How to Prepare for the UC Applications (California)
The UC Application is an all-in-one application that allows you to apply to 9 University of California Campuses:
- UC Berkeley
- UC Davis
- UC Irvine
- UC Los Angeles
- UC Merced
- UC Riverside
- UC San Diego
- UC Santa Barbara
- UC Santa Cruz
NOTE: It costs $70 per campus you apply to. For example, if you applied to 5 campuses, you would need to pay $350.
๐ Application Components
About You
- Personal information
- Contact information
- Citizenship and residency (Social Security Number, if applicable)
- Demographic information
- Background (languages, military dependant, etc.)
- Household information (income, number of household members, etc.)
- Parent Information
Choosing Campuses
You will need to choose which UC Campuses you want to apply to. Ultimately, create a list of needs/wants that you want your future college to cover. This will help with creating your overall college. Here are some questions to get you started:
- Consider which majors you are interested in and which of these colleges have the best programs for these majors
- What type of weather do you like?
- What type of campus environment do you enjoy? (Big city or small college town)
- Think about extracurriculars, clubs, and organizations you want to join.
- How far away do you want to be from home?
- Consider the type of housing available.
Choosing Majors
- You will be picking one major and one alternate major for each UC Campus you have selected to apply for.
- UC Berkeley doesn't have an alternate major, so you can only pick one major.
Academic History
- Courses and grades
- Grading System (ex: A/B/C/D/F)
- Term System (ex: semester, quarter)
- Dual Enrollment courses and grades
- The system will determine if you meet the A-G requirements (if you are a California high school graduate)
Test Scores
- This is a place for your AP/IB scores as well as English language proficiency tests and international exams.
- Reminder: The University of California system will no longer use the ACT or SAT in its admissions process.
Activities and Awards
- There's lots of info to keep in mind, so we've put together a separate doc on filling out the UC Application: Activities and Awards Sec.
Scholarships and Programs
- You will be asked to check off any descriptions that apply to you (these may determine possible scholarships and program eligibility).
Personal Insight Questions
- The UC Application uses Personal Insight Questions (PIQ) as their form of essay writing. The page on UC Application: Personal Insight Questions includes tips for all 8 PIQs, but keep in mind that you will only have to write about 4 of them.
Verified Information
- Whether you have met all Subject (A-G) requirements
- State of legal residence
- Release authorizations, electronic signature, etc.
โ Additional Requirements for UC San Diego
UC San Diego College Rankings
You will be asked to rank the 7 colleges at UCSD. They each have their own general education requirements, themes, and traditions. The 7 colleges are:
- Revelle
- Muir
- Marshall
- Warren
- Roosevelt
- Sixth
- Seventh
Comparing the 7 Colleges
- Use the Compare UCSD Colleges page to compare the general education requirements, residential area, and dining.
- Use this Undergraduate Colleges page to learn about the history and theme behind each college.
- Reminder: You will be directly applying for a college within the university. Therefore, you need to pick a major you would be interested in pursuing, or come in undeclared in a field of your interest.
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