Did ‘U C’ Berkeley’s Recommendation Letter Request?

NADIA GOV
Copy Editor
ERIN KIM
Staff Writer

Contrary to tradition, the University of California (UC), Berkeley announced a new policy in April requesting letters of recommendation from freshman applicants. According to the Daily Californian, students will be able to submit two letters of recommendation, one from a teacher and another from any person of the student’s choice. The deadline to submit the letters will be on Jan. 1. According to the university’s admissions website, UC Berkeley’s admissions officers will be searching the letters for students’ aspects such as persistence, originality and concern for others.

However, this change in policy will only affect applicants the admissions staff wish to further receive background information on; the campus will only accept letters if they are specifically requested by admissions staff, according to the Daily Californian. Applications without a letter will still be read thoroughly and with thoughtful consideration, according to UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Nevertheless, UC Berkeley highly encourages freshman applicants to submit letters of recommendation if they have been selected to do so.
“I feel like [the policy] sets a new standard and helps motivate students to try harder [to get into college],” senior Vector Le said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, UC Berkeley’s decision has led to a spark in debates throughout California regarding the pros and cons of the new specification. Critics are questioning whether or not letters of recommendation are truly significant in foretelling a student’s success or lack of success in the future. Some believe that it is unfair for Berkeley to be the only UC requesting letters of recommendation when it is not a requirement for other UCs, according to the LA Times. However, supporters of the policy have argued that letters of recommendation further provide decisive help in recognizing a student who may or may not have the best grades or test scores but still has the potential to succeed.

To gather support for and to help prepare schools for the implementation of this new policy, UC Berkeley has been talking with stakeholders to allow for greater understanding of the requirement. Overall, according to UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, there has been positive feedback for Berkeley’s efforts to garner backing for the provision.

Asking for letters of recommendation from certain applicants is not a new practice at UC Berkeley, according to the Daily Californian; however, the difference in this new policy is that more students will be asked for them. The UC Berkeley admissions office originally planned to invite all freshman applicants to submit letters of recommendation this fall, but after discussing the possibility with UC colleagues and the campus Academic Senate, the office made the decision to wait and allow other campuses in the UC system to consider the practice.

Although some students feel like the new policy can actually increase their prospects of getting accepted to these top tier public universities, others feel it gives an unfair advantage to those who already have high grades and test scores.

“Sending in letters of recommendation will only allow top students to seem even greater by providing another opportunity for them to essentially be complimented,” senior Joyce Hong said.