3 Things I Learned as an Application Reader
This past fall, I applied and was hired as an External Reader for UC Berkeley undergraduate admissions. Berkeley is the 3rd most applied-to public university in the world, with a small but mighty admissions team. To uphold their promise that every application is read by two humans, they hire and train 200+ external readers each application cycle. I love this about Berkeley—they respect the work students put into their applications and bring in extra help to ensure fairness.
After reading 1,000 applications, I definitely walked away with some takeaways.
1. This is a Human Process
Just like submitting a college application is a very human experience (at least for now), so is reading one. Readers like me have other jobs, responsibilities, and, yes, emotions—we do our best to be well-fed and caffeinated before diving into applications, but at the end of the day, we’re humans making human decisions.
If you’re looking for a university that treats you like a number, you can find that. But Berkeley prioritizes human readers who are empathetic, well-trained, and level-headed. Having a real person read your application means nuance, second considerations, and a deeper understanding of who you are—something an algorithm could never fully capture.
2. Authenticity Stands Out
Yes, I read applications from students who were already doing college research, starting nonprofits, and designing exhibits for the Smithsonian (true story). But guess what? That’s not realistic for everyone. And that’s okay.
Many students have jobs, family responsibilities, or are just trying to survive high school. As a reader reviewing 7-10 applications a day, I naturally gravitated toward stories that felt real, personal, and honest.
I remember reading applications from students in rural areas—as a Los Angeles native, I was fascinated by what life was like on a Christmas tree farm in rural Pennsylvania. But your job isn’t to impress me with a flashy story. You already have my attention—because it’s my job to understand you through your application.
Your job is simply to tell me about you.
What is your daily life like?
What do you care about?
How do you spend your time?
Who do you want to become?
The best applications weren’t from students trying to mold themselves into the “perfect Berkeley applicant.” They were from students who boldly said, “This is who I am—take me or leave me.”
3. This is a Brutal Decision-Making Process
There are more talented, kind-hearted, inspiring students than there are spots available. That’s just the reality. The UCs physically cannot build classrooms fast enough to keep up with demand. (And yes, I have a lot of thoughts on how they could fix this, but that’s a blog post for another day.)
This is a deeply personal process—you spend years crafting an application that gets read in 10 minutes. And statistically speaking, you will likely face your first major rejection. That stings. I know.
But do not let a rejection define you. It’s just a moment. A frustrating, disappointing, "what now?" kind of moment. But it will pass. You will move forward. Your future school will welcome you.
Caffeinated by Yerba Maté.