If one of the University of California system schools is on your college list, you have probably noticed that you can’t find them on the Common App. No need to search them there, as the UC’s have their own application that opens two months after most other colleges. From October 1st to December 2nd, the UC application is live and ready for submissions. If you are dreaming of college in California or are simply curious what these schools have to offer, here is an overview of the schools, application requirements, and what you need to know to apply as an out of state student.
First, let’s take a look at the schools themselves. Students are able to apply to up to four campuses using their UC application, but which campus is right for you? Here are some stats and fun facts about each.
THE SCHOOLS
UCLA - This big city campus is the most selective of the bunch, with 32k students attending and a strong sports culture. About 97% of students live on campus here, so the sense of community is strong (this may have to do with the high cost of living in LA, but the campus is stunning, so that probably helps.) As with many highly selective universities, students may sometimes need to compete for spots in the most popular classes. Ivy-adjacent, this school has a 9% admit rate. Out of state students make up approximately 14.1% of the total student body.
UC Berkeley - This large campus of 32k students, located about 15 minutes from San Francisco, is known for its radical activism and great classes. The Haas School of Business is renowned for excellence, while the campus overall boasts a rich diversity of perspective and a vibrant arts scene. It is ranked in the top 20, has an out of state enrollment rate of 15.3%, and an overall admit rate of 11%.
UC San Diego - Approximately 33k students enjoy this gorgeous campus. It boasts six residential colleges and is popular with students who wish to study environmental sciences and oceanography. Less of a party school, this campus has a small school feel, but be ready for long walks to class. The Geisel Library is named after Dr. Seus, and to look at it certainly explains why! This campus hosts 12% of students from out of state, with an overall admit rate of 26.8%.
UC Santa Barbara - Located about 1.5 hours North of LA, this 23k student campus boasts a beach town vibe and a huge social scene. You can expect large class sizes here, and some of the dorms can house up to three students per room, so be ready. UCSB actually owns beachfront property, so no need to stay indoors anyway. Its most popular majors being psychology, sociology and global studies, students find plenty to talk about and do in and outside the classroom. Out of state students make up 11% of the total student body, and the overall admit rate hovers around 32% for all applicants.
UC Irvine - This quiet, affluent town boasts a quiet social scene and a safe and supportive environment. Most of the 29k Irvine students find their social life at on-campus activities, and one of the most popular majors is engineering. This campus is known for its friendliness and helpful faculty. Environmental sustainability is important to this beachgoing student body, while Peter the Anteater hails as the school mascot. 9% of students come from outside CA, and the overall admit rate is 28.8%.
UC Davis - This small and peaceful NoCal school has a rural feel and most of its 31.5k students travel to class via bicycle. Located near Sacramento, UC Davis is known for its excellent Veterinary School and research opportunities. Though it has a 42.1% admit rate, you will find only 8% of students from outside of CA. The cool thing is that they have their own airport, so getting in and out won’t be too difficult!
UC Santa Cruz - Located south of San Francisco, the 17.6k students on campus enjoy a hippie, beach/coastal vibe with organic and vegan food served on campus. Classes here are small and students find it is easy to get assistance from advisors and professors. The social scene here is outdoorsy and more quiet, with a smaller feel than other campuses. Only 7.4% of students here are from outside of CA, but the overall admit rate is 65%.
UC Riverside - Located 60 miles east of LA, this growing, diverse campus is home to about 22k students. This campus hosts about 70% commuters, and some of the classes may be quite large, at least in the first year or two. All but 1% of Riverside’s 22.8k students are from California. With over 300 student clubs and organizations on campus, growth here is inevitable. The overall admit rate is 76.4%.
UC Merced - This is the newest of the UC schools. Having opened in 2005, Merced’s campus boasts a zero net energy consumption campus. Housed in a rural setting, this school is considerably smaller than the rest, with 8.3k students and growing. Only 1% of these students are from out of state, but the admit rate of 91.7% will allow for fast growth and additions to its social scene.
THE APPLICATION
The UC system application opens on October 1st and closes on December 2nd. The application itself contains many of the same elements as the Common Application, so have your unofficial transcript ready for the ‘Academic History’ section (similar to the SRAR), be prepared to answer questions about yourself, and respond to essay prompts (these are made public on August 1st, so students still have plenty of time to prepare).
There is a GPA requirement as well, which, for out of state students, is basically a 3.4 with weighting criteria and NO GRADE lower than a C. Detailed information can be found HERE, but here are the key points:
UC GPA ONLY includes classes taken from the summer after 9th grade to the completion of the 11th grade. This means that the freshman year is not calculated within this GPA, nor are summer classes taken after Spring semester of 11th grade.
UC GPA does not count plus or minus. A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1. A student may earn an extra GPA point for honors/AP/IB or college credit courses, but only up to 8.
Classes that count include the A-G classes. These are:
A - History
B - English
C - Math (Geometry is required)
D - Science
E - Foreign Language (ASL is included)
F - Visual and Performing Arts
G - College Prep Electives (including but not limited to Comp Sci, Econ, Psych, Philosophy, etc.)
Mostly, these are the usual suspects on every student’s schedule nationwide, but if the UC’s are in your future, it is a good idea to plan ahead. Incidentally, for CA residents, GPA requirement is 3.0, and there is a guaranteed admission of the top 9% of CA’s graduating seniors. About 27% of CA public and 52% of CA private school students apply to the UC’s. Let that sink in when considering the selectivity and chances of admission for out of state students.
Another key difference in the UC Application is that letters of recommendation are not considered and should not be submitted. As well, all UC’s are TEST BLIND, which means that even if submitted, test scores will not be seen by admissions officers. Scores may be used for scholarship opportunities on some campuses, however, so check into each school before applying to scholarships.
You can declare a major and an alternate major, and each campus has “undeclared” - while some have an undeclared designation within a particular discipline (Engineering, for example). Understand that just like any other college, some majors are more popular and impacted than others.
Students can apply to multiple campuses, and all decisions are made independently and simultaneously, so each college makes a decision without knowing what the others have done. If you are offered a spot on the waitlist, you must opt in by April 15th. You can waitlist at multiple campuses, but students need to declare an intent to register (read: a decision) by the national decision day on May 1st. Be careful, though, as waitlists run from May-July. The gamble is yours should you be waitlisted at one school and admitted at another.
THE WRITING
The UC application includes eight short answer question prompts, of which students respond to four. There is no advantage to answering one question over another, but the general guideline still applies - each portion of your college application should highlight something NEW about the applicant. Think of this as layers to an onion, if one question helps you highlight something that isn’t found elsewhere on the application, choose that one. As with all SAQ’s there are no right or wrong answers, but responses should be authentic, specific and concisely crafted.
Curious what prompts you have to choose from? Although how to answer them is fodder for another blog, here are the questions:
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.
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.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
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?
6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
The UC system schools use a holistic review process, taking into account your special talents, extracurriculars, contributions to your community, upward academic trajectory, rigor, as well as your grade point average. Like all SAQ’s, this writing is a very important criteria for evaluating your application.
Decisions are usually received by March 31st, and once you accept an offer (May 1st is the deadline), official transcripts should be sent to the college as soon as possible.
Before considering or accepting any offers of admission for any school, be sure to run the net price calculator for each. The out of state tuition, without aid, at these UC schools is pricey - approximately $79,028 without aid at most campuses. It is very difficult to get resident status in CA for tuition reduction purposes if one’s parents reside out of state.
This is the most general of overviews about the UC admissions process, so please check with each admissions office for specific information about majors, visit dates, etc. If you need any help navigating the application process, either at these UC schools or other colleges nationwide, Access College America is here to help! Book your discovery call HERE today to learn more about our comprehensive college planning services!
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