Admission as a Freshman

The University of California defines a freshman applicant as a student who has graduated from high school but has not enrolled since then in a regular session in any college-level institution. Summer session immediately following high school graduation is excluded in this determination.

Admission requirements for California residents are different from those for nonresidents. Nonresidents must meet higher scholarship requirements.

The following describes the minimum requirements to establish eligibility at the University of California. Applicants to UC Davis generally must perform well above these minimums in order to gain admission, since the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of students we can admit. We give priority to students on the basis of highest academic achievements and test scores.

Minimum Requirements for California Residents

To be minimally eligible for admission to the University of California as a freshman, you must meet the subject requirements, scholarship requirement and examination requirements that are described on this and the following pages.

Subject Requirements: a-f

You must complete at least 15 high school units in the subject areas listed below. At least seven of the required 15 units will have to be taken in the last two years of high school. The required course sequence is often referred to as the "a-f" pattern. Go to http://www.ucop.edu/pathways/infoctr/doorway_index.html to view the "a-f" pattern for California high schools.

Courses taken in the 9th grade and completed with a grade of C or better can satisfy a subject requirement; however, the grades will not be used in computing your grade point average. If you receive a grade of D or lower in a 9th-grade course, you have not satisfactorily completed the subject requirement until you repeat the course (or, in some cases, complete a more advanced course) with a grade of C or better.

a. History/Social Science--2 years

One year of United States history, or one-half year of United States history and one-half year of civics or American government; and one year of world history, cultures and geography.

b. English--4 years

Four years of English--composition and literature. Classes should stress preparation for university study, including frequent and regular practice in writing expository prose compositions of some length. Not more than one year will be accepted from the 9th grade. (See English Proficiency on the next page.)

c. Mathematics--3 years; 4 years recommended

Three years of mathematics--elementary algebra,geometry and intermediate algebra. (Courses taken in grades 7 and 8 may partially satisfy the requirement if they are accepted by the high school as equivalent to its own courses.)

d. Laboratory Science--2 years; 3 years recommended

Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in at least two of these three areas: biology, chemistry and physics. Not more than one year of laboratory science taken in the 9th grade may be used to meet this requirement.

e. Language other than English--2 years; 3 years
recommended

Two years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading and composition. (Courses taken in grades 7 and 8 may satisfy this requirement if they are accepted by the high school as equivalent to its own courses.)

f. College Preparatory Electives--2 years

Two years in addition to those required in "a" through "e" above.

If you are a California high school graduate, the courses used to satisfy the Subject Requirement must appear on a list that your high school principal has certified meets the course descriptions above, and has been accepted by the university's Office of Student Academic Services. If you submit courses from an out-of-state school, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services will determine if your courses fulfill the Subject Requirement.

English Proficiency

Instead of a fourth year of high school English, you may satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement by completing one of the following:

The requirement may also be satisfied with a transferable college-level English course in literature or composition worth 3-semester or 4-quarter units in which you earned a grade of C or higher.

Scholarship Requirement

You must have earned a grade of C or better in all high school courses to satisfy the "a-f" requirements above. The grades earned in these courses that are taken in grades 10 through 12 will be used to evaluate your grade point average for minimum eligibility.

Applicants to UC Davis generally must perform well above minimums in order to gain admission.

Applicants for admission fall 2000: If you are a California resident and you attain a grade point average of 3.30 in the required "a-f" subjects taken after the 9th grade, you will meet the minimum requirements to be eligible to enter the university, regardless of your scores on standardized tests. If your grade point average falls between 3.20 and 2.82, you will meet the minimum requirements for the university if you achieve the specified scores on the standardized tests (see the Fall 2000 Eligibility Index).

Applicants for admission fall 2001 and thereafter: If you are a California resident and your grade point average is 2.80 or above in the required "a-f" subjects taken after the 9th grade, you will meet minimum requirements for the university if you achieve the specified scores on the standardized tests (see the Fall 2001 Eligibility Index).

The university calculates your grade point average (GPA) in the "a-f" subjects by assigning point values to the grades you earn, totaling the points, and dividing the total number of "a-f" course units. Points are assigned as follows" A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, F=0 points. The university assigns extra points for up to four units of university certified honors level and advanced placement courses taken in the 10h, 11th, and 12th grade: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two years of UC approved honors level courses taken in the 10th grade may be given extra points. A grade of D in an honors or advanced placement course does not earn extra points.

In determining the required grade point average, the university will use a semester grade of A in one course to balance a semester grade of C in another. Grades you received in courses taken in the 9th grade or earlier are not used in determining your grade point average. (However, these courses may be used to satisfy subject requirements.) The grades that appear on your official high school transcript, including those earned in accelerated and advanced courses, are the grades the university will use in evaluating your record. Grades are counted on a semester basis unless your school gives only year grades.

To meet the Subject and Scholarship Requirements you may repeat courses in which you received a grade of D or lower. The grade achieved in the repeated course will be calculated into the grade point average. There is no limit to the number of repeated courses that may be used in the "a-f" pattern, but each course may be repeated only one time.

Examination Requirement

All freshman applicants must submit official scores from the College Board or the American College Testing (ACT) Program. If you are applying for admission to the fall quarter, take the tests no later than December of your senior year (earlier testing is recommended). Applicants to UC Davis generally must perform well above the minimum requirements to gain admission. The following tests are required:

Applicants for admission fall 2000: If you are a California resident, and you attain a grade point average of 3.30 in the required "a-f" subjects taken after the 9th grade, the tests are required, but you will meet the minimum requirements to be eligible to enter the university regardless of your scores on standardized tests. If your grade point average falls between 2.82 and 3.20, you will meet the minimum requirements for the university if you achieve the specified scores on the standardized tests (see the Fall 2000 Eligibility Index).

Applicants for admission fall 2001 or thereafter: Beginning fall 2001, the new UC Eligibility Index will incorporate SAT II test scores. If you are a California resident, and your grade point average is 2.80 or above in the required "a-f" subjects taken after the 9th grade, you will meet the minimum requirements for the university if you achieve the specified scores on the standardized tests (see the Fall 2001 Eligibility Index).

Make arrangements to take the required SAT-I and SAT-II by writing to College Board SAT, Princeton, NJ 08541. For the American College Test (ACT) write to American College Testing Program, Registration Unit, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52240. (Test fees should be paid to the Testing Service, not to the university.) UC Davis' College Board code is 4834 and the ACT code is 0454.

Eligibility in the Local Context

Beginning with students entering UC in fall 2001, the top four percent of students at each participating California high school are designated UC eligible and guaranteed admission to one of the eight UC general campuses under the Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) pathway.

To be considered for ELC, you must complete eleven specific units of the Subject Requirement by the end of your junior year. With the assistance of each participating high school, the university will identify the top four percent of students on the basis of GPA in the required coursework.

The eleven units include one unit of history/social science; three units of English; three units of mathematics; one unit of laboratory science; one unit of language other than English; two units chosen from among other subject requirements.

The university will notify ELC students of their status at the beginning of their senior year. If you are designated UC-eligible through ELC, you must submit the university's undergraduate application during the November filing period and complete remaining eligibility requirements--including the subject and examination requirements--to enroll.

ELC students are guaranteed a spot at one of the eight UC campuses, though not necessarily at their first-choice campus.

Minimum Requirements for Residents of Other States

If you are a freshman applicant who does not claim California residency, you must meet the following requirements for minimum admission eligibility to the University of California. Applicants to UC Davis generally must perform well above the minimum in order to gain admission to UC Davis:

Minimum Eligibility by Examination Alone

If you do not meet the minimum scholarship and subject requirements for admission, you can meet minimum requirements for eligibility as a freshman by examination alone. The examinations must be taken before you graduate from high school. (If you have completed transferable college courses, College Board subject tests cannot be taken in academic subjects covered in those courses.) You must take the same College Board tests discussed above and receive a total score of at least 1400 on the SAT-I, or a score of 31 on the American College Test. Your total score on the SAT-II must be 1760 or higher with no score less than 530 on an individual test. If you are a nonresident applicant, your score on the SAT-II must be 1850 or higher with no score less than 530 on an individual test.

High School Proficiency Examination

The University of California will accept the Certificate of Proficiency or the General Education Development (GED) certificate awarded by the State Department of Education in lieu of the regular high school diploma. However, you must also meet all other university entrance requirements (subject, scholarship and examination).

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit may be granted to a freshman applicant for an acceptable college course taken while still in high school when an official transcript is received from the college that conducted the course.

Transfer credit is also granted for each College Board Advanced Placement Examination completed with a score of 3, 4 or 5. International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations with scores of 5, 6 or 7 will receive transfer credit. If students take college courses in combination with Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Examinations in the same subject areas, transfer credit may be limited due to duplication of credit.

Advanced Placement Examinations

If you take one or more of the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations and score 3, 4 or 5, you will be awarded college credit. The credit will become part of the minimum 180 quarter units you need in order to receive a bachelor's degree. The credit from the AP Examinations may also be used to satisfy specific degree requirements.

Consult the chart on the previous page to learn how many units you will receive for an AP Examination (see the column headed: Credit Toward Degree). How those units will be applied toward specific degree requirements in each college is explained for each exam category and in the notes below each exam listing. Please note that the courses for which AP credit has been granted may not be used as a substitute for courses required as part of the UC Davis General Education Requirement. (See General Education in the "Undergraduate Education" chapter.)

In general, you may not earn university credit for courses that duplicate credit already earned through AP. There are, however, a few exceptions to this general rule. Since it is often difficult to know exactly which UC Davis course you should take when you have earned AP credit, you should talk with an academic adviser in your department or dean's office before selecting and enrolling in classes.

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