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Freshmen: Exceeding Eligibility

Every year, UC Davis receives applications from many more qualified students than we can accept. Our admission process targets students who strive to challenge themselves with a rigorous academic program and to build personal qualities and talents that contribute to the strength and diversity of the campus community. Applicants who are admitted generally well exceed UC eligibility criteria.

This information is designed to help you understand what you can do to be a well-qualified applicant and to increase your chances of applying successfully to UC Davis.

Class Profile

How do your exam scores and GPA compare to those of students who have been admitted to UC Davis? Download our UC Davis Student Profile for more freshman and transfer admission statistics, including GPA and exam scores, most popular majors, demographics and cost of attendance.

 

Academic Profile , Fall 2008
  Freshmen Transfers
GPA 3.75-4.17 3.17-3.72
ACT 24-30 n/a
SAT Math 580-710 n/a
SAT Reading 540-670 n/a
SAT Writing 550-680 n/a
Note: High school grade point averages are weighted and capped at 4.50. Ranges shown represent the middle 50% of scores. ACT and SAT exams are not required for transfer admission.

 

Advanced Examinations

We encourage our applicants to challenge themselves with advanced coursework such as that provided in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Most AP and IB courses qualify as honors courses for the purposes of calculating your GPA.

A score of 3, 4 or 5 on certain AP tests may be considered equivalent to classes offered at UC Davis. See our complete Advanced Placement exam list for information on earning credit for your high AP scores.

Students earning the IB diploma with a score of 30 or higher will receive 30 quarter (20 semester) units of credit toward an undergraduate degree. You will receive 8 quarter units of credit for scores of 5, 6 or 7 on a higher-level exam, if you do not complete the diploma.

Honors-Level and College Courses

It’s worth your while to make the extra effort to succeed in honors-level courses. In addition to the extra boost high grades in honors courses can give your GPA, you can also receive additional points on your application for taking “a-g” courses beyond the minimum described in the Subject Requirement. Be sure to check your high school’s UC-certified course list to make sure that courses designated “honors” at the high school level are considered honors-level by UC.

Have you taken UC-transferable courses at a community college or other institution? You may be able to receive credit for those courses at UC Davis. Awarding credit is based upon the official transcript from the institution at which the courses were completed. We deny credit if the transcript shows zero credits earned in a class. Some colleges award no credit to students taking a course to satisfy high school requirements. If credit is listed and the course is UC-transferable, you’ll receive transferable credit at UC Davis.

Application Criteria for Selection Process

For information on the selection process for applicants to our most recent fall term, please visit Application Criteria for Freshman Selection Process.

UC Eligibility Requirements

See Admission Requirements for information about general UC eligibility requirements.