Information for Lower-Division Transfer Applicants Not Offered Admission (March 15, 2008)
- Overview of UC Santa Cruz's Selection Process
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Admissions Process
- Options for Applicants Not Offered Admission
- Appeal Information - Fall 2008
Overview of UC Santa Cruz's Selection Process
UC Santa Cruz received over 5,200 transfer applications for fall 2008. The transfer enrollment target for fall quarter is 850 students. UC Santa Cruz remains selective in its transfer admissions process.
Admission offers were made to upper-division transfer students at the junior level who had completed (or will complete) the minimum transfer eligibility requirements outlined in eligibility pathway #3 in the Application and Answers for Transfers publications. All junior transfer applications were evaluated based on selection criteria as set forth by the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, and our campus' Academic Senate Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid.
Admission offers were made to lower-division transfer students at the sophomore level who were fully eligible from high school, and whose advanced standing course work was completed at an acceptable level. All lower-division transfer applicants were admitted or denied following an extensive review process that evaluated applicants’ self-reported academic record, their complete high school record (if submitted), and the results of the required examination pattern.
Sophomore-level Transfer Selection Criteria - Fall 2008
As stated in the Transfer Admission and Selection Guide, UC Santa Cruz reviewed lower-division transfer applicants to determine UC eligibility and the following campus selection factors:
- High School Eligibility – upon completing high school, applicants must have established the required Grade Point Average (GPA), successfully completed the required 'a-g' college preparatory courses, and completed the required examination pattern needed for freshman eligibility.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) -- calculated on all completed, UC-transferable course work. A minimum 2.00 was required if the student was eligible from high school, but students with GPAs close to this minimum may not have been offered admission. In addition, students having previously attended a UC campus and earning less than a 2.0 are not eligible to transfer and were not offered admission.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Admissions Process (as of 3/15/08)
How many transfer applications did you receive this year?
5,269.
How many sophomore applications did you receive this year?
429.
How many sophomore transfers did you offer admission to this year?
To date, we have admitted 104 sophomores.
How many junior transfers did you offer admission to this year?
To date, we have admitted 2,110 students in the hope of enrolling a class of 850 students.
How many transfers did you deny admission to this year?
To date, 870 students have been denied, including 286 sophomores.
If I was accepted out of high school, did I have priority for admission?
No. While this may have improved your chances for admission, we would have required you to submit a final high school transcript, and all official test scores, to determine your eligibility from high school. Priority is given to junior-level transfer applicants.
I never received a request for my high school record/test scores, what do I do now?
All sophomore applicants were e-mailed a request (if you did not have an e-mail address, a paper letter was sent). If you did not receive it, you can cite that fact should you choose to appeal.
How did you make your admissions decisions?
We employed faculty-approved selection criteria of the transfer applicants. Refer to our Transfer Admission and Selection Guide for more information.
When did you send your decisions out?
We notified almost all lower-division students of their admission status on March 15.
Have you finished your selection process?
No, although we anticipate all lower-division transfers will be reviewed by the end of March. Upper-division transfer selection will continue through April.
Is choice of major one of your criteria for admission/selection?
No. We make our admissions decisions regardless of the major that is listed on the application.
Did you admit all UC-eligible sophomore transfers?
We admitted all UC-eligible sophomores who supplied us with their high school record and examination scores, as well as their advanced standing record. See the Transfer Selection Criteria above for more details.
Did you take fall term grades into account?
In those cases where we felt we needed to see the fall performance, we used the information in the Application Update web site, or we contacted the student directly.
Did you give any preference for local students?
No. We held all sophomore-level transfers to the same standards for admission, regardless of geographic location.
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 or domestic sophomore-level transfers, plus they would have had to show a minimum GPA of 2.8. Most of our international transfers attend California community colleges.
I think you made a mistake and I’d like to appeal. Do you have an appeals process?
Yes, see below for more information.
I don’t want to appeal because I think a mistake has been made. Can you tell me how I can get your decision changed?
The only way that UC Santa Cruz will reconsider you is if you appeal, and do so by the deadline.
Have you set aside a specific of number of admission spaces for appeal cases?
No, there is no specific number, and submitting an appeal does not guarantee that we will reverse our decision. We look at each appeal that is submitted in relation to the selection criteria that we used this year, and will apply the criteria fairly. If you meet our selection criteria, you will be offered admission.
When will I know a decision on my appeal?
If your appeal is postmarked no later than April 25, 2008 we will consider it. Our decisions on appeals will be mailed no later than May 16. Students admitted by appeal will need to accept their offer of admission by June 1.
If my appeal is denied, what are my chances for winter admission?
Our campus will be accepting winter applications from junior-level applicants in all majors except film and digital media and music. The filing period for winter 2009 admission is July 1–31, 2008.
Can I apply for spring 2009?
Our campus does not accept applications for the spring quarter.
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Options for Applicants Not Offered Admission
Transfer applicants who have not been offered admission at UC Santa Cruz may wish to consider the following options:
- 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.
- Students who believe that they can meet the selection criteria for UC Santa Cruz, and still transfer at the junior level, can complete those requirements elsewhere and reapply for a future term. UC Santa Cruz is committed to assisting students in transferring from a California community college. We give highest priority for admission to community college students. Obtaining a guarantee agreement with UC Santa Cruz may be an option. See the Transfer Center at any of the California community colleges. A listing of transfer centers within the state can be found at www.cccco.edu/divisions/ss/transfer/trans_resources.htm.
- Please be aware that UC Santa Cruz does not consider students transferring at the senior level. If you have earned 90 semester/135 quarter units of UC-transferable units, UC Santa Cruz will not accept your application. If all of your units have been earned at a two-year institution, such as a community college, you are not considered to be in senior standing.
- UC Santa Cruz offers transfer advising services in-house at the UC Santa Cruz admissions office as well as at many California community colleges throughout the state. Please visit our advising services page to learn more about the planning assistance services we offer.
Appeal Information - Fall 2008
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. To appeal, you must submit the following:
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A letter of appeal addressed to:
- Transcripts from any collegiate institutions in which you’ve been registered/enrolled. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- A single letter of recommendation (optional) from a source who can speak to your academic strengths.
Michael McCawley, Acting 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 reasons why you feel an exception should be made on your case. The letter must also note the courses in which you are currently enrolled. If you are proposing summer session courses, please include this information in the letter.
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