Information for Upper-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.
All applicants were admitted or denied following an extensive review process that evaluated the applicant's self-reported academic record. Applications were reviewed for UC-eligibility, completion of the required course pattern, including appropriate prerequisite courses completed in the areas of English and mathematics, overall UC-transferable grade point average, and total number of UC-transferable units completed. The following faculty-approved criteria were taken into consideration.
Junior-level Transfer Selection Criteria - Fall 2008
As stated in the Transfer Admission and Selection Guide, UC Santa Cruz reviewed transfer applicants to determine UC eligibility and the following campus selection factors:
Good Standing -- students needed to be in "good standing" at their last institution. A student is in "good standing" if the grade point average is at least 2.0 and the official transcript does not indicate dismissal, probation, or other restrictions. A student who has outstanding financial obligations to another institution is not considered to be in "good standing." Students who were not in "good standing" at their last institution would have been denied admission.
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- Grade Point Average (GPA) -- calculated on all completed, UC-transferable course work. A minimum 2.40 was required, 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 GPA are not eligible to transfer and were not offered admission.
- Total UC-Transferable Units -- a minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter units was required for admission. Students proposing more than 6 units in the summer 2008 term toward this total would not have been admitted. Additionally, students proposing course loads that were not consistent with their previous academic history would not have been admitted.
- The Required Course Pattern as defined in transfer eligibility pathway #3 in UC publications (such as Answers for Transfers) -- two UC-transferable English composition courses, a UC-transferable mathematics course, and four courses in at least two of the three academic areas of social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences, and the arts and humanities. These courses need to be completed no later than the end of the spring 2008 term. Demonstrated success in appropriate preparatory course work in English and mathematics was required on the self-reported academic record for students who had not already satisfied these requirements.
Good Standing -- students needed to be in "good standing" at their last institution. A student is in "good standing" if the grade point average is at least 2.0 and the official transcript does not indicate dismissal, probation, or other restrictions. A student who has outstanding financial obligations to another institution is not considered to be in "good standing." Students who were not in "good standing" at their last institution would have been denied 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 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.
Did you accept any lower-division transfer students?
Yes, some sophomores were admitted provided they had been UC-eligible when they graduated from high school, and their advanced standing record was acceptable. Priority is given to junior-level transfer applicants, however.
Did you accept any second baccalaureate students?
To date, very few students were accepted for a second undergraduate degree.
How did you make your admissions decisions?
We employed faculty-approved selection criteria of the junior-transfer applicants. Refer to our Transfer Admission and Selection Guide for more information.
When did you send your decisions out?
We began notifying students March 15 and we will continue to notify through the end of April.
Have you finished your selection process?
No. We will have completed our selection of transfers by the end of April.
What was the average GPA of your admits?
Our mean GPA for all junior-level transfer students admitted through 3/15/2008 was 3.30. GPA is just one component of our selection criteria.
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 junior transfers?
We admitted all UC-eligible juniors who met our selection criteria. Any student who met the required GPA (2.40, 2.80 for non-California residents), required units (60 semester/90 quarter units), and the required course pattern, would have been offered admission, with some exceptions. 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 junior-level transfers to the same standards for admission, regardless of geographic location.
How were you able to let some students know their decision before other students?
Students who had approved UCSC TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) agreements were admitted on March 15, as well as many other transfers who appeared highly qualified and were transferring directly from a California community college.
How many of your decisions were made by March 15?
About 60% of our admission decisions for transfers were completed by that date.
Why haven’t you let students know about their denials before now?
The evaluation process for transfer applications is a complicated process and takes time. Notifications, both positive and negative, are sent on a rolling basis once the decisions are reached.
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 junior-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, and 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.
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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:
- 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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