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Transfer Admission and Selection: 2013-14

Prospective transfer students attending Preview Day 2010. Photo by Michael McCawley.

Congratulations to admitted students for fall 2013!

Along with the celebration of admission comes the increased responsibility that is part of becoming a university student. During this transition time, keep in mind the following:

Accept your offer of admission through our portal, my.ucsc.edu, no later than the deadline (May 1 for freshmen, June 1 for transfers).
Keep contact information current. You can update your contact information on my.ucsc.edu.
Keep a list of deadlines.
Take advantage of our Virtual Spring Spotlight.
Attend Summer Orientation.
Read your "Conditions of Admission" carefully and ensure you meet those expectations.

Admitted students must review and agree to their specific conditions of admission as posted in the MyUCSC portal.

2013 Conditions of Admission FAQs for Admitted Students

If you have questions about your admission, please contact an admissions representative, as shown on my.ucsc.edu. You may also e-mail admissions@ucsc.edu or call (831) 459-2131.

Information for upper-division transfer students not offered admission to UCSC for fall 2013

The admission and selection process for transfers to UC Santa Cruz reflects the academic rigor and preparation needed for admission to a major research institution. Meeting the minimum qualifications for the university does not guarantee you admission as a transfer student. Students are encouraged to achieve well beyond the minimum qualifications to enhance their chances for selection, especially by completing as many of the lower-division courses required by their intended major as possible.

Transfer applicants are thoroughly reviewed to determine their full spectrum of academic and personal achievements, including transfer course work completed for their major. UCSC uses faculty-approved criteria to determine which transfer students will be selected for admission. UC Santa Cruz gives the highest priority to junior-level transfer students coming from California community colleges.

UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admission Guide [PDF]

Transfer Living and Learning Community

UCSC Transfer Admission Guarantee

» Sign up for a Transfer Information Session

Qualifying for UC Transfer Admission

California residents

To qualify for admission to UC as a junior-level transfer student, you must fulfill both of the following criteria. Keep in mind that meeting these minimum requirements is not sufficient to gain admission to the campus or to the major of your choice.

1. Complete at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable college credit with a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.40. No more than 14 semester/21 quarter units may be taken on a pass/not pass basis.

2. Complete the following course pattern requirements, earning a grade of C (2.00) or better in each course:

Two UC-transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition; and
One UC-transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; and
Four UC-transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

Non-residents of California

The minimum admission requirements are the same, except that you must have a minimum GPA of 2.80 in all UC-transferable college course work.

Deadline for meeting transfer requirements

UC Santa Cruz requires that all transfer requirements be completed by the end of the spring term 2013 if you are applying for fall 2013. If you plan to complete the required courses in English composition and mathematics in spring 2013, you must have demonstrated adequate preparation in the related prerequisite course work. If any of the prerequisites are met through a placement exam, this information should be noted in the additional comments section of the application.

Admission by Exception

Admission by Exception is granted to a very small percentage of applicants who do not meet the UC transfer requirements. Such factors as academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and/or special circumstances, socioeconomic background, special talents and/or achievements, contributions to the community, and the quality of your personal statement are taken into consideration. UCSC does not grant exceptions for the required courses in English composition or mathematics.

Selection Criteria

UC-qualified transfer students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic performance and preparation, as assessed by a comprehensive review of the following:

GPA in all UC-transferable courses
completion of and performance in lower-division prerequisite courses in your proposed major
completion of a specified pattern of courses that meet general education requirements
participation in academically selective honors programs and performance in honors courses

Other factors that may be assessed include outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas, special projects, or programs; talents, achievements, experiences, or interests that will contribute to the vitality and educational environment of the campus; and special circumstances or personal challenges, especially as they relate to the social or educational environment(s), that have affected your life experience.

Class standing

Please note that, due to the high volume of applications that UC Santa Cruz receives, the campus is open to junior-level transfer students only. Lower-division transfer students (sophomores) are not considered for admission to UCSC.

UC Santa Cruz does not accept students who have completed 90 UC-transferable semester units (135 quarter units) or more from a combination of two-year and four-year institutions (senior standing). If you have earned all of your credits from community college, you are not affected by this limit, because UC grants a maximum of 70 semester (105 quarter) units in transfer from any two-year college.
Second baccalaureate applicants

Second baccalaureate candidates are evaluated on a case-by-case basis when enrollment allows. Check this web site for more information in the fall before applying.
Applicants with international academic records

UCSC welcomes transfer students who have completed course work outside the United States. A record of course work from collegiate institutions and universities outside of the U.S. must be submitted for evaluation. We require all applicants whose first language is not English to adequately demonstrate English competency as a part of the application process. Students may demonstrate competency by completing one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 550 on the paper-based or 80 on the Internet-based test
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 7 or higher
- Completion of two UC-transferable English composition courses (not ESL) in the U.S. with grades of B (3.00) or better
For IELTS, UC Santa Cruz only accepts scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted. An institutional code is NOT required. Please contact the test center where you took the test directly and request that your test scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution.

Preparing to Transfer

— Preparing for your major —

It is expected that junior-level transfer students will complete as many of the lower-division courses as possible for their chosen major prior to transferring to UCSC. This is particularly important if your major requires preparatory courses in mathematics and the sciences. Strong preparation will ease your transition to the university, shorten your time to degree, and leave more flexibility in your schedule to explore additional academic interests. Information regarding the required courses for each major can be found in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog and ASSIST.

Most transfer students are admitted to the campus as proposed majors (as listed on the UC application). We strongly advise junior-level transfer students to research the requirements for their intended major in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog or on the UCSC academic department's web site. Many majors require specific course work and/or GPA levels for acceptance. Junior transfers are required to declare their major no later than their second quarter of attendance.

Art majors: Junior transfer students are accepted into the art major after passing the portfolio review in April. The UC application and the Art Department Portfolio Review application are separate and independent processes. Being accepted to UC Santa Cruz does not guarantee that you will pass the portfolio review, and passing the portfolio review does not guarantee admission to UC Santa Cruz. More information on the portfolio review can be found at art.ucsc.edu or by calling the Art Department at (831) 459-3551.
Jack Baskin School of Engineering: Acceptance into any Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) major will be based on completion of and grades earned in the individual department's foundation courses, in addition to the overall college academic record. The foundation courses required for admission to BSOE majors are described at ugrad.soe.ucsc.edu/admissions. For more information, e-mail soeadmissions@soe.ucsc.edu or call (831) 459-5840. Please note: IGETC is not recommended for engineering transfer students.
All other majors: During the declaration of major process, which occurs once you are already enrolled at UC Santa Cruz, other departments may screen for admission to their majors using criteria well beyond minimum admission requirements. For further information, please consult advising.ucsc.edu/roadmap/premajors, the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog, and the appropriate UCSC academic department web site.

Related Information

UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admission Guarantee (UCSC TAG)

The UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admission Guarantee (UCSC TAG) Program is designed for California community college transfer students at the junior level. The UC TAG application must be submitted online between September 1 and 30, 2012 for fall 2013 consideration. UCSC accepts transfer admission agreements for fall quarter only.

More information on UCSC TAG

Application filing period

Application filing period for fall quarter 2013: November 1-30, 2012

Applying for admission

Apply to UC Santa Cruz by completing the UC application.

The online application explains the filing process and instructions for submitting your application.

To ensure that you will be considered for admission to the university, you must file your application during the November filing period shown above.

Financial aid and scholarships

All applicants are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than March 2 online (the School Code for UCSC is 001321). This application is used to determine eligibility for all grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal education loans for students and parents. California residents must also submit a GPA Verification Form by March 2 to be considered for the state Cal Grant (www.calgrants.org). Detailed information is available at the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office web site.

If you are not eligible to submit a FAFSA, are a California resident, and think you will qualify to be considered for the AB540 Nonresident Tuition Waiver, apply for Cal Grants, UC grants, and UC scholarships using the California Dream Application. You must also submit the GPA Verification Form as described above. More information is available at the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office web site.

Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity plan guarantees that eligible California resident undergraduates with family incomes up to $80,000 will receive gift assistance that will, at a minimum, cover all their mandatory systemwide fees during the academic year. Blue and Gold Opportunity Site

ASSIST

Comprehensive articulation information, including transferable course agreements (TCAs) for all California community colleges, is available on the ASSIST web site.

Housing

Two years of university housing are guaranteed for new transfer students entering single-student housing in fall 2013, as long as all deadlines are met. New transfer students requesting university housing are housed in the Transfer Community at Porter College.

Contact your representative

Prospective students and their families in California, as well as California community college counselors, may contact an Admissions Regional Representative for more information. Please see our Regional Representatives page. Out-of-state students may contact outofstateadmisions@ucsc.edu, and international students may contact internationaladmissions@ucsc.edu.

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