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Counselors field complex inquiries from students and need to be well informed about the UC application and selection process. We've answered some of the common questions that we hear from counselors below. High School Counselor FAQsWhat are the UC entrance test requirements? The University of California requires applicants to submit scores on an approved test of mathematics, language arts and writing. This requirement can be satisfied by taking either of the following: • the ACT Assessment plus Writing In addition, students must take two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas. Please see our Special Tools for Counselors to help guide your students toward meeting UC requirements. How are leadership activities, special talents, honors, awards weighted? We thoroughly review all applicants' records to rate them based on criteria defined within our Comprehensive Review selection process. We then determine a score by assigning points for the presence of these criteria and multiplying the points by weights as specified in the Comprehensive Review Selection Process Scoring System table. Please see our freshman application criteria for selection process page for detailed information on the Comprehensive Review process. When you evaluate applicants under comprehensive review, do you consider it better for a prospective student to be involved in several extracurricular activities, or deeply involved in one or two? Students who excel in any activity will be recognized over those who participate casually in multiple activities. However, any applicant who excels in multiple activities would be recognized above one who excelled in only one. Under comprehensive review, how would you evaluate a student who earned a "B" in an AP class but a 5 on the AP exam, versus a student who earned an "A" but scored a 2 or 3 on the exam? How would the student who earned the "B" in an AP class compare with one who earned an "A" in a regular class? We examine AP records based on in-class achievement, so an applicant who received an "A" in an AP class but a low score on an exam would have an advantage over an applicant who received a "B" in that same class, regardless of that applicant's exam score. However, after the student is admitted, we examine AP scores to award university credit. Therefore, it is in the student's ultimate interest to score well in class and on the examination. The student who scored a "B" in an AP class would be at an advantage over a student who scored an "A" in a regular class, according to the evaluation system. What if an admitted student's academic performance declines senior year? High school seniors should maintain a high level of academic achievement. Offers of admission are provisional and contingent upon students' successful completion of senior-year coursework. Students whose academic performance declines sharply during senior year may have their UC Davis admission offer rescinded. Can students defer admission? The Deferred Enrollment program allows newly admitted undergraduate students to postpone their initial enrollment at the university for up to one year. The purpose is to allow time to pursue other activities and opportunities that will assist students in clarifying their educational goals, e.g. job opportunities, non-collegiate experiences, personal/medical issues. Students are not allowed to enroll at another college or university during this time. To be eligible for deferred enrollment, students must return their affirmative Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) with the deposit by the deadline and must satisfy all university admission and entrance requirements. A Deferred Enrollment application must be submitted with a $60 processing fee before the first day of instruction in the quarter to which the student was admitted. For more information, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at (530) 752-2971. Transfer Counselor FAQsWhich major programs at UC Davis screen for major preparation in the selection process? All majors in the College of Engineering and in the College of Biological Sciences screen for major preparation in the selection process. The following majors in the College of Letters and Science screen for major preparation in the selection process:
The following majors in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences screen for major preparation in the selection process:
Does your campus admit lower-division transfers? Only the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will consider lower-division applicants if space allows. Very few are usually admitted. The other colleges do not accept lower-division transfers. What admissions priority do you grant to students who want to transfer to your campus from another UC campus versus other four-year institutions? Highest priority is given to California community college junior-level transfer applicants with 60 semester (90 quarter) units. Priority is next given to junior-level transfer students from other UC campuses and other four-year institutions in and out of California. How do admitted students from institutions other than California community colleges find out which graduation and major requirements will be met by their transfer work? Admitted students submitting final transcripts to UC Davis receive a transfer credit summary from the Undergraduate Admissions office. New students meet with a major adviser at UC Davis to determine how transfer work satisfies specific requirements for the chosen major, and with dean's office advisers to determine how transfer work completed satisfies specific college and general education graduation requirements. California community college students can view the transferability of their courses at www.assist.org. What special transition programs, in addition to UC Davis Orientation, are available for new transfer students? Transfer Services and Reentry Student Services helps ensure an easy and smooth transfer to UC Davis. Students are connected with various programs and services on campus—library, e-mail accounts, Learning Skills Center, Financial Aid and more. As part of the Fall Welcome program, UC Davis also hosts a Transfer Student Reception and Resource Faire for all new transfer students. General FAQsWhat are the personal statement questions? There are two personal statement prompts. The first prompt is different for freshman and transfer applicants, while the second prompt is the same for all applicants: Freshman Prompt 1: Describe the world you come from – for example, your family, community or school – and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Transfer Prompt 1: What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field – such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities – and what you have gained from your involvement. Prompt 2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are? For helpful tips, please view our personal statement Web page. How is an applicant's primary and secondary choice of major considered in the admissions review process? UC Davis utilizes the primary major in the selection process. However, applicants are encouraged to list an alternate major for those circumstances in which it may be considered. In the Colleges of Letters and Science, Biological Sciences and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, most applicants are selected by the college or discipline to which they have applied, and not by the particular major within that college. However, selection for applicants to the College of Engineering is by major. Selectivity among the colleges does vary, so the choice of major may affect the chances of a student being admitted. Transfer applicants in selective majors are reviewed, evaluated and admitted by major where certain lower-division prerequisites must be completed with a specified grade point average. Specific college and major requirements vary. Are a student's prospects of being admitted better if he or she applies as "undeclared" or within a specific major? There is no advantage or disadvantage to a freshman applicant who applies as undeclared. Choosing undeclared will not affect an applicant's chance of admission. Although UC Davis recommends that students who have chosen a field of study apply to their major of interest, if they are unsure, it's alright to apply as undeclared. The College of Engineering does not offer an undeclared course of study. Junior-level transfer applicants are not considered for the undeclared programs; all UC Davis academic colleges require junior-level applicants to declare a major. There is no advantage or disadvantage to a lower-division transfer applicants who applies undeclared to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Of the admission appeals are made to your campus, how many are granted? UC Davis grants very few appeals out of the hundreds received. Consideration for appeals will be based on a review of the overall application with focus on the academic record and accomplishments, extenuating circumstances and new and compelling information. Letters of recommendation and documentation of circumstances are suggested. Directions for preparing an appeal and appeal deadlines can be found at "Appealing Your Admissions Decision" on our freshman applicant and transfer applicant information pages. What academic support services do you offer students? The Learning Skills Center offers help with general study skills, math/science study skills, writing essays and term papers, reading efficiency, English as a Second Language (ESL) and test-taking skills, among other things. Services are available free to all students. The Center's Resource Room contains a variety of programmed instructional materials and reference books; preparation materials for the GRE, MCAT and LSAT exams; a file of recent course examinations; and self-help tapes and films that allow ESL students to work at their own pace. Most materials may be checked out for free. Advising Services includes peer advising; pre-professional and pre-graduate-school advising; seminars and workshops; the Career and Graduate Study Resource Center, which offers a library, job listings, information about companies that recruit at UC Davis and more; the Leading Roles program, which promotes the development of leadership; and the First Resort, a place for advice and referral on any topic of concern to students. What programs on your campus link students to opportunities for internships, research and/or hands-on work experience? The Internship and Career Center places students into part- and full-time academic internships locally, nationally and internationally. The Center also provides opportunities through the Peace Corps, summer Affirmative Action Internship Program, U.S. Forest Service, UC Davis Human Corps and other special programs. Through Advising Services, students can learn about various on- and off-campus research opportunities and find projects that will suit their academic and career goals. Other specialized programs that help link students, particularly those who are disadvantaged, to internships and research include the Educational Opportunity Program, President's Undergraduate Fellowship, McNair Scholars Program, Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program, Mentorships for Undergraduate Research Participants in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Mentorships for Undergraduate Research in Agriculture, Letters and Science. In addition, the Engineering Undergraduate Research Program helps engineering students connect with on-campus research opportunities. What club, recreational or intramural sports programs do you offer students who are not playing intercollegiate sports? Every year more than 19,000 students play on over 2,300 intramural teams, in 60 different men's, women's and coed activities. Another 1,400 students participate in 35 different club sports. Intramural offerings include team sports such as basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball, as well as a few less traditional activities such as inner tube water polo, floor and roller hockey, and synchronized ice skating. The Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs Office also sponsors tournaments and leagues for tennis, golf, badminton and racquetball enthusiasts. For most team sports, individuals may choose to participate in one of several divisions at various levels of competition. Most team sports offer coed and residence hall divisions. Intramural sports seasons correspond with the academic quarters. Captains can use Web-based registration to sign up teams or add people to their rosters. What housing options are available on your campus? UC Davis offers a variety of housing types depending upon student needs. Our residence halls are located in three geographically distinct areas on campus and include traditional style rooms off a central corridor, as well as suites and clustered room configurations that open into a common space. Single-, double- and triple-occupancy rooms are available within each of these styles. All residence halls have a student lounges on each floor, while first-floor common areas include lounges, study rooms, laundry facilities, kitchens and meeting rooms. Our residence hall dining facilities look more like a casual food court than a traditional cafeteria. Diverse seating options including couches, armchairs and bar seating are arranged in clusters under a raised ceiling, offset by natural light. Each dining room offers unique platforms that bring preparation within sight of diners and allow chefs the ability to cater dishes to student tastes. A variety of culinary palates are satisfied by offerings ranging from pacific fusion to pizza from a brick oven. UC Davis offers residence hall students 20 different specialty special interest communities, including including 10 academic theme programs, which offer an optional academic seminar. In addition to providing traditional social and recreational activities geared toward helping residents make a successful transition to university life, special interest communities offer activities, interaction and discussions unique to each community. Through these communities, students can establish a network of academic peers and future colleagues. Our academic theme programs include Davis Honors Challenge, an residential academic program for freshmen and sophomores; Integrated Studies, an invitation-only honors program; Rainbow House, for members and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; Casa Cuauhtemoc, which explores Chicano/Latino thought and culture; Quiet Floors; Music/Arts/Crafts Program; Outdoor Experience Program; Hammarskjold International Relations House; Asian Pacific Theme House; Multi-Ethnic Program; Substance Free/Wellness Community; and the Agriculture and Society program. How does the residence-hall roommate matching system work at UC Davis? Freshman entering UC Davis are guaranteed a year of on-campus residence hall housing when required campus deadlines are met. Transfer students are encouraged to place their name on a waiting list and will be offered housing on a first-come, first-served basis as space is available. Roommates are matched based on the housing-preference rankings and choices students submit through an online room assignment request form. These matches are based upon living environment (single-sex or coed floor/building); occupancy (number of students assigned to a room); room configuration (suite, quad or standard single, double or triple room); and specialty or academic theme program. Students can also choose up to three roommates or suite mates, but requests must be mutual. In late July, once all eligible students have submitted requests, a computer matches students according to their responses. Students are notified by e-mail of their room assignments in August, including their roommate(s)' name and contact information. Additional information such as check-in date, moving tips and links to information about other options and services is also available online at housing.ucdavis.edu. Students may submit a room transfer request online prior to move-in day and without justification. However, requests are not guaranteed and can only be accommodated if available vacancies meet the student's requirements. After move-in, students may request room transfers the first Monday after the beginning of each quarter. Accommodations are made until approximately one month prior to the end of each quarter. |
