The UC system has 9 schools statewide open to undergraduate students. Degrees available at the UCs are Bachelors (BA, BS), Masters (MA, MS, MEd), Doctorates and Professional Degrees.
Application Period:
August 1st - November 30th
Applying to the UC
UC Admission Requirements
G.P.A.- 3.0 & above
Completion of a minimum 15 unit College-Prepatory Course Requirements (A-G courses), 11 courses should be completed by the end of 11th grade
A grade of 'C' or better in A-G courses
High School Graduation
SAT/ACT test scores are not required for admission, but may be used as an alternative method to fulfill minimum requirements for eligibility or course placement
Honors & Awards received and Extracurricular Activities/ Community Service completed througout High School
Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
** CA Residents: If student met the minimum adminission requirements and aren't admitted to any UC applied to, they'll be offered a spot in another campus if space is available, if:
Student ranks in the top 9% of CA high school students according to the updated Statewide Index
OR
Student ranks in the top 9% of their graduating class at a participating high school (ELC).
Application Checklist
You will need the following items to complete your UC Application:
Unofficial Transcripts (High School and College Transcripts, if applicable)
Social Security Number, if you have one
Citizenship Status
Annual Income
CA Statewide Student ID
Test Scores, optional
Payment Method (Credit Card, Check, or Money Order) for the application fee of $70 per campus, Fee Waivers available
Additional UC Resources
PIQ Guide for Freshman Applicants (1/2)
Use this guide to help you answer your Personal Insight Questions. Think of your PIQs as your admissions interview on paper. You must respond to 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to 350 words.
The questions are listed below:
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience.
2. Describe how you express your creative side.
3. What would you say is your greates talent or skill?
PIQ Guide for Freshman Applicants (2/2)
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of an educational opportunity or overcame an educational barrier.
5. Describe you most significant challenge and steps taken to overcome it.
6. Describe how you have furthered interest in an academic subject that inspires you.
7. What have you done to make your school or community a better place?
8. What do you believe makes your stand out as a strong candidate for UC admissions?
Activites and Awards Worksheet
Use this worksheet to help you organize the actvities you participated in and awards received throughout your high school experience.
Describe each activity and its impact. Use strong verbs in descriptions of leadership positions and skills gained/developed. Quantify as much as you can in your descriptions- Ex. You were selected out of X amount of students, you led X amount of students in a team/project, etc.
UCs are looking for quality not quantity so focus on the activities and awards that are most important to you!
Explore the 9 Universities of California:
