UC Admissions Myth Busters:
The Truth About
The Requirements And The Process
Presented by: Evera Spears, Coordinator, Admission Evaluation
University of California, Office of the President
The purpose of this presentation is to dispel myths
and rumors that we all have heard.
To ensure that counselors have accurate
information when advising students and families
about UC admissions.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myths about the A-G Requirements
Myth 1:
Repeating A-G courses is required.
TRUTH: Yes and No.
•If the “a-g” course is needed to meet the
minimum number of years for the subject
requirement, yes a student must repeat a course
in which they earned a deficient (“D”/”F”) grade.
•If the course is beyond the minimum, while it
would be best for the student’s GPA calculation
(10th & 11th grade), UC does not require a repeat.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 2:
Students don’t have to report D or F grades on the
application if they repeated the course.
If a student received one D or F grade, they will not
be eligible or be admitted to UC.
TRUTH:
•All applicants MUST report all “a-g”-type courses and
grades—all attempts—first and repeat(s).
• All applications receive a full review
•A few students will be selected despite of one wayward
grade.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 3: Validation of LOTE and Math
Student has only completed French 3, they need another course to meet
the two year minimum requirement for area “e” Language other than
English.
Student earned two “D” grades in Algebra 1; completed Geometry and
Algebra 2 with grades of “C” or better, they need another year of math to
meet the area “c” mathematics subject requirement.
TRUTH:
•Area “e” requirement is equivalent to the 2nd level. French 3
is the third level. An additional course is NOT required.
•Algebra 2 validates the deficient grades in Algebra 1; the
area “c” requirement has been satisfied.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 4:
Calculus is required for admission.
TRUTH:
•Calculus is not required for admission.
•However, for students interested in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
majors – IF the student is ready, and able to take
it, completing calculus makes them better
prepared for University study.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 5:
UC requires a life science course.
TRUTH:
•UC’s requirement is two years of laboratory science,
including two of the three fundamental disciplines of
Biology, Chemistry and Physics. [For example, a student can meet the
requirement with one year of Chemistry and one year of Physics.]
•An interdisplinary science course such as AP Environmental Science can be combined with
one course in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics to meet the two year requirement.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 6:
UC frowns on applicants who don’t take three or
four years of a language or four years of science.
TRUTH:
•Students should take additional “a-g” courses in
subjects in which they are interested and will do well.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 7:
If a student is involved in the arts outside of school (like
ballet or theater) they don’t have to take a VPA course.
TRUTH:
•Courses designed for training for a profession, are not
acceptable to meet the VPA requirement.
•Private or community-based study in the arts does not
qualify for approval to meet VPA.
•However, at the discretion of the teacher and consistent with your
school’s policy, private study in the arts, which includes all five of
the component strands, may serve as an adequate prerequisite for
placement into advanced and/or honors-level VPA courses.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 8:
Even though SAT Subject Tests say “Recommended”
UC really means “Required”.
TRUTH: Recommended means Recommended.
•Another way of demonstrating mastery.
•Another factor considered in the decision-making
process.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examinationrequirement/SAT-subject-tests/index.html
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 9:
Taking the SAT versus the ACT will increase your
chances of getting into a UC. UC only accepts AP exam
scores earned in the last two years of high school.
TRUTH: UC has no preference for one examination
over the other. Students are encourage to understand the subjects
and types of questions that are a part of both examinations; determine
which is best suited for them. If a student takes both exams, UC will
use the higher score to the student’s advantage.
TRUTH: The University of California recognizes and awards credit
for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5, regardless of the grade-level or academic
year in which the student completed the examination.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 10:
Students must take the AP exam in order for the
GPA to be weighted for completion of the AP
course.
TRUTH: UC weights the grade earned in the
AP course; not the exam result. UC awards
bonus points in the GPA calculation for freshman
admission for AP courses completed in grades
10 and 11.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 11:
A student must take all the AP courses their school offers in
order to be selected for admission.
If a student hasn’t completed any AP exams there chances
for admission are reduced.
TRUTH: UC Faculty are very concerned that
students find the right balance for them.
•Student should take reasonable academic risk –
a challenging academic schedule that is
appropriate for their abilities and circumstances.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 12:
UC requires high schools to record
college/university courses on the high school
transcript.
TRUTH:
•UC does not dictate what schools must include
on their official transcript.
•UC requires the official college/university
transcript be submitted directly from that
institution.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myths about the Admission
Application Review Process
Myth 1:
Applying early will place the student at an
advantage for admissions.
TRUTH:
•All on-time applications are reviewed randomly.
Whether a student’s application was received
first on Nov 1 or last on Nov 30 has no impact on
when it is reviewed.
• More importantly - applicants must take time to carefully
review before submission – once the application has been
submitted – it’s gone, it cannot be retrieved for revision.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 2:
Application review outcomes are shared among
campuses for the purpose of making selection
decisions.
TRUTH: UC campuses do not consult each
other in selecting which students to whom they
will offer admission.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 3:
Application readers make admission selection
decisions.
TRUTH:
•Readers make assessments based on the
guidelines determined by the faculty at each UC
campus.
•Admission Directors and senior staff make selection
decisions based on faculty policy and spaces
available.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 4:
UC does not want students to apply for different
majors at different campuses.
It is better to apply for an obscure major to increase
a student’s chances of being admitted then switch
to selective major after enrolling at the campus.
TRUTH:
•It’s okay to apply for different majors.
•Dare to compete—students should apply for the
major they really want.
•Bait and Switch - pitfalls
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 5:
If a student has family members who attended UC or have
connections with a campus (such as by taking summer
session courses or participating in outreach/academic
preparation program at a campus) that can increase their
chances of being admitted.
TRUTH:
•UC does not consider legacy in making admission
decisions.
•Participation in programs, events or activities does
not provide an advantage in the review process.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 6:
The ELC designation confers automatic acceptance at a
campus to which the student applied.
TRUTH:
•ELC is a positive factor in the review process.
•Campuses do not automatically guarantee
admission based on the ELC designation alone.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 7:
UC’s prefers community service over other types of
extracurricular activities.
Joining lots of clubs will increase a student’s chances
of being admitted.
TRUTH:
•UC does not have a preference.
•Of importance is why the student choose to do with
their time, what did they learn, how they applied what
was learned to other aspects of their life.
•Depth and persistence over time provides context.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 8:
A student has to overcome some obstacle/be
disadvantaged to present a more compelling story
for selection in the admission process.
TRUTH:
•That a student has had obstacles in their life is
not a reason to offer admission. Rather how
they approached an obstacle, what they
achieved in spite of the obstacle is of importance
tells about their determination, strength of
character.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 9:
A student who attends a “good” school and has a
parent/guardian who have college degrees are
disadvantaged in the process.
TRUTH: Context
Information about the likely resources of the
school and/or family are only possible indicators.
What a student accomplished with the resources
and opportunities available to them provides
context.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 10:
Only students with a perfect SAT or ACT score are
admitted.
All student with the average GPA from last year will
be admitted next year.
TRUTH: All UC campuses offer admission to
students across the full range of grade point
averages and test scores.
For detailed information, see the Freshman Profiles with ranges
for each UC campus.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/freshman/profiles/index.html
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 11:
There is no “penalty” for applicants who
misrepresent themselves on the UC admission
application.
TRUTH: Integrity and Trust
•When UC determines that a student misrepresented
information, there are consequences.
•Will not be admitted as an undergraduate to any UC
in question – FOREVER.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Myth 12:
Accepting a waitlist offer from one campus
decreases a student’s chances of being accepted at
another campus; a waitlist offer is a guarantee of
being admitted later.
TRUTH: No disadvantage; no guarantee.
•UC campuses use a waitlist process to ensure they met
enrollment goals. On/about May 1, they review yield of
original offers to determine if they will have space to admit
students who opted-in for the waitlist.
•Campuses make decisions independently of each other.
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014
Questions about UC systemwide
admission policies and practices?
Email: AskUC@ucop.edu
UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21, 2014