Lilaschool

College Entrance Guide

IB Coordinator and College Counselor: Barbara Kuhl

PART 7A: Comprehensive Review Factors for Freshmen Applicants, University of California System

When UC campuses receive applications from more prospective freshmen students than they can admit, they draw on the 14 criteria below to select among qualified applicants. This process is called the comprehensive review. Keep in mind that the pool of students who apply to UC is different every year. The level of academic performance necessary for admission to a particular campus or major will vary, depending on the number of applicants and their academic qualifications, as well as the number of available spaces.

Comprehensive Review Factors for Freshmen Applicants:

Academic grade point average in all completed "a-g" courses, including additional points for completed University-certified honors courses.
Scores on the ACT Assessment plus Writing or SAT Reasoning Test, and two SAT Subject Tests.
Number of, content of, and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum "a-g" requirements.
Number of and performance in University-approved honors courses and Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and transferable college courses.
Quality of the student's senior-year program, as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned.
Quality of the student's academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in his or her high school.
Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas.
Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
Recent, marked improvement in academic performance, as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress.
Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as significant community service or significant participation in student government; or other significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus.
Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of the student's high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs.
Academic accomplishments in light of the student's life experiences and special circumstances.
Location of the student's secondary school and residence.

Freshmen Selection by Campus
Each UC campus designs its own method for evaluating the factors considered in comprehensive review. For the most current information on how each campus selects its freshmen, visit these websites:

Berkeley | Freshman Admission
http://students.berkeley.edu/admissions/freshmen.asp?id=56&navid=N

Davis | Application Criteria for Freshman Selection Process
http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_exceeding_eligibility.cfm

Irvine | Freshman Selection Criteria at UC Irvine
http://www.admissions.uci.edu/fr_adm.html

Los Angeles | Freshman Selection - Fall 2004
http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/FrSel.htm

Merced | Freshman Selection at UC Merced
http://admissions.ucmerced.edu/3.asp?uc=1&lvl2=2&lvl3=2&lvl4=25&contentid=50&bc=51

Riverside | Admission as a Freshman
http://www.futurestudents.ucr.edu/prospective/freshman.aspx

San Diego | The UCSD Comprehensive Review Process
http://admissions.ucsd.edu/dev3/info/comreview.html

Santa Barbara | Admissions
http://www.admissions.ucsb.edu/

Santa Cruz | Freshman Admission and Selection 2005-06
http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman_guide.cfm

The UC Personal Statement

The personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. There are limitations to what grades and test scores can tell the University about an applicant. The University uses your statement to learn more about you as an individual — your talents, experiences, achievements and points of view. The campus Scholarships Offices may also use your personal statement to consider you for an award. Think of the personal statement as your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions officers and faculty who will be evaluating your application. What would you like them to know about you that may not be evident from a review of the rest of your application? The personal statement is required of all applicants.

Instructions:

Respond to all three short-answer questions using a total of no more than 1,000 words. That means that two of your answers must be limited to approximately 200 words each. A third question should be given an extended answer of at least 600 words. You may choose which question to answer at more length. (A rationale is provided with each question to help you understand what the University is looking for in your response.)
Stay within the 1,000-word-count limit as closely as you can. It is acceptable if you run a little over or under on an individual question (for example, a word count of 205 or 199 words is fine on your 200-word responses).
In question 1, make sure to answer the version that matches your applicant level (freshman or transfer).

Questions

1. Academic Preparation

The University seeks to enroll students who take initiative in pursuing their education (for example, developing a special interest in science, language or the performing arts, or becoming involved in educational preparation programs, including summer enrichment programs, research or academic development programs such as EAOP, MESA, Puente, COSMOS or other similar programs). This question seeks to understand a student’s motivation and dedication to learning.

Freshman applicants only: How have you taken advantage of the educational opportunities you have had to prepare for college?

Transfer applicants only: What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the field developed and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities — and what you have gained from your involvement.

2. Potential to Contribute

UC welcomes the contributions each student brings to the campus learning community. This question seeks to determine an applicant’s academic or creative interests and potential to contribute to the vitality of the University. Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California.

3. Open-Ended Question

This question seeks to give students the opportunity to share important aspects of their schooling or their lives — such as their personal circumstances, family experiences and opportunities that were or were not available at their school or college — that may not have been sufficiently addressed elsewhere in the application.

Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in this application?

University of California: Campus Locations

California State University: Campus Locations