Transfers: Non-Admitted Students

Why wasn't I admitted to UC Davis?

The extraordinary size and strength of the UC Davis applicant pool means that many qualified candidates are denied admission. For fall quarter 2008, UC Davis received approximately 8,000 transfer applications competing for approximately 1,800 available spaces.

What were the admission requirements?

Meeting the transfer eligibility requirements for UC did not guarantee admission to UC Davis. Due to limited enrollment space, transfer applicants who were admitted generally exceeded UC eligibility criteria. An array of criteria was used in selecting the transfer class. Foremost was the applicant's academic performance and preparation, followed by personal characteristics and experiences. Additionally, admission was dependent upon the applicant's selected college and major.

For fall 2008, applicants needed a UC-transferable GPA that was well above the required 2.4 GPA. Priority was given to California community college applicants who completed at least 90 transferable quarter units and satisfied Transfer Eligibility requirements by spring 2007.

Applicants in competitive majors were required to complete lower division major requirements with minimum grades in certain classes, or a minimum GPA for a cluster of preparatory classes.

More Information on Transfer Requirements

My friend was admitted with lower grades and less units than me. Why?

The admissions evaluation process is calibrated to account for a balance of factors, both academic and personal. The highest-scoring applicants for each college/division are admitted based on the available spaces in the specific college/division. Admission spaces are unique for each college/division and may vary each year. Students applying to highly competitive majors, such as engineering, must have stronger GPAs than other applicants.

Was any group of applicants given preference in the selection process?

No, the selection process is not based on preferences. Under California's Master Plan for higher education, applicants from California community colleges are given priority in transfer admissions. Historically 85 to 90 percent of our transfer admits are California community college students. The remaining students are from other UC campuses, California State University (CSU) campuses, and independent colleges, both in-state and out-of-state.

UC Davis is my first choice school. What can I do now?

We strongly suggest that you consider admission offers from other UC campuses and institutions. If you still want to attend UC Davis, you should immediately meet with your counselor to determine what may have prevented you from being admitted. Review our transfer student admission requirements and ASSIST for information on the lower division requirements for competitive and non-competitive majors.

May I appeal to be reconsidered?

Please visit MyAdmissions for information about the appeal process.