How to Get Into the UC System

Webinar
Wednesday, April 8 7:00 PM PDT Zoom

Register For This Free Event

Join Emily, Former UC Berkeley Admissions Reader, to learn how top California universities evaluate applicants.

Are you a student or a guardian?

<
🇺🇸 +1

By submitting this form, you agree to the Privacy Policy of ClearPaths Admissions.

Most California families are preparing for UC admissions the wrong way. They focus on GPA. They stack extracurriculars. They wait until senior year to think about essays. And then they're surprised when their hardworking, high-achieving student gets waitlisted at UC San Diego or rejected from UCLA outright.

Here's what most parents don't know: the UC system doesn't select students based on grades alone. It uses a Comprehensive Review process, and GPA is just one of many criteria.

In this free webinar, you'll learn:

How UC admissions officers actually evaluate applications, and what Comprehensive Review means in practice

What signals of academic rigor and genuine distinction carry the most weight

Why strong, hardworking students are regularly denied

How to align your child's academics, activities, and personal narrative into a coherent, competitive application

What a realistic UC admissions roadmap looks like for a student starting today

This isn't a general overview. It's a practical breakdown of how these decisions are actually made, led by someone who has been inside the admissions process.

Emily Parliman
Emily Parliman Former Admissions Reader, UC Berkeley

Meet Your Speaker

Emily Parliman served as a full-time Admissions Officer at American University, where she recommended admit or deny decisions. She reviewed approximately 4,000 applications for UC Berkeley and holds a BA in English from Kenyon College and MA in Education & Human Development from George Washington University.

Emily is known for helping students with unconventional backgrounds find their voice — including a student with a cosplay portfolio whose application earned an acceptance at UCLA.

She tracks admissions trends through NACAC reports, Common App updates, and major news publications, keeping her guidance grounded in what's actually happening in admissions today.

Former Admissions Reader, UC Berkeley Former Officer, American University Former Officer, GWU Graduate Programs
~4,000applications personally reviewed at UC Berkeley
●Former Admissions Officer · American University
●Former Admissions Officer · GWU Graduate Programs
10+years inside selective university admissions
●Application Reader · Northeastern University
●BA in English · Kenyon College
~4,000applications personally reviewed at UC Berkeley
●Former Admissions Officer · American University
●Former Admissions Officer · GWU Graduate Programs
10+years inside selective university admissions
●Application Reader · Northeastern University
●BA in English · Kenyon College

How ClearPaths Can Help

We work with students and families at every stage — from building a balanced school list to submitting a final application that stands out.

Application Strategy

We map out a personalised roadmap based on your child's academic profile, goals, and timeline — so nothing is left to chance.

Essay Coaching

Our counsellors help students find the story only they can tell — and shape it into an essay that admissions readers remember.

Insider Insight

Our team includes former admissions officers from UC Berkeley, GWU, and American University — people who know exactly what reviewers look for.

Ongoing Support

From 9th grade planning to final submission, we stay with your family — tracking deadlines, reviewing materials, and keeping you on course.

Register for the Free Webinar