Eligibility for Admission to the University
of California
First-year students can establish eligibility to the University of California by one of three methods. Refer to the University of California Office of the President web site for more information about UC eligibility.
Eligibility in the Statewide Context
Complete the required college preparatory courses (grades of C or higher are required), commonly called the "a-g" course pattern.
a. History/Social Science, two years
b. English, four years
c. Mathematics, three years (four years recommended)
d. Laboratory Science, two years (three years recommended)
e. Language Other than English, two years in one language other than English (three years recommended)
f. Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), one year
g. College Preparatory Electives, one year
If you attend a California high school, you can view which courses satisfy the "a-g" requirements through the following web site: www.ucop.edu/doorways. If you attend a high school outside of California, you can still refer to the Doorways web site for information about courses that meet the "a-g" requirement.
Establish an Acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA)
California residents need a minimum GPA of 3.00. Nonresidents of California need a minimum GPA of 3.40. The GPA is only calculated on courses meeting the "a-g" requirements in the 10 th , the 11 th , and, if completed, the 12 th grade. See the UC Eligibility Index chart on this page for further information.
Complete the Examination Requirement no later than December of your senior year.
1. The ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test. The scores you report for each section of the SAT (critical reading, mathematics, and writing) must be from the same sitting.
2. Two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas. Choose from history, literature, mathematics (Level 2 only), science, or language other than English.
Eligibility in the Local Context (California Residents Only)
If you have been determined to be in the top 4 percent of your high school class (as determined by UC), then you are designated as ELC and are eligible. If you are eligible through ELC, the university will notify you at the beginning of your senior year. You must then apply to UC in November and complete the Examination Requirement and the remaining courses in the Subject Requirement. ELC students who complete these requirements are guaranteed a place at one of UC's undergraduate campuses, though not necessarily at their campus of choice.
Eligibility by Examination Alone
You must satisfy the same examination requirement as described in "Eligibility in the Statewide Context," above, but your test score total must meet a specific threshold.
To qualify this way, you must achieve a minimum UC Score Total--calculated according to the Eligibility Index instructions--of 410 (425 for nonresidents). In addition, you must earn a minimum UC Score of 63 on each component of the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test and on each SAT Subject Test.
You may not use an SAT Subject Test to meet these requirements if you have completed a transferable college course in that subject with a grade of C or better.
Admission by Exception
Admission by Exception is granted to a very small percentage of applicants who do not meet UC-eligibility requirements. Such factors as academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and/or special circumstances, socio-economic background, special talents and/or achievements, contributions to the community, and the quality of your personal statement are taken into consideration.
UC Eligibility Index
To compute your "UC Score," visit the following web site.
UC Eligibility Index
California Residents
Minimum GPA = 3.00 |
"a-g" GPA |
UC Score Total |
under 3.00 ineligible |
|
3.00 - 3.04 |
223 |
3.05 - 3.09 |
210 |
3.10 - 3.14 |
198 |
3.15 - 3.19 |
187 |
3.20 - 3.24 |
175 |
3.25 - 3.29 |
165 |
3.30 - 3.34 |
157 |
3.35 - 3.39 |
152 |
3.40 - 3.44 |
147 |
3.45 and above |
143 |
Nonresidents of California
Minimum GPA = 3.40 |
3.40 - 3.44 |
147 |
3.45 and above |
143 |
| Test Score Translation Table |
ACT Score |
SAT Score |
UC Score |
ACT Score |
SAT Score |
UC Score |
36 |
800 |
100 |
|
490 |
48 |
|
790 |
98 |
20 |
480 |
47 |
35 |
780 |
97 |
|
470 |
45 |
|
770 |
95 |
19 |
460 |
43 |
34 |
760 |
93 |
|
450 |
42 |
|
750 |
92 |
18 |
440 |
40 |
33 |
740 |
90 |
|
430 |
38 |
|
730 |
88 |
17 |
420 |
37 |
32 |
720 |
87 |
|
410 |
35 |
|
710 |
85 |
16 |
400 |
33 |
31 |
700 |
83 |
|
390 |
32 |
|
690 |
82 |
15 |
380 |
30 |
30 |
680 |
80 |
|
370 |
28 |
|
670 |
78 |
14 |
360 |
27 |
29 |
660 |
77 |
|
350 |
25 |
|
650 |
75 |
13 |
340 |
23 |
28 |
640 |
73 |
|
330 |
22 |
|
630 |
72 |
12 |
320 |
20 |
27 |
620 |
70 |
|
310 |
18 |
|
610 |
68 |
11 |
300 |
17 |
26 |
600 |
67 |
|
290 |
15 |
|
590 |
65 |
10 |
280 |
13 |
25 |
580 |
63 |
|
270 |
12 |
|
570 |
62 |
9 |
260 |
10 |
24 |
560 |
60 |
|
250 |
8 |
|
550 |
58 |
8 |
240 |
7 |
23 |
540 |
57 |
|
230 |
5 |
|
530 |
55 |
7 |
220 |
3 |
22 |
520 |
53 |
|
210 |
2 |
|
510 |
52 |
1-6 |
200 |
0 |
21 |
500 |
50 |
|
|
|
Selection Policy for UC Santa Cruz
The faculty of the University of California, Santa Cruz, wishes to clearly articulate the freshman selection policy it plans to use for the fall 2009 quarter. Listed below are the 14 UC-approved criteria that a campus may consider in selecting students for admission.
UC Santa Cruz will calculate a score on all UC-eligible freshman applicants. For each of the 14 criteria, a specific point total is noted. A total of 10,000 points is possible. Applicants who achieve higher overall scores will be admitted within the context of the campus enrollment goals.
Grade-Point Average (GPA)
Recognizing the connection between university success and high school GPA, the faculty will award up to 4,400 points in this area. The GPA is calculated on all "a-g" courses taken in the 10th and 11th grades, with an extra grade point awarded for an approved honors course in which a grade of C or higher is earned. The maximum GPA computed is 4.40.
Test Scores
The UC-required examinations are a strong predictor of university success. The faculty will award up to 2,400 points from the following: the best score from the ACT plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test (single sitting), and two SAT Subject Tests in two different areas chosen from the following: history, literature, mathematics (Level 2 only), science, or language other than English.
Courses Completed/Planned
The faculty values students who have challenged themselves by taking more than the minimum subject requirements and will award up to 200 points in this area. Courses meeting UC's "a-g" requirements will be considered, including those in mathematics and languages other than English taken during seventh and/or eighth grades.
Honors Courses
Students who have taken or plan to take more rigorous senior-year course work, as defined by a UC-honors designation, will be awarded up to 200 points by the faculty. Courses approved for UC-honors include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, UC-transferable college courses, and UC-approved honors courses (California high schools only).
Eligibility in the Local Context
The faculty wishes to reward top academic excellence of California students who are identified as ELC by awarding them 200 points. These students are evaluated in the summer before their senior year and are determined by UC to be in the top 4 percent of their high school class.
Quality of Senior-Year Program of Study
The quality of the senior year program is of utmost importance to the faculty, and students may be awarded up to 200 points for their senior-year program of study. The total number of courses planned, as well as the number of honors courses planned, is taken into consideration. (Refer to previous criterion, "Honors Courses," above.)
Academic Opportunities in California High Schools
The faculty understands that not all high schools in California can offer students the same academic opportunities and will award up to 400 points for those students attending lower-performing California high schools as measured by the State's Academic Performance Index (API). ( 400 point maximum between this criterion and the last criterion, "Geographic Location," below.)
Performance in Academic Subject Areas
Students who have demonstrated outstanding performance in one or more of the "a-g" subject areas may be awarded up to 250 points by the faculty. Top academic performance sustained throughout a student's high school career will receive consideration in this area.
Achievements in Special Projects
The faculty wishes to acknowledge achievement in special projects by awarding up to 250 points. Students will be reviewed for outstanding or exceptional achievement in one or more special projects related to an academic field of study, not necessarily confined to the "a-g" subject areas. Programs and/or projects outside the classroom in the "a-g" subject areas will also be considered under this criterion.
Improvement in Academic Performance
The faculty will award up to 100 points for recent improvement in academic performance. Students showing improvement in grades from their sophomore year to their junior year by at least one full grade point will be given consideration in this area.
Only courses in the "a-g" subject areas will be calculated for this purpose.
Special Talents, Achievements, and Awards
The faculty values students who have shown the promise to contribute to the intellectual vitality of the campus and will consider awarding up to 500 points in this area. Students who have earned significant recognition (e.g., at the state , national, or international level) in a particular field (including but not limited to visual and performing arts, written communication, student government, athletic endeavors, community service, etc.), or demonstrated exceptional leadership potential, will be considered under this criterion.
Participation in Educational Preparation Programs
The faculty supports the efforts of many pre-collegiate educational programs and the students whom those programs serve. Up to 200 points may be awarded for those students who have participated and persisted in certain Educational Preparation Programs, and for those students who have demonstrated academic accomplishment within those programs (refer to the list on page 12 of the University of California application.)
Academic Accomplishment Within Life Experiences
The faculty will award up to 700 points for those students who have demonstrated academic achievement while also having dealt with significant life issues. Life experiences include but are not limited to disability, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, and other special circumstances.
Geographic Location
The faculty wishes to promote geographic diversity within the student body and will award up to 100 points to help achieve that diversity. Certain geographic regions where applicants live or attend school will be considered under this criterion. (400 point maximum between this criterion and the criterion "Academic Opportunities in California High Schools," above.)
Related Information
Application Filing Period
Fall quarter 2009: November 1-30, 2008
Applying for Admission
You may apply to UC Santa Cruz online by filling out the University of California application.
If you require a paper copy of the application, please contact the UC Undergraduate Application Processing Service by telephone or e-mail.
(800) 523-2048 (CA only) or (925) 808-2181 (outside CA)
Hearing-Impaired Callers: TTY (925) 521-9280
Ask for the UC Application Processing Service.
E-mail: ucinfo@ucapplication.net
Admission to Majors in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering
While all freshman applicants are considered for admission to the UC Santa Cruz campus under the selection criteria previously described, acceptance into an engineering major is based on high school grade point average, courses completed in mathematics and sciences, scores on standardized tests, and/or the personal statement. Details on the admission process for the Jack Baskin School of Engineering can be found at
www.soe.ucsc.edu/admissions.
Campus Tours
Student-led campus tours are offered year-round on weekdays and selected Saturdays. Reservations are required and may be made online.
Other Contact Information
Office of Admissions
admissions@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-4008
Campus Tours
visits@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-4008
Financial Aid
fin_aid@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-2963
Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)
(831) 459-2296
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
drc@ucsc.edu
Voice: (831) 459-2089
TTY: (831) 459-4806
Housing Office
housing@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-2394
Parent Guide
UCSC Home Page
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UC Santa Cruz Freshman Admissions Guide
