Suzie and Evelyn spent a full day at UCLA last week, talking with admissions staff from all nine undergraduate UC campuses. When we heard interesting news, we tweeted it! Here’s a summary!
"The chancellor is very interested in growing CA enrollment," Steven Handel, Assoc VP, Admission, Univ. of CA #UC #College
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
As the UC applicant pool has grown, many California students (and their parents) have become frustrated. The UCs know this!
"Many of the students we cannot offer admsn to are extraordinary, would thrive at a UC. We just don't have space for them," Handel #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Updates from the different campuses:
1300 students admitted from wait list last year at #UCBerkeley – priority to CA students – Amy Jarich, Adm. Dir. #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Advice from Dar Hunter @ucdavis – Apply in alternate major if in engineering or bio sciences. These are competitive! #UC #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
"UCR will not be releasing notifications to the freshman pool until March 1 this year," Emily Engelschall, Adm. Dir. #UCR #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
New @UCSD – Kosher and Halal kitchens! #college #UC #yumcollegefood
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
3.92-4.23 – middle 50% GPA of admitted #UCSB students. 40% of students are first generation in their family to go to #college.
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
"We need to see that students are really taking advantage of a rigorous curriculum in high school," Gary Clark, Adm. Dir., #UCLA #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
News/info about the UC application itself:
New on #UC app this yr: questions on gender identity and sexual orientation – OPTIONAL. They ask to help serve students better. #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
All #UC campuses can see students' unweighted, fully weighted and partially-weighted UC GPA (UC only gives credit for 8 hon/AP semesters).
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
"We look at AP, IB, college-level and honors courses as honors courses. They are all the same." #UCBerkeley admsn rep.
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Qualify and quantify your activities – are you doing things other students aren't doing? Activities can set you apart! #college #UC
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Are there magnets, academies within school? Tracks, specialized programs? Students need to talk about these in #UC application. #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
What do you need to know about the two UC personal statements? Here are some tips:
You know how counselors tell you to "show, not tell" in your #college #essays? The #UC personal statement essays are different. (more)
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
"I don't want students to show me something, I want them to tell me who they are." Cuca Acosta, #UCSB Admissions #college #essays
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Personal Statement is more factual than a #college #essay. #UC Write about yourself – in the 2 UC essays, just tell.
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
"The personal statement is the ONLY place where students can give a holistic picture of what they did, why they did it and how they did it."
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Personal statement – content finding mission. "I" and "my" statements are encouraged. Don't have to entertain the readers. #UC #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
#UC app has a 30-minute timer, resets when you change sections. DON'T WRITE YOUR ESSAY IN THE APP! It will log you out w/o saving! #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
You only need to send your transcript to the ONE UC campus at which you enroll (if you do). But make sure your school sends it before July 1!
#UC transcript deadline is July 1: Send college/other transcripts even if courses are listed on high school transcript. SEND ALL! #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
News for the Class of 2017:
NEWS: For #Classof2017, UC will continue to take old SAT, highest single sitting score. For new #SAT, #UC will require #essay. #college
— Evelyn Alexander (@EvelynMagellan) September 10, 2015
Lots more info about the UC application process in this post, and this one. A few more tidbits:
If you are applying to multiple UC campuses, just send your SAT or ACT scores to ONE campus. They will share with the other campuses to which you apply!
You can fill out your UC application entirely now, but you can’t submit it before November 1. And you can’t submit it after November 30. Half – YES HALF – of the 100,000+ applicants to the UC system submit their applications in the final weekend before it’s due. Don’t be one of those students! Submit early = less stress!