Overview of UC Santa Cruz's Selection Process
Frequently Asked Questions About the Admissions Process
Options for Freshmen Who Were Not Offered Admission
Appeal Information- Fall 2013

Overview of UC Santa Cruz's Selection Process

UC Santa Cruz received nearly over 38,000 freshman applications for fall 2013. The freshman enrollment target for fall 2013 is 3,500 students. This enrollment target is about 300 fewer frosh than the enrolled number from fall 2012.

Admission offers were made to students based on a comprehensive evaluation of their application, as set forth by the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, and our campus Academic Senate Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid. Applicants were selected following an extensive review process that evaluated the applicants' academic achievement, accomplishments, and other information contained in their undergraduate application. Applications were reviewed for UC qualifications, completion of required college preparatory course work (a-g pattern of courses), required test scores, and demonstrated academic and non-academic achievements. The following 14 faculty-approved criteria were taken into consideration, although no fixed weight or fixed points were awarded for any of the criteria.

Criteria Used in UCSC's Comprehensive Review

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) - computed for all 'a-g' courses completed (10th and 11th grades), including additional grade points for UC-approved honors courses.
2. Test Scores - best single-sitting scores on either the ACT Plus Writing exam or the SAT-Reasoning exam were considered. For applicants who took both the ACT and the SAT exam, the higher test scores (from a single sitting) were considered.
3. Courses Completed/Planned - number of, content of, and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum ‘a-g’ requirements were considered, within the context of the number of course offerings at an applicant’s high school.
4. Honors Courses - number of and performance in UC-approved honors courses, which include Advanced Placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, UC-transferable college courses, and UC-certified courses at specific California high schools, were considered, within the context of an applicant’s honors offered at their high school.
5. Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) - students from California high schools who were identified as ELC (defined by the University of California) by being in the top 9% of their high school class.
6. Quality of Senior Year Program of Study - determined by the type (honors or not) and number of academic courses in the applicant’s senior year, within the course offerings at an applicant’s high school.
7. Educational Opportunities in California High Schools - an applicant’s academic performance was reviewed in relation to the educational opportunities within their high school.
8. Performance in Academic Subject Areas - outstanding performance in one or more 'a-g' subject area (minimum of four years with superior grades).
9. Achievements in Special Projects - outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
10. Improvement in Academic Performance - recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by an applicant’s GPA and the quality of their course work completed, in progress, and planned.
11. Special Talents, Achievements, and Awards - consideration of special talents, significant achievements, and awards that demonstrate the applicant’s promise for making a positive impact to the UCSC campus community.
12. Participation in Educational Preparation Programs - participation and persistence in academic enrichment programs, including but not limited to those sponsored by the University of California, was considered.
13. Academic Accomplishments Within Life Experiences - if student has demonstrated academic accomplishment despite some personal circumstances or life experiences (as discussed in the personal statement), that an applicant has overcome. Life experiences might include (but are not limited to) disability, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, and other special circumstances.
14. Geographic Location - defined by the location of the applicant's secondary school and/or residence.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Admissions Process

How many freshman applications did you receive this year?

38,514, nearly 5,400 more than last year.

How many freshmen did you offer admission to this year?

We admitted 18,692 students to enroll a class of 3,500 students. Our enrollment target is approximately 300 fewer than the number of freshmen who enrolled for fall 2012.

How many freshmen did you deny admission to this year?

19,822 freshman applicants were denied admission.

Were UC-qualified students denied admission?

Since we are a selective campus, the majority of our denied freshmen met UC’s minimum qualifications.

How did you make your admissions decisions?

We employed a faculty-approved comprehensive review of the freshman applicants. Our selection guide is on the web if you'd like to review the different factors that we take into consideration. The guide is available as a link through the my.ucsc.edu web site, or on admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman.html.

Each application received an in-depth review by one or more professionally-trained Admissions readers. A final, single score of 1-5 was determined, with 1 being the highest and 5 being the lowest. Grade-point average and test scores accounted for approximately half of the score a reader determined. Scoring was in accordance with guidelines issued by UCSC faculty. Admissions offers were made to the applicants who received a higher score, within the constraints of the campus’s enrollment goals.

In addition to the selection criteria noted above, if an applicant had notified our campus of receiving a grade of D or F in any 'a-g' course in their senior year, that student would not have been selected for admission by UC Santa Cruz. All students offered admission to UCSC are held to earning grades of C or higher in their senior-year courses or their admission will be canceled.

Did you take any out-of-state or international students?

Yes, but all these students would have been held to the same selection criteria as in-state students, although the minimum GPA for a non-resident of California is higher than the CA resident GPA (3.40 vs. 3.00, respectively). In addition, most international students would be required to meet the UCSC English proficiency requirement.

What was the average GPA of your admits?

Our mean GPA for freshman admits was 3.86, although the GPA was only one component of our Comprehensive Review Score.

What were the average test scores of your admits?

Our mean SAT Reasoning scores were: Critical Reading 585, Mathematics 618, Writing 596, and Total 1799. Our mean ACT Comprehensive score was 27. As with the GPA, test scores comprised only one component of our Comprehensive Review score.

Does UCSC have a waitlist?

Yes. UCSC offered 2,573 denied freshmen the opportunity to be considered on a waitlist. All these students were UC-qualified. The waitlist is for freshman applicants who were not offered admission due to enrollment limitations, but who are considered excellent candidates for admission, should space become available later in the admissions cycle. Students who have this option have been notified by the Office of Admissions and will have to respond to UCSC by April 15 if they want to be on the UCSC waitlist. Being placed on the waitlist does not guarantee admission to UC Santa Cruz.

For more information on the fall 2013 waitlist process, please see the UCSC Fall 2013 Waitlist FAQ at admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/waitlist-student-faq.html.

How did you select students to be offered the waitlist option?

These students were well-qualified (as determined by our comprehensive review), but given campus enrollment constraints, could not be offered admission.

Can I be placed on the waitlist even if I wasn't offered that option?

No. Only the students who were originally selected for the waitlist have that option. UCSC will not consider any additional students for the waitlist.

If I was not selected for admission, may I appeal the decision?

UC Santa Cruz does not set aside space in our class for students who appeal admissions decisions. Every application has already been thorougly reviewed using our selection process. Although few (if any) appeals will likely be granted due to enrollment constraints, students who choose to appeal should follow the procedure listed below. The appeal deadline will be strictly enforced.

Options for Applicants Not Offered Admission

1. Applicants who have not been offered admission at UC Santa Cruz may wish to consider the following options:
2. All UC campuses offer a quality education. If you applied to another UC campus and have been offered admission, we strongly encourage you to consider this offer. Many of our applicants also have admission offers at a number of other excellent public and private colleges and universities.

UC Santa Cruz is committed to assisting students in transferring from a California Community College. At the transfer level, we give the highest priority for admission to community college students who present a well-planned course of study and a competitive grade point average, and who apply at the junior level. If, after considering all of your options for higher education, you decide to enroll at a California community college, we urge you to contact the Transfer Center at that college for assistance in planning a course of study that will lead to successful transfer in the future. UC Santa Cruz maintains a transfer admission guarantee program (TAG) with every community college within the state to ensure that you can earn your degree at our campus.

The University of California maintains a strong relationship of advising and articulated course agreements with the California community college system. A listing of transfer centers within the state can be found at www.cccco.edu/CommunityColleges/tabid/830/Default.aspx.

A transfer center adviser or community college counselor can help you plan an appropriate transfer program that will allow you to complete your studies at the University of California.

Appeal Information - Fall 2013

To appeal our denial you must present new information that was not contained in your original application and personal statement. If there is nothing new or compelling, an appeal may not be appropriate. If your senior year grades have gone down, or if you have already earned a grade of D or F in any 'a-g' course in your senior year, an appeal will not be granted. If you are proposing summer session course work to fulfill any requirement, an appeal will not be granted. To appeal you must submit the following:

1. A letter of appeal addressed to:

Michael McCawley, Director of Admissions

Office of Admissions-Hahn

UC Santa Cruz

1156 High Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95064

ATTN: Appeals

The letter must come from you (not a parent or counselor) and should contain the reason(s) why you feel an exception should be made on your case. The letter must also note the courses in which you are currently enrolled (8th semester).

2. A complete transcript including 7th semester grades. An unofficial transcript is acceptable. A complete set of required test scores is also needed to review an appeal. Check the my.ucsc.edu portal to see if all your official test scores are on file with UCSC.

3. A single letter of recommendation (optional) from a source who can speak to your academic strengths. Multiple letters of recommendation will not be considered.

All information must be received in one packet, postmarked by March 29, 2013. Faxed appeals or e-mail appeals will not be given consideration. Appeals filed by someone other than the student, or appeals that are incomplete, will not be given consideration.

Decisions will be communicated no later than the week of April 15, 2013. Students whose appeals are successful will be required to meet the May 1 Statement of Intent to Register deadline.