental understanding of materials.

Engineering Undeclared: This major is only available to freshman applicants. The students would be able to explore one of the six engineering options.

Complete the UC application by November 30.

Supplemental Essays:

The Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) program seeks inquisitive, self-motivated students with a passion for finding and solving big problems.

The following essay question is designed to provoke honest, thoughtful responses to help us get to know you. It gives you the opportunity to provide unique information about yourself, your interests, and your reasons for applying to the program. In addition to content, essays are evaluated for writing and critical thinking ability, skill in organizing and presenting thoughts, and the relevance of your answer to the question posed. Your response is limited to 350 words.

Required Essay: (350 words maximum)

Your supplemental essays must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST on December 15, 2023.

Describe how the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology Program in Engineering and Business at UC Berkeley will help you to achieve your goals. Share with us the world you come from (for example, your family, school, community, city, or town). What unique experiences from your world motivated you to apply to our program?

Video Essay Invitation

Some applicants may receive a request to record a video essay. Video essay requests are by invitation only and will be requested starting in November. The questions are:

How have you contributed to and bolstered the communities you are a part of? (Communities can = school, extracurriculars, family, etc.)

How will your admittance into the program catapult your educational journey or complement your career plans?

What has been your biggest failure and how did you respond?

To conclude, in the ever-evolving landscape of education, the Berkeley M.E.T. program stands as a beacon of innovation. The program creates a new breed of professionals poised to drive change in a tech-driven world by seamlessly blending business and engineering. With a commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and holistic learning, the program not only prepares students for their careers but also empowers them to shape the future. If you are passionate about technology, business, and innovation, the Berkeley M.E.T. program might just be the catalyst that propels you toward an exciting and impactful journey.

Embark on a transformative higher education journey and elevate your path to academic success with the expert guidance and personalized support of an Ivy Central college counselor.

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Home — Application Essay — National Universities — Berkeley MET: Transformative Ambitions and Ethical Innovation

Berkeley MET: Transformative Ambitions and Ethical Innovation

• University: University of California, Berkeley

About this sample

Words: 622 |

Published: Feb 15, 2024

Words: 622 | Pages: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

I. intellectual curiosity a catalyst for growth, ii. embracing diversity a melting pot of ideas, iii. entrepreneurial spirit nurturing innovation, iv. ethical impact a commitment to social responsibility, v. berkeley spirit a match made in academic heaven.

As an aspiring scholar and innovator, I am thrilled to present my application to the prestigious Berkeley MET program. With an insatiable curiosity, relentless drive, and a passion for pushing boundaries, I have embarked on a transformative academic journey that has shaped my outlook on education and the world at large. In this essay, I intend to convey the distinct reasons why Berkeley MET aligns seamlessly with my ambitions and aspirations, while highlighting my unique experiences and perspectives.

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My thirst for knowledge has always propelled me to seek unconventional avenues of learning. High school provided a solid foundation, but my appetite demanded more. Recognizing the limitations of traditional education, I sought ways to enrich my understanding of complex subjects. This drive led me to pursue advanced coursework, engaging in internships and taking online courses from esteemed institutions like Harvard and MIT. Berkeley MET's dynamic curriculum, which integrates technology, engineering, and business, resonates profoundly with my multidisciplinary approach to learning.

Growing up in a culturally diverse neighborhood, I have been exposed to an array of perspectives, traditions, and values. This rich tapestry of backgrounds, when combined with my insatiable curiosity, has fostered a keen appreciation for diverse viewpoints. Berkeley MET, renowned for its inclusive community, offers an environment where unique ideas and experiences can collide, fostering vibrant discussions that transcend traditional boundaries. I am eager to contribute to this narrative, capitalizing on the exposure to a diverse array of perspectives to create innovative solutions.

My journey has been punctuated by an entrepreneurial spirit, making me naturally inclined towards innovative thinking and problem-solving. Engaging in startup incubators during my high school years, I recognized the power of collaboration, resourcefulness, and adaptability. Berkeley MET's emphasis on entrepreneurship and its collaboration-focused projects will not only complement my existing skill set but also provide the ideal platform to develop my leadership abilities. I am eager to immerse myself in the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem of Berkeley and leverage the program's resources to bring my ideas to fruition.

An education that merely serves personal gain falls short of my aspirations. I firmly believe that societal transformation is a responsibility bestowed upon the privileged few. My exposure to social issues, acquired through volunteering and community engagement initiatives, has heightened my commitment to driving positive change. Berkeley MET's focus on addressing global challenges ethically and sustainably aligns perfectly with my values. I yearn to explore the intersection of business and technology to effectuate tangible, socially responsible solutions on a global scale – an opportunity that Berkeley MET graciously offers.

Berkeley's vibrant intellectual environment, rich history of activism, and unparalleled commitment to excellence embody the pinnacle of higher education. My visit to campus only reinforced my belief that Berkeley MET was tailor-made for my ambitions. The access to world-class faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers is an irresistible offer. Berkeley's spirit of activism and fearless pursuit of knowledge resonates deeply within me, making Berkeley MET the natural choice for my next academic chapter.

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As I stand at this pivotal moment in my academic journey, my heart brims with excitement and anticipation. The Berkeley MET program stands as a beacon of hope, igniting the flames of my ambition, and offering the ideal platform to transform my dreams into reality. Through its multidisciplinary curriculum, nurturing environment, and commitment to ethical impact, Berkeley MET encapsulates the essence of my aspirations. I eagerly await the opportunity to contribute to the vibrant Berkeley community, pushing boundaries, and harnessing the power of technology, engineering, and business to create a better tomorrow.

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Course Spotlight: UGBA 196.1, M.E.T. Introductory Topics

By Christopher Chou Posted on November 01, 2021

When I applied to the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology Program here at UC Berkeley, I remember the most difficult part of writing the supplemental essay was concretely writing about the M.E.T. Special Topics Course that all freshmen must take as part of the program. More specifically, I wondered: what are the course topics? What makes the course exciting? How do students apply the material to their life? Ever since starting my freshman year, I’ve been actively reflecting on the purposes and goals of the course in order to provide more insight into the M.E.T. experience. I seek to provide clarity on these questions in the following blog.

From a high level, there are two key themes covered in this course: “Understanding and Managing Technological Innovation” as well as “Translating Emerging Technologies into Commercial Applications.” I’ll speak mostly about the first theme since that’s what we have covered so far in the past 10 weeks. In class, we reflect on topics ranging from the nature of technological innovation to strategic management to technology policy and regulation. The course balances the abstract knowledge necessary to analyze businesses with practical analysis to provide strategic plans for contemporary companies. While we have readings on theoretical frameworks that analyze a business’s current position and capabilities such as Porter’s five forces or stakeholder analysis, we complement each topic with insightful articles and podcasts. These include analyzing how Netflix will pivot to deal with Disney’s meteoric rise in video-streaming technologies, how Tesla’s innovations are transforming the automotive industry, or how Stripe will expand its existing capabilities by serving as a lending institution. The speaker series is also something to look forward to since I’ve been able to actively interact and ask questions with technology leaders from companies like Blue Origin or organizations like The Progressive Policy Institute.

Even though I have to wake up in the morning at 8 AM, I absolutely love how the course challenges the cohort to generate unique insights about the current technological landscape. One of the most fascinating lectures was on global research and development and innovation where we compared the innovation environment in Japan with Toyota, Korea with Samsung, and China with Tiktok. As a group, we learned about how research and development isn’t just an isolated unit of a company–it is a function of the regional environment, cultural norms, and government regulation. In addition to in-class conversations with the cohort, we are split into teams to develop a presentation on a corporate project, where we provide strategic plans given the industry, competitors, key trends, implications of technological change, and several other determinants of competitive success.

Beyond the class, I have been able to actively apply the course concepts in my life. As an avid hackathon competitor, I love rapidly prototyping new applications to solve real-world problems. Utilizing course concepts, I analyze applications through the lens of an end-user. Considering elements such as the user’s journey, stakeholder analysis, and sustainable competitive advantage has allowed me to develop hackathon creations with a much more holistic perspective.

It is an incredibly exciting time to be part of the M.E.T. program, and I sincerely hope that I helped you if you’re considering applying! Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

Tags: MET , Classes

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Berkeley MET Program Supplemental Essay

To those of you who were admitted to the MET Program at UC Berkeley, would you mind sharing your essays? Just so that applicants this year can have some idea on how to approach the essay. Do the admissions officers want creative essays or more straightforward ones that answer the question? Do they want a story? Do they want you to mention your extracurriculars?

Any insight would be wonderful.

Bump post. I would really benefit if I had some guidance.

No insider info, but from the MET program’s webinar, the AO said they are just looking for straightforward answers, not creative writing.

I’m currently in the MET program, and I can talk about my personal take on the prompt. I know it’s rather cliche, but I just tried to be myself and show them who I was and what I liked. I don’t think I got in because of a very fancy essay in my opinion. Just talk about what you’re are passionate about

Any idea when the MET decisions are sent out?

@GHolmes Well I recently was invited to an interview for this coming week, so I’m guessing decisions have to be after that. If last year is any indicator, decisions will be sent out in early February (I think 2/10 last year?)

So if you’ve not been selected for an interview then not in the running?

That’s how it seems @GHolmes , but interviews are sent on a rolling basis

Yes twitter post confirms that: Interviews are sent on rolling basis. No need to lose hope :-*

It is too soon to lose hope.

I spoke with my DS last night and he said he didn’t get an interview date till the last week of January. He interviewed in February 1st (he was notified of admission 10 days later).

He also said getting an interview was the first cut and I wonder if just getting the interview pretty much assures admission to the engineering portion of your app if not the full MET program. This is pure speculation though.

Congratulations to those that have received a request to interview, you are a compelling candidate indeed. Good Luck.

@california32146 , which Twitter account are you following? I can’t find anything on the CalAdmission Twitter account.

@bogeyorpar https://■■■■■■■■■■■/Berkeley_MET M.E.T. interview invites have gone out and will continue to be sent out on a rolling basis …

18 UC Berkeley Essay Examples that Worked (2024)

If you want to get into the University of California, Berkeley in 2022, you need to write strong Personal Insight Question essays.

In this article I've gathered 18 of the best University of California essays that worked in recent years for you to learn from and get inspired.

What is UC Berkeley's Acceptance Rate?

UC Berkeley is one of the top public universities and therefore highly competitive to get admitted into.

This past year 112,854 students applied to Berkeley and only 16,412 got accepted. Which gives UC Berkeley an overall admit rate of 14.5%.

And as of 2022, the University of California no longer uses your SAT and ACT when deciding which students to admit.

UC Berkeley Acceptance Scattergram

This means that your Personal Insight Questions are even more important to stand out in the admissions process. That is, your essays are more heavily weighed.

If you're trying to get accepted to UC Berkeley, here are 18 of the best examples of Personal Insight Questions that got into Berkeley.

What are the UC Personal Insight Question Prompts for 2022-23?

The Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) are a set of eight questions asked by the UC application, of which students must answer four of those questions in 350 words or less.

Here are the Personal Insight Question prompts for this year:

• 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?

18 UC Berkeley Personal Insight Question Examples

Here are the 18 best Berkeley essays that worked for each Personal Insight Question prompt #1-8.

If you're also applying to UCLA, check out more unique UCLA essays from admitted students.

UC Berkeley Example Essay #1

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UC PIQ #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. (350 words max)

From an early age I became a translator for my mother anytime we went out in public. This experience forced me to have conversations with adults from a young age. It made me become a great communicator, while helping my parents overcome their language barrier.

Being a communicator has allowed me to lead. When I joined my school’s National Honor Society I was given the opportunity to lead. Applying the skills I used from being my mother’s translator I was able to do what no one else could, make the calls and start the club’s most successful event to date an annual Food Drive at a local Albertson’s, which collects over one ton of food every November. Also developing events like an egg hunt at the local elementary school, a goods drive for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and stabilizing a volunteer partnership with a local park. I have been able to grow as a leader, who actively communicates and brings parties together, planning events and having them run smoothly with minor issues. For instance, last year there was an issue with the homeless shelter not picking up the food for the food drive. In a spur of the moment solution I managed for club member’s parents to collectively deliver the food. My ability to communicate benefited me allowing me to find a solution to an unanticipated problem.

Throughout the four years I have been in journalism I have led; mentoring younger writers and improving the way the paper operates. Staying after hours, skyping with writers about their articles all helped establish my role as a leader, who is always supporting his team. I have done this while writing over 100 articles, editing tons of pages, and managing deadlines. I learned that while being a leader requires effort, it is the passion like I have for journalism that motivates me to lead in my community.

Being a leader so far in my life has taught me that I need to communicate, be passionate, and pass on my knowledge helping cultivate future leaders, who can expand and supersede my work.

UC PIQ #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. (350 words max)

Video games have cultivated my creative thought process. When I was a toddler I invented a game I would play with my brothers. It was nothing along the lines of Hide-and-Seek or Tag, but rather, it was meant to mimic a role-playing video game. It was called "Guy" and came with its own story, leveling system, and narrative story. While seemingly impossible to translate the mechanics of a video game into real life, the "Guy" trilogy provided hundreds of hours of fun to pass hot summer days and escape the harsh reality of our parents arguing and eventual divorce.

This thought process translated into my educational career. have always thought of a tough class or test as a video game. This mostly due to my excessive amounts of video games I played as a child through middle school (especially 7th grade). Each year comes bigger and "stronger" challenges, bigger and stronger bosses to defeat. My senior year will have me face the most powerful boss yet; full AP course load on top of heavy club involvement and community college classes.

Many thought of this "secret boss" as an impossible challenge; something that could never be beaten. No one from my school has ever attempted to take on such a challenge, let alone defeat it. That is probably what excites me about it. In a game, messing around with lower level enemies is fun for a while, but gets boring when it is too easy. The thought of a challenge so great and difficult makes the victory even more rewarding. Stormy skies, heavy rain, and epic boss battle music; I'll take that over a peaceful village any day. In the future, I seek to use this thinking to drive research. I think of abstract physics concepts like secret door and levels that need to be proven true or just a myth in the game. One day, I can make my own discovery of a secret "cheat code' that can help everyone who plays a little game called life.

UC PIQ #3: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words max)

I’ve always hated the feeling of clammy hands, the needless overflow of adrenaline rushing through my veins, and the piercing eyes that can see through my façade—the eyes that judge me. I felt like this debilitating anxiety that I suffered through was something I could not avoid when doing the thing I was most afraid of—public speaking. I still felt every sweat droplet run down my skin before each speech, and this anguish never completely dissipated. Fortunately, I learned to moderate my fear in high school when I decided to join the speech and debate program. My anxiety has slowly faded in intensity as I’ve gained certitude and poise with every tournament, and every chance I’m given to speak on behalf of others; this talent has allowed me to be a voice for the voiceless.

Out of all the national tournaments that I’ve competed in, the MLK invitational holds a distinct place in my heart. It was my first invitational tournament in which I competed exclusively in Lincoln Douglas debate. I only had two weeks to prepare myself since it was finals week, while my competitors had upwards of two months to prepare. I was fortunate to break into the final round, as my years of experience helped me to articulate and explain my few arguments more effectively, while also refuting my opponent’s.

I realized that the extent of one’s knowledge is useless if it cannot be made known in a way that is clear to others. I learned that preparation is necessary, but one can be so focused on what they are going to say that they don’t hear the arguments presented. I kept an open and ready mind for various claims and strategies which left me free to adapt to the opponent’s argumentative style each round. This ability to think on my feet has served me well in countless debates, speeches, and presentations. I continuously use these skills to become a better and more active listener in my daily interactions as well.

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My greatest skill is my ability to remember things really well, whether they be minute details or important information that should not be forgotten. Over time, I’ve had a knack for remembering details most people would not even bother to remember, such as old test scores, atomic masses, and other details involving numbers. My friends have always marveled at my ability to remember all these numbers. When I was in chemistry class, we used the periodic table so much that I soon began to remember the atomic mass of the more common elements, and even the molecular mass of common compounds like glucose or water. One of my best friends, who is undoubtedly the smartest person in our class, even finds it crazy that I can remember all these numbers and always tells me that my memory of numbers is amazing. I also used my memory to learn and remember how to solve the Rubik's cube, which amazes my friends, as they find it to be complex with many different, possible combinations.

This skill that I have developed, however, isn’t completely under my control, as sometimes I just remember random and irrelevant facts without really trying to do so. I recall one weekend when my eight-year-old cousin was attempting to memorize the digits of pi: I remembered them along with him, learning up to forty digits in just one day. The skill is seemingly natural and not something I have worked hard to develop, as I may be able to use my memory to my advantage, or it can be a disadvantage. It helps when I have multiple tests in one day, or a test with many questions where I have to remember a lot of information, such as finals. Sometimes, however, it is a disadvantage when I remember information during a test that is not relevant to the topic, such as random dates, names, or song lyrics, to name a few. This skill is very important to nonetheless, as it has assisted me all throughout my life in many tests and challenges involving memory.

UC PIQ #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. (350 words max)

At 10:30 pm on a hot, summer, Wednesday night, you would expect my friends and me to be having the time of our lives and going out on crazy high school adventures— but instead, we were actually stuck in a chemistry laboratory trying to map out the Lewis structure of sulfuric acid.

Over the summer of my sophomore year, my friends and I enrolled into ‘Introduction to Chemistry’, an evening course at our local community college. As a six-week summer course, I spent two hours in lecture, two hours in the laboratory, and another two hours studying on my own for four days a week for six weeks. It was evident that I struggled with adjusting to the pace of college when I received 19% on a quiz. I felt left behind, exhausted, and overall pathetic. No matter how many hours I spent studying, I couldn’t keep up. But instead of giving up, I picked up certain strategies like reading the material the night before, rewriting my notes, and joining a study group; eventually working my way up to a B.

At the end of that summer, I learned so much more than just chemistry. On top of having the raw experience of what college is like, my chemistry experience taught me that it is okay to fail. I discovered that failure is an essential part of learning. Coming to this realization inspired me to take more college courses and rigorous courses in high school. I transformed into a hungry learner, eager to fail, learn, and improve. By seizing the opportunity to take this course, I pushed myself beyond my limits. This experience and realization changed how I wanted to pursue the rest of high school, college, and life in general.

I walked into my first day of the chemistry class expecting to walk out with an A; but thankfully, I didn’t. Instead, I walked out of that class with a taste of the college experience and a principle that I now live by-- that it is okay to fail, as long as you get back up.

The relationship I cultivated with my school's college center, by simply being inquisitive, has been most significant. Over my years in high school the college center became my 2nd home, where I learned about extra opportunities and triumphed with help from counselors.

For instance, with help from my school’s college center I applied and was accepted as an LAUSD Superintendent Summer Scholar this past summer. The program selected 15 juniors out of over 450 applicants to work in one of 15 departments, and I was chosen to work for the communications department, which received over 70 applications – making me 1 of 70. Interning for LAUSD at their 29 floor high rise was very eye-opening and exposed me to working in communications alongside seasoned professionals. The opportunity gave me the chance to meet the Superintendent and school board members, who are politically in charge of my education. As part of the communications department I learned how the district operates a network of over 1,300 schools and saw how the 2nd largest school district shares info with stakeholders through universal press releases, phone calls, and the district homepage.

I wrote several articles for the district publication and worked with public information officers who taught me the principles of professionalism and how to communicate to over 1 million people. Recently, I was called from the district to become a part of their Media Advisory Council working alongside district heads, representing the students of LAUSD.

Working for LAUSD furthered my passion to pursue careers in both communication and education. I have always had a desire to be a journalist and the internship assured me of that. I want to write stories bringing student issues from areas like mine to light. Being exposed to the movers and shakers that control education in Los Angeles has heavily motivated me to become an educator and at some point become a school board member influencing the education students like me receive.

Support from the college center has spawned opportunities like a life-changing internship and set me on course for a future full of opportunity.

“Give me liberty, or give me death!”, I proudly exclaimed, finishing up a speech during my first Individual Event competition for Speech and Debate, also known as Forensics Workshop. Public speaking was always one of my shortcomings. During countless in-class presentations, I suffered from stage-fright and anxiety, and my voice always turned nervous and silent. I saw Speech and Debate as a solution to this barrier that hindered my ability to teach and learn. With excessive practice, I passed the tryout and found myself in the zero-period class. All of my teammates, however, joined because they loved chattering and arguing. I had the opposite reason: I despised public speaking.

I was definitely one of the least competitive members of the team, probably because I didn’t take the tournaments very seriously and mainly worried about being a better speaker for the future. Throughout the daily class, I engaged in impromptu competitions, speech interpretations, spontaneous arguments, etc... Throughout my two years on the team, my communication, reciting, writing, and arguing skills overall improved through participation in events such as Impromptu, Original Oratory, Oratorical Interpretation, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Congress. I even achieved a Certificate of Excellence in my first competition for Oratorical Interpretation -- where we had to recite a historical or current speech -- for Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death.”

I decided to quit Speech and Debate because I felt as if it has completed its purpose. After this educational experience, my communications skilled soared, so I could perform better in school, especially on essays and presentations. Leaving this activity after two years gave me more time to focus on other activities, and apply communications skills to them. In fact, I even did better in interviews (which is how I got into the Torrance Youth Development Program) and even obtained leadership positions in clubs such as Math Club and Science Olympiad Through my two years in Speech and Debate, I believe I became a much better thinker, speaker, and leader. Taking advantage of this opportunity boosted my self-esteem and overall made high school a better experience.

UC PIQ #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? (350 words max)

Although many would say that hardships are the greatest hindrance on a person, my hardships are my greatest assets. The hardships I have overcome are what push and drive me forward. If I had not gone through the failures of my 7th grade year I may have been satisfied as a B or C student. It is easy for us to use our hardships as excuses for not doing work, however, this is a mistake that many people make.

Through my struggles and failure, I have realized an important truth: I am not special. The world will continue to go on and expect me to contribute no matter what I have gone through. Everyone endures some type of obstacle in their life; what makes people different is how they handle them. Some sit around and cry "boo-hoo" waiting for people to feel sorry for them. Others actually take action to improve their situation.

Through hard work, I have been able to outperform my peers, yet I know there is still room for improvement. The thought of actual geniuses in top universities excited me; I long to learn from them and eventually surpass them, or perhaps enter a never ending race for knowledge with them. I used to live an hour away from school. I would have to wake up and be dropped off at a donut shop at 4 in the morning and then walk to school at 6:30 am. After school, I would have to walk to the public library and stay for as long as it was open then wait outside and get picked up around 9:30 pm. I am reluctant to retell this story; not because I am ashamed, but because it is not important. It doesn't matter what hardships I have endured, they do not determine who I am. What matters is what I have done.

At the start of high school, I saw nothing but success. From grades to extracurricular activities, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, as my sophomore year progressed, this wave of success was soon swamped by a wave of disillusionment. I struggled to perform in Calculus and as a Vice-President, but instead of looking for a solution, I looked for excuses. Ultimately, when I was forced to face my two F’s and my lost elections, the world came crashing down. The vision I had meticulously planned out for the future seemed to shatter before my eyes. My self-confidence plummeted to an all-time low. I thought my life was over.

However, my response to this failure was what would ultimately determine the direction my life would take. In the end, I made the right choice: instead of continuing to blind myself with a false narrative that cast all the blame off my own shoulders, I admitted to my own shortcomings and used this experience as a lesson to grow from.

In doing so, I learned to focus on the aspects of my life that I was truly passionate about instead of spreading myself too thin. I learned to face challenges head-on instead cowering at the first sign of difficulty, even if it meant asking others for help. I learned to accept and utilize my own differences to create my own unique leadership style. Most importantly, rather than letting this mistake define me, I ignited a sense of determination that would guide me back on the right path no matter how many obstacles I encounter.

Looking back, this tragic mistake was a double-edged sword. While it definitely leaves a stain on my record, it is also likely that I wouldn’t have been able to find the same success a year later without the lessons I gained from this experience. At the end of the day, while I still grimace every time I contemplate my sophomore year, I understand now that this mistake is what has allowed me to develop into the person I am today.

Throughout my childhood, I grew up in a nine-person household where the channels of our TV never left the Filipino drama station and the air always smelled of Filipino food. But the moment I left home, I would go to a typical suburban elementary school as an average American kid at the playground. I grew up in a unique position which I both love and hate: being a second-generation Filipino American.

I love being a second-generation immigrant. I have the best of both worlds. But I also hate it. It chains me to this ongoing struggle of living under the high expectations of immigrant parents. How could I hate the part of me that I loved the most?

Growing up, I lived under the constant academic stress that my parents placed on me. Their expectations were through the roof, demanding that I only bring home A’s on my report card. My entire academic career was based on my parent’s expectations. Their eyes beat down on every test score I received. I loved them so much, but I could only handle so much. The stress ate me alive, but I silently continued to work hard.

Living under this stress is the biggest ongoing challenge of my life thus far. Until last year, I never understood why my parents expected so much from me. Finally being old enough to understand my parent’s point of view, I realize that they set these high expectations in the hopes that one day, all of the pain and struggles it took to get to America will pay off. Since then, I’ve overcome the high expectations of my parents by converting their pressure into a fireball of ambition and motivation, deeply ingrained in my mentality.

This intense desire to succeed in America as a second-generation immigrant is something that has and always will fuel my academic drive. As the first person in my family to go to college in America, I’ve made it my life aspiration to succeed in academics in the honor of my family-- a decision made by me.

UC PIQ #6: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words max)

Understanding the past helps us make better choices in today’s society. History provides us with the views of people and politics, the ethnic origin of people, and much more. At the base of all history, there is an intensive culmination of research which hopes to address or bring light to a story.

My passion for history began while digging deep into own family’s story, researching the history of Latin America, and the origins of the city I was raised in.

For example, when I first saw my favorite show Avatar The Last Airbender, I spent hours researching the mythology of the show which in the process made me learn about the philosophy of China: daoism, Confucius, and the mandate of heaven. Anything can be put within a historical framework to understand the context; every decision, tv show, and law has a history and that is exactly what I love. History forces us to take into account the voices of the past before we can attempt to plan for the future.

History has helped me become a more effective writer for the school paper. It has made me think like a attorney, revisiting old cases, and writing up a winning argument in a mock trial. Thinking like a historian has helped me make sense of the current political climate and motivated me to help start Students For Liberty, at my school’s campus where political ideologies are shared respectfully.

Learning, about history drives my inquisitive nature — I demonstrated this desire by volunteering at a local museum to learn more about the origins of my community in Carson. Ultimately, learning about the Dominguez family who established the Harbor Area of LA.

In terms of academics and performance, I have passed both of my history AP exams in World and U.S. history — being the 2nd person in my school’s history to do so. Studying history in highschool has nurtured my love for social science, which I hope to continue in college and throughout my life.

Ever since I was little, I have possessed a unique fascination for nature and the way it interacts with itself. As I sat in the prickly seats of old tour buses and the bilingual tour guide has silenced himself for the dozens of passengers that have closed their curtains and fallen into deep slumber, I would keep my eyes glued to the window, waiting to catch a glimpse of wild animals and admiring the beautiful scenery that mother nature had pieced together. At Outdoor Science Camp, while most of my friends were fixated on socializing and games, I was obsessed with finding every organism in the book. Nothing else caught my attention quite like ecology.

As high school dragged on and the relentless responsibilities, assignments, and tests washed away the thrill of learning, ecology was one interest that withstood the turmoil. At the end of a draining day, I would always enjoy relaxing to articles detailing newly discovered species or relationships between species.

This past summer, I was able to further this interest when a unique opportunity to volunteer abroad caught my eye. Flying over to the beautiful tropical shorelines of the Dominican Republic, I was able to dive into the frontlines of the battle against climate change, dwindling populations, and habitat destruction brought about by mankind, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

While everyone was obviously ecstatic about snorkeling in the crystal blue waters, only I was able to retain that same excitement about trekking through knee thick mud and mosquito infested forests to replant mangrove trees. While tracking animal populations, my heart leaped at the sight of every new species that swam right in front of my eyes. Even when it came to the dirty work of building structures to rebuild coral and picking up trash along the beach, I always found myself leading the pack, eager to start and do the most.

From this experience, I realized that pursuing the field of ecology was what I could picture myself doing far into the future, and this was how I was going to impact the world.

UC PIQ #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words max)

Originally I saw volunteer work as a nuisance. I felt that it was an unnecessary "requirement" for college. I felt that someone decided to do volunteer work while in high school and now it has become the norm and is essentially required for college. Once I began to get involved, however, I found a true appreciation for the work I was doing.

I loved helping people and, as always, wanted to challenge myself. I worked at the Bellflower Volunteer center and tutored kids every day available, as well as helping out with large special events put on by the city. I then joined Key Club and made it my mission to attend every single event no matter what; even going to the lengths to walk for 4 hours starting at 5 in the morning (it was still dark outside) for a 2-hour beach clean up. I then became Service Event Coordinator and also made it my mission to have an event every week, while attending all of them, while still working at the Volunteer Center. I also started a tutoring program in math at my school as I really enjoy helping my peers academically.

It always warmed my heart to see fellow ninjas( our division mascot) at events I had planned, friends and neighbors at Bellflower events, and CSF members at tutoring.I am always willing to help people with anything. If someone needs my help I will stop whatever I am doing to help in any way that I can. Lending a helping hand is an important part of our society; however, a helping hand cannot do anything if the other hand does not reach for it as well. We need to be able to help ourselves first before others can help us. I tried to create a community where I could help people, but also people could help themselves so that there is no reason for anyone to not be able to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Throughout my childhood, the phrases “get good grades” and “make money” constantly harassed my every waking moment. Life seemed pointless, a never-ending cycle of trying to make more money to create artificial happiness. However, through partaking in my middle school’s ASB, I discovered my love for helping others, and I realized that I wanted to make my life about changing the world and leaving behind a better future for the generations to come.

In an attempt to live up to this philosophy, I have performed hundreds of hours of community service. From volunteering at a senior home to distributing food to the homeless, there is no doubt that I have made a substantial impact on those around me.

Despite all this, my most significant contributions are the ones that take place every day and are often undocumented. Picking up trash, staying long after my job is complete to help other groups, or even saying, “Thank you. Have a nice day,” to anyone who has provided a service for me are just a few examples. While they seem insignificant, these small actions add up.

However, above all, my biggest contribution is building meaningful connections with the people around me and making sure they realize how special and important they are to me and everyone else. In nurturing those who are less experienced, assisting those who are struggling with their emotions or their studies, and inspiring those who have untapped potential, I am not merely applying a band-aid on a wound, but elevating a whole community around me to tackle and prevent ailments the next decades will bring.

Years from now, I will likely have forgotten about my modest academic achievements. However, the memories of seeing someone I had mentored blossom into a strong leader and the smiles and laughter of someone I’ve helped battle through depression will forever be ingrained in my mind.

Serving food at school carnivals, embellishing the local marsh, tutoring students after school, and discharging patients at my local hospital were some of the ways I actively supported my city. However, a distinct way of being engaged in my community involved being selected for the Youth Development Program last summer. This organization works with the Torrance Refinery and selects thirty out of hundreds of applicants. The first week of this program involved activities that trained students for college and eventually their careers by making them adept in communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. For the next four weeks, students were assigned a specific job around the City of Torrance and Torrance Unified School District (TUSD).

I was placed in the TUSD Information Technology Department, along with six other students, and we essentially helped deal with technology-based issues around the district. Even though my professional desire incorporates biology and chemistry, I had a compelling interest and math and technology. I gave back to my community by utilizing the technological skills I gained at work. My colleagues and I traveled daily to several schools around the district and assisted in technological advancements: testing network ports and preparing schools for newer phones, imaging and updating new laptops and desktops, and arranging and setting up new computer labs and Chrome book carts.

Today, many people globally use technological and visual aids to assist their education. My summer job also allowed me to make a difference in the education of others. With the faster internet, newer telephones and computers, teachers could instruct more efficiently and students can be educated more effectively, thus improving their academic performance in the future. This program helped me a lot by boosting my teamwork and leadership skills, which will be extremely valuable as I will be pursuing many president/vice-president positions in my senior year. However, this program has allowed me to make a stronger impact on other people rather than myself; I feel delighted that my work in summer will be beneficial to twenty-thousand students across Torrance.

UC PIQ #8: 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? (350 words max)

In 2011, I started at a newly built school spanning sixth to twelfth grade. The school’s inception was not the greatest with gang culture and issues plaguing the school and nearby community. From this moment I knew wanted to make a change, improving the school and local community.

For example, two years ago a bicyclist was crushed by a container truck across the street from my school, several peers of mine and I advocated for a bike lane to get installed on the street to protect cyclists from the busy traffic. I worked day and night for three weeks using my connection with the city’s public works director to meet with city officials and make a change. I looked for solutions and ways to improve my community and lead the charge to better our street. When we met with city officials they agreed and ultimately approved our bike lane proposal. This civic action started with a group of three concerned high school students, in which I helped facilitate the conversations resulting into a bike lane project, that will be built the summer of 2018 after I graduate high school. Ultimately helping solve an issue in my community.

Using my influence as part of the Associated Student Body I advocated for a new medical academy on my school’s campus to address the growing interest in medicine and health careers of many students at my school. While I am not personally interested in a health related field, I recognized that many students at my school did and teachers agreed. I came in as an intermediary, who because of my position in ASB was also a member of my School’s Shared Leadership Council (SLC), through these means I motivated other ASB officers to support the academy’s inception and after a grueling amount of meetings in which we went through logistics the academy was approved for the benefit of students.

I am a student who will attend a UC pursuing my passions in journalism, education, and history; while being an involved student making the campus a better place than when I first arrived.

Rather than relying on pure intellect, I choose to excel through continual self-improvement, my ability to overpower obstacles, and an unrelenting force of determination. There are thousands of students smarter than me, students with better test scores, students with more volunteer hours, and quite possibly, a more socially acceptable sense of humor. I can assert, however, that my determination and ambition is hard to match.

I am willing to look in the face of the impossible without fear; in fact, the only emotion flowing through my body would be excitement. There are thousands of intelligent students, however many are unable or are unwilling to utilize their full potential. Although not a genius, I have shown my ability to improve drastically in capability over time.

At some point in my middle school career I was not technically supposed to still be enrolled because my grades were too low; now I'm on track to be valedictorian of my class. I am willing to do whatever it takes to meet my goal; if there were a service event across the country I would be willing to walk the entire way; if I could take a million AP's I would. I understand that it is a big jump to go from Bellflower High School to a UC in terms of academic difficulty; however, that is part of the excitement. I am not afraid of failure, it does nothing but make me stronger. Am I capable of making a jump of such a magnitude? It is not my judgment to make; I am only here to try.

The spin-the-wheel slows down and eventually stops at ‘try again next time’. That is, until I secretly push it one slot over to ‘princess tiara’. As the child hurries away to the next carnival game with the tiara in her hair, her mom turns back at me with a warm smile and mouths the words “thank you”. Seeing genuine happiness in the people of my community while volunteering at events such as my school carnival always remind me why I love my community so much.

I hold a lot of pride in how I’ve become a prominent figure in my community. From volunteering at festivals for my local elementary school to becoming employed by the City of American Canyon Parks and Recreation Department, I relish being in the hub of the community. I love our annual Fourth of July parades and Easter egg hunts, where I am stopped every 15 minutes to catch up with the crazy kids I worked with at summer camp or even just with the staff I’ve met from school. Growing up and connecting with such a diverse community is and will always be a large part of who I am. From kindergarten up until my senior year of high school, both my small community and I as an individual have grown immensely. By volunteering at local events, connecting with the people of my community, and finally getting employed by my city, I know that I have contributed to the successful growth of my community.

Although I really love my community here in the small town of American Canyon, I cannot help but think of the other great communities that I can potentially be a part of as well. I believe that by going to the University of California, I will be able to thrive in the liveliness of the communities that the campuses are well-known for. A major contribution I believe that I can bring to the University of California is integrating, being involved in, and building the school’s community so that both I and the school can grow together for each other.

What can you learn from these UC Berkeley essays?

If you want to get into UC Berkeley in 2022, you need to write great essays that help make you stand out. From these 18 Berkeley essays that worked, here are some takeaways:

• Use specific examples of places and events (name them) ( #8 , #17 )
• Tell a story ( #6 , #18 , #7 )
• Demonstrate your background, identity, or culture ( #3 , #15 , #4 )

If you enjoyed these UC Berkeley essays, you'll also like reading our top UCLA essays that worked. They answer the same PIQ prompts, but quite differently.

Applying to other public universities? Check out these awesome University of Michigan essays.

Let me know, which UC Berkeley essay was your favorite and why?

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People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

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A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

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Successful UC Berkeley Essays

Uc berkeley essays →, uc berkeley mentors →.

UC PIQ: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? | Sabria

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?  Overtime, I learned that Armani wants to be spoken to as…...

UC PIQ: Think about an academic subject that inspires you | Sabria

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.  It was not until…...

UC PIQ: Describe an example of your leadership experience | Sabria

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

UC PIQ: What do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? | Tevin

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

UC PIQ: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?  | Tevin

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?   “It’s near impossible, your seniors have tried”, I was told. Zhengyang…...

UC PIQ: Describe an example of your leadership experience | Tevin

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

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Comprehensive Review for Political Economy

• The Political Economy Major
• The Political Economy Minor

Requirements & Policies & Forms

• PE Major Declaration Form
• PE Requirements & Policies
• PE 3, 3.5, and 4 Year Degree Pathways
• PE Student Progress Checksheet
• PE Concentration Approval Form
• HELP! What is a Concentration?
• Pre-designed Concentrations
• PE Concentration Narratives NEW

The Comprehensive Review for admission to the undergraduate major in Political Economy will consist of a holistic review by a faculty committee. Although academic performance is important, your ability to articulate your interest in political economy is just as important.

The committee will evaluate applications based on the following three criteria:

• A review of your academic preparation through prerequisite coursework and GPA;
• Your personal, professional, and volunteer experiences, especially as they relate to, or demonstrate an interest in, political economy;
• Your probability of success in Political Economy courses.

This holistic review will examine academics, leadership, work and volunteer experience, along with some required essays.

The Review Committee will take note of the grades earned and the type of coursework completed. The essays will provide additional information to evaluate your interest in, and understanding of, political economy. If a student’s GPA is not the best, being able to explain in one of the essays what happened is essential. Strong applicants will clearly highlight in their resumes and statements of purpose what they have done that demonstrates their interest in political economy.

In short, a student should think about how to provide as complete a story to reviewers as possible.

Application Components 

The application will require the following components.

Statement of Purpose

Review the Writing the Statement of Purpose from the UC Berkeley Graduate Division for additional guidance on how to approach these questions. View the Essay Format Example .

• Explain in your own words what political economy means to you and what you have done to learn about Political Economy in your time at UC Berkeley? (300 words).
• Describe how you plan to use your degree after you graduate OR explain how you see this major helping improve your life goals after graduation.  (150 words)

(If you are a double major or simultaneous degree applicant, you are required to answer the following question in your statement. When planning courses, please keep in mind the overlap policies and consider how you would plan around time conflicts for required courses. )

• Why are you choosing to pursue two majors, and how will they together prepare you for a possible career? (100 words)

IMPORTANT Note:  If you have a prerequisite GPA of 2.7 or below, or you got a grade of C+ or lower in GLOBAL 45 or POLECON C45, you must explain the reasons in the last paragraph of your statement of purpose.  If you have questions, please contact Associate Director Alan Karras at [email protected] .

Concentration Statement

Fill out the Concentration Approval form, and then identify four courses that relate to a problem in Political Economy that you plan to study. Begin by identifying a question that interests you, and that is related to Political Economy, and then pick four courses that will help you answer your question. In narrative form, describe how each course contributes part of the answer and then explain how the four courses together will help you to explain the subject of Political Economy to skeptical friends and relatives. (no more than 300 words).

Resume or CV

The purpose of submitting your CV or resume is to demonstrate your interest in and relationship to Political Economy. The resume can include involvement in student organizations, residential life, and paid or unpaid experiences that may relate to your interest in Political Economy. The review committee would like to see what opportunities you have had to this point. Please don’t turn in more than a page and do indicate if you have any foreign language experience.

The Berkeley Career Engagement Resume page is a good resource for learning how to enhance your resume. There are career workshops and appointments available to students.

Academic Records

You will be required to include copies of your unofficial transcripts to show confirmation that you have completed and met the requirements for the prerequisite coursework. Students cannot apply to the major if prerequisites are incomplete or in progress.

Accepted types of academic records are listed below; we may ask for information if something is not clear:

• Unofficial copy of your UC Berkeley transcript (an unofficial transcript [Academic Summary] from CalCentral or screenshots of your CalCentral are sufficient)
• UC Berkeley Unofficial Transcripts and Merging Application Materials Guide
• Unofficial transcripts from other institutions (if using towards prerequisites)

Political Economy Major Map

How to declare a major, the berkeley economy & society initiative (besi), the berkeley political economy journal.

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We’d love to learn more about you. Apply now to be considered for our next cohort of M.E.T. students. We’re bringing together a talented, diverse, and motivated group of people like you. The next step awaits.

The admissions process for the M.E.T. program is different depending on whether you’re a freshman applicant or a continuing student in the College of Engineering.

Choose your path below to learn the specific application steps involved. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can refer to our detailed FAQ section too.

Freshman Admissions

You’re focused and self-motivated, with a reputation for solving big problems and experimenting with new ideas. Maybe you’ve already launched an app or started your own business. We want to learn more about you.

Continuing Student Admissions

If you’re contemplating simultaneous degrees in engineering and business while attending UC Berkeley, the M.E.T. program may be for you. Current UC Berkeley College of Engineering sophomores majoring in an M.E.T. academic track are eligible to apply to join the M.E.T. program their junior year.

There are so many challenges within the esports industry that are either tech or business related. You need technology advancements to push the boundaries of where esports can go, but you also need to find new marketing opportunities, like expanding into new demographics. The M.E.T. dual degree trained me for both.

Lawrence Z.

Former Finance & Operations Intern

Immortals, LLC

EECS + Business ’21

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