Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's): Topics

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Question: My parents went to UC Davis. Will that help my chances of being accepted? Does UC Davis have a legacy program?

Answer: Unfortunately, no credit is awarded to applicants whose parents or relatives attended UC Davis. You can learn more about the criteria that UC Davis uses for selection at admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_selection_process.cfm.

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Question: Can I change my major before submitting an appeal to UC Davis?

Answer: Unfortunately, you cannot change your major for your appeal.

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Question: Where do I get an application?

Answer: There is one online application for all UC campuses: the UC undergraduate application for admission and scholarships. Select each campus on the application that you wish to apply to. The UC application is available beginning in mid-October.

If you don't have easy online access, you may submit an e-mail request for a print application. Include your name, address, application term (e.g. fall 2010) and applicant status (freshman or transfer), along with an explanation for why you are unable to use the online application. Print applications must be postmarked by the last day of the filing period.

For more information about the application process, please visit our Application Basics page.

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Question: May I submit a late application?

Answer: UC Davis rarely accepts late applications. To apply for admission after a filing period has ended or for a closed filing period, you must submit a written appeal. Consideration for appeals is based on your overall application and extenuating circumstances. For more information, visit the "Can I apply late or for a closed term" section at admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/application_basics.cfm.

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Question: My name/Social Security number/birthdate is wrong on the application. How do I fix it?

Answer: Please fax a copy of a legal document (driver’s license, passport, Social Security card) that displays the correct information to (530) 752-3712. Be sure to include your ID number and a short explanation of what needs to be corrected.

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Question: Do I need to send my transcripts?

Answer: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application. If you are admitted, you will be asked to provide official transcripts after your final grades have been posted.

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Question: Do I need to send letters of recommendation?

Answer: No, UC campuses do not accept letters of recommendation.

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Question: Do I need to schedule an interview?

Answer: No, UC Davis does not conduct interviews.

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Question: When and where will my admission decision be posted?

Answer: All UC Davis admission decisions will be posted on your MyAdmissions page. If you have not set up your MyAdmissions account, please visit myadmissions.ucdavis.edu and use your UC Davis Student ID number to get started. Freshman admission decisions will be posted between March 1 and 31. Transfer admission decisions will be posted between mid-March and the end of April.

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Question: Which term are you currently accepting applications for? When does the next application period open? When is the application deadline?

Answer: UC Davis will be accepting applications for fall quarter 2010 between November 1-30, 2009. The UC application will be available starting October 1. The deadline to submit your application is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on November 30. We do not accept applications for spring quarter, and are not currently accepting any applications for winter quarter. Visit our application basics page for more information on applying to UC Davis.

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Question: How do I make additions or corrections to my application? How will I know when you have received my changes?

Answer: Before November 30, you may call the UC Undergraduate Application Processing Service at (800) 523-2048 to make changes to your application.

After November 30 and before your application is received by UC Davis, you will not be able to make changes or corrections to your application unless there is an error with your name, Social Security number or birth date. In those instances, please fax a copy of a legal document (driver’s license, passport, Social Security card) that displays the correct information to our office at (530) 752-3712. Be sure to include your ID number and a short explanation of what needs to be corrected. You will need to contact each campus to which you applied to submit corrected application information.

Once you receive confirmation from UC Davis that we have received your application, you should immediately set up a MyAdmissions account using your UC Davis Student ID (SID). Use MyAdmissions to check your application status, update your contact information, report any changes in your grades, provide explanations for grades below "C," submit other required information and verify that we have received any documents you submitted.

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Question: Did you receive my application? How can I find out more about the status of my application?

Answer:
After you submit your application online, you will receive an e-mail confirmation from the UC Undergraduate Admissions Processing Service (usually within four-to-five weeks of submitting your application). If UC Davis is listed in this e-mail as a campus to which you applied, it means we received your application.

By January 20, fall applicants should also receive an e-mail from UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions confirming that our campus has received your application from the UC Undergraduate Admissions Processing Service. We will send all e-mail communications regarding your admission status to the address that you listed on your application. Please add ucdavis.edu to your e-mail address book today so our messages don't get caught in your junk filter, and check your e-mail regularly. If you do not receive a confirmation message from us by January 20, please contact us at (530) 752-2971.

As soon as you receive a confirmation from our office, please be sure to set up your MyAdmissions account at http://myadmissions.ucdavis.edu and check it regularly to monitor your application status.

For information about what you need to do after you apply, please visit our "After you Applied" pages at our Web site:

• Freshman applicants: admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_applied.cfm
• Transfer applicants: admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/tr_applied.cfm

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Question: Which SAT or ACT scores will UC Davis use? Does it look bad if I take the exams more than once?

Answer: UC Davis will use the highest scores from your SAT/ACT exam sittings. For the SAT Reasoning Test, we use the highest reading, math and writing score from one sitting. For the SAT Subject Tests, we use the highest two test scores in two different subject areas from any sitting. We will not mix and match the highest pieces from different sittings. We do not consider whether you took the tests more than once. But we do require that you take the tests no later than the December prior to the fall admission period for which you are applying (December 2008 is the deadline to take exams and be considered for fall 2009 admission, for example). For more information, visit admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_exam_reqt.cfm.

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Question: How do I apply?

Answer: To apply to UC Davis, you will need to complete the UC online application for admission and scholarships during the application filing period. The application is available here: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply. Please review our application tips at admissions.ucdavis.edu/apply before you submit your application.

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Question: If I have taken college coursework during high school, am I considered a freshman or transfer applicant?

Answer: You are considered a freshman applicant if you completed your college coursework while you were still in high school. If you are admitted, you will submit your high school and college transcripts. You will receive units for any transferable coursework, but will retain freshman status until the spring quarter of your first year when you units have been completely processed.  Transferable college courses taken while in high school are considered "honors" courses in the calculation of your gpa.  You may receive up to 8 additional points in the calculation of your gpa for honors courses taken in the last three years of high school (in which you received grades of C or better).

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Question: What do you look at in my application?

Answer: UC Davis thoroughly reviews all applicants' records and scores them based on criteria defined within our Comprehensive Review selection process. Of the criteria we consider, GPA is the single most important component, followed by standardized test scores. We also take into consideration special talent, demonstrated leadership, completion of academic preparation programs and several other criteria, which we look for in your application and in your personal statement. Learn more about our selection criteria and our comprehensive review process at admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_selection_process.cfm. Please note that each UC campus has a slightly different process for reviewing applications. For tips on completing your application, visit admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_completing_app.cfm.

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Question: Do I need to send official SAT/ACT scores to UC Davis?

Answer: Yes, please contact the College Board and/or ACT and ask them to send all of your official scores to UC Davis. The UC Davis CEEB code for the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests is 004834. The UC Davis ACT code is 0454.

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Question: How do I withdraw/cancel my application for admission? 

Answer:  To withdraw your application for admission from UC Davis, please send an e-mail message with your request to Operations Manager Brenda Lance at bllance@ucdavis.edu. Please include your full name (as you listed it on your application) and student ID number. We wish you success at your chosen institution! Sincerely, UC Davis Admissions Staff

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Question: Did you receive my AP/ACT/SAT test scores and/or transcripts? When will they be reflected in MyAdmissions?

Answer: After you apply to UC Davis, you can check your MyAdmissions page to determine if UC Davis received your transcripts and/or test scores.

You can confirm that UC Davis has received your SAT, ACT, and/or AP scores by clicking on the "View Scores Received" link on your MyAdmissions page. Once we receive your official test scores from College Board, the scores will be displayed as "official" on your MyAdmissions page. Please note that only your highest sitting from the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT and your two highest Subject Test scores will show as received. If you do not see information you submitted reflected in MyAdmissions by January 20, please call our office at (530) 752-2971.

Once UC Davis has received your official, final transcripts, they will show as "received" on MyAdmissions. It can take a week or more for transcripts to display as "received,"; transcripts showing summer session coursework can take up to three months to be reflected, so please be patient. If it has been longer than this since the date your submitted your documents, please call our office at (530) 752-2971.

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Question: I completed my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and was told that I needed to send proof of my US citizenship to the UC Davis financial aid office. Where should I send this information?

Answer:
Please contact our Financial Aid and Scholarships Office at undergradfinaid@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-2390.

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Question: Since submitting my application for admission, I have dropped one of the courses I listed on the application. Will this affect my admission?

Answer:
Please visit your MyAdmissions page and use the course update form to notify us of the change. The course change may affect your admission status, so you will want to notify us through MyAdmissions as soon as possible, along with the reason for the change.

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Question: What scholarships are available?

Answer: When you complete the UC online application for admission and scholarships, you are automatically applying for most scholarships offered through UC Davis. We also offer several restricted scholarships listed in the application. Be sure to review these listings as you complete the application, and select all that you may be eligible to receive. In addition, we offer Regents Scholarships and Cal Aggie Alumni Association scholarships, which requires a separate online application. You can learn more about scholarships at admissions.ucdavis.edu/finances/scholarships.cfm.

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Question: I have already signed a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) contract and plan to enter UC Davis this fall, and am wondering if there is anything else I need to do.

Answer: Your signed TAG contract guarantees that you will be admitted to UC Davis in the major you want, for the specified term, provided that you complete the terms of the agreement and apply for admission during the open filing period. The contract outlines the steps you must take in order for this guarantee.

The UC Davis Transfer Opportunity Program (TOP) adviser at your community college is available to walk you through these steps. Visit your transfer center to schedule an appointment.

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Question: I missed the January 31 deadline to submit an update of my fall and winter course grades for the Application Update (AU). Can I still submit these?

Answer:
Although the UC Davis priority deadline of January 31 has passed, the UC Application Update form will remain available through the term.

Because we cannot complete processing of your application until your Application Update is filed, we encourage you to complete the online UC Application Update form as soon as possible.

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Question: I have applied to UC Davis with a signed Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreement, but am having a hard time with one of my required courses. How will dropping this class affect my TAG agreement?

Answer:   Please review your online TAG Decision Form for the specific requirements of your TAG and ensure that you will complete your unit requirement by the end of spring quarter/semester. If you have specific concerns, you should contact your adviser through your community college transfer/counseling center as soon as possible to discuss your options.

If you have not already done so, please complete the UC Application Update form online to report any dropped courses or changes in your study plan.

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Question: There is an error with my reported grades. How can I have them corrected?

Answer: You can use the Update link in MyAdmissions to report changes to UC Davis.

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Question: I changed my class schedule from the courses listed on my application. How will I know if these coursework changes will affect my admission to UC Davis? When will I be notified of any problems?

Answer:

Please be sure to submit your coursework changes to MyAdmissions using the Reporting Application and Coursework Changes link located in the Critical Information section.

Once your changes have been submitted, you should receive a response from one of our advisers within ten (10) business days if your admission status will be affected. You will not receive any response if the changes will not affect your admission status.

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Question: Is it possible to apply for transfer admission to UC Davis during winter or spring quarters? What is the next deadline for transfer applications?

Answer: We are not accepting transfer applications for winter or spring 2010. The next filing period for transfer applications will be November 1-30, 2009, for the fall 2010 term.

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Question: I've already submitted my application for admission and the application period has closed. Is it too late to change my major?

Answer: Unfortunately it is too late to change your major on your application -- it is already it the process of review. If you are admitted, you will be able to petition for a change of major after your first quarter.

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Question: The test scores shown on MyAdmissions are incorrect. How can I correct them?

Answer: Please fax us a copy of your test scores at (530) 752-1280, sent to the attention of Brenda Lance. Please be sure to include your Social Security Number or UC Davis Student ID number.

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Question: I applied to UC Davis and now need to update my contact information. How can I do this?

Answer:
Please send us an e-mail with your UC Davis Student ID, old contact information and new contact information, and we will update our records.

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Question: Why wasn't I admitted to UC Davis?

Answer: Each fall, UC Davis receives applications from many more highly qualified students than it can accommodate. This year over 42,000 exceptionally talented applicants competed to fill out a freshman class of 4,600. For more information concerning our Comprehensive Review process please visit admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_nonadmitted.

If attending UC Davis remains your goal, you may want to consider attending a California community college this fall, obtain a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), and apply to UC Davis as a junior transfer student. For more information regarding transfer admission please visit admissions.ucdavis.edu/transfers/index.cfm.

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Question: I won't have final information about my fall courses until after the January 31 deadline to file my UC Application Update (AU). How should I handle this? Will this affect my UC Davis admission?

Answer:
Though the transfer application update should be filed by January 31, filings will be accepted until February 15.

As soon as you are aware of any changes or issues that may impact your application status, please use MyAdmissions to alert us of your situation. Please be sure to include an explanation of the problem so the admissions adviser reviewing your application can work with you.

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Question: The name I used to register for AP/ACT/SAT/TOEFL test(s) is different than the name I used on my UC application. How can I ensure that my test scores are correctly associated with my application?

Answer:
Please use the "update records" field in MyAdmissions to notify us of this issue.

Before campus reporting deadlines, you should also contact the College Board or other reporting agency to correct your score record and have your scores re-sent to all the campuses to which you applied.

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Question: I am a student athlete at a university outside of California. The UC application period has already closed - is it still possible to apply for fall admission to UC Davis?

Answer:
Thank you for your interest in UC Davis. I encourage you to contact the UC Davis coach for your sport to learn more about your options for applying to UC Davis. Contact information for all of our Division I sports coaches can be found at <a href="http://athletics.ucdavis.edu">athletics.ucdavis.edu</a>.

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Question: Only some of my ACT/SAT test scores are shown in MyAdmissions. Does that mean that UC Davis did not receive all my test scores? Does UC Davis add up the scores from all tests taken to get the best score possible?

Answer:
Only your highest set of scores will be reflected in MyAdmissions. For more information, please see our Freshman Examination Requirement page.

ACT Assessment plus Writing: Only the composite ACT score is used. If you take both the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT Assessment, we will convert your ACT score and SAT Reasoning score to equivalent UC scores and use the test that gives you the higher score. You can convert your scores using the online calculator.

SAT Reasoning Test: If you take the SAT Reasoning Test more than once, we use only your highest overall score (combined reading, math and writing scores) from the same test sitting.

SAT Subject Tests: You may repeat the SAT Subject Tests as many times as you wish, and we will use only your highest score for each individual SAT Subject Test.
 

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Question: What is the latest date that I can submit my SAT or ACT test scores? If I won't receive my test scores before the application deadline, can I still apply?

Answer: We will accept your SAT and ACT scores for tests taken through December of your senior year of high school, as long as you have the testing agency send your official test scores to us as soon as they are available. You may request that your score report be automatically sent to us at the time you take each test.

If you will be completing the UC application for undergraduate admission and scholarships before receiving your test scores, please indicate the test name and your testing date on the application. You are also responsible for making sure the testing agency sends your official test scores to us as soon as they are available.

For more information, visit admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/fr_exam_reqt.cfm.

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Question: I've already submitted my UC application and didn't include UC Davis as one of my campus choices. Can I still apply to UC Davis?

Answer:
If you already submitted your UC application and did not include UC Davis as one of your campus choices, but would like to add it, please notify the University of California by November 30 at ucinfo@ucapplication.net or in writing to:

  University of California
  Undergraduate Application Processing Service
  P.O. Box 4010
  Concord, CA 94524-4010

Your request must be postmarked no later than November 30.

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Question: I applied to UC Davis as a transfer student, but haven't received an admission decision yet. Many of my friends have already received their admission notices. Should I be concerned?

Answer: It can be frustrating to wait for your admission decision while your friends may have already received their decisions. Please be patient! Transfer admission notices are released throughout March and April. Because of the volume of transfer applications received and the time and care required to review each application, we must release transfer admission notices over the course of several weeks. Typically, we can complete our review of all transfer applications by mid-April and will notify all applicants of our decision. If you do not receive an admission notice by April 15, please contact us at (530) 752-2971.

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Question: Do you accept transfer applications for summer session? If so, what is the deadline for applying?

Answer: UC Davis does not accept applications for admission during the summer. Our next open filing period will be this November for fall 2010 admission.

You may, however, take summer courses at UC Davis. You would apply as a non-UC Davis student and you would receive UC Davis credit. You would not be considered a UC Davis student and would not be able to enroll in fall classes. Please visit our Summer Sessions Web site for more information.
 

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Question: I was denied admission to UC Davis. Can I appeal this decision? When will I be notified of my appeal status?

Answer: You may file an online written appeal by 11:59 p.m. on April 15 via the MyAdmissions Web site. Very few appeals are granted each year, and for this reason we encourage you to consider offers from the campuses to which you were admitted.

The written appeal should provide us with new, pertinent, and compelling information that explains academic performance, personal circumstances, or extraordinary achievements not already included in the application or personal statement. Additionally, you must provide your fall grades, as well as your spring courses in progress.

For more information concerning the appeal process, please visit MyAdmissions. You will be notified of your appeal status shortly before the deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), and our decision will also be posted to your MyAdmissions account.

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Question: First of all, I'm glad to admitted UC DAVIS. Actually I'm taking English 126(critical thinking), however I think hard to get passing grade. So if I can, can I take English 126 class on summer 2009?

Answer: Please use the 'Reporting Application and Coursework Changes' link located in the 'Critical Information' section of your MyAdmissions page at http://myadmissions.ucdavis.edu to request this change in your schedule. You will hear from an admissions adviser within 5-7 business days.

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