University of California (UC)
University of California (UC)
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Exploring UC Campuses
UC Undergraduate Admissions Application Guide
UC Application's Personal Insight Questions (PIQs):
The UC application period opens August 1st. However, you will not be able to submit your application until October 1 - December 2, 2025
The application fee is $80 for each UC campus
UC will waive application fees for up to four campuses for qualified students who would otherwise be unable to apply for admission. The fee waiver program is for United States citizens, permanent residents, and applicants eligible for AB540 benefits.
You can see if you automatically qualify for a fee waiver within the application. If you enter your family size and income in the “About you” section, you will see if you’ve qualified for an application fee waiver when you select your campuses in the "Campuses & majors" section (a message will appear on that page with real-time feedback about how many campuses you can apply to for free).
Documents you will need to get you started on your college applications:
Documents you will need to get you started on your college applications:
Parent/Legal Guardian financial information (adjusted gross income) for last year and the current year
Your social security # (if you have it)
Professional email account i.e. firstname.lastname@gmail.com
Unofficial high school transcript and/or grades from 9th-11th grade
Unofficial college transcript (if you took community college courses)
Resume/list of extracurricular activities
Parent/Legal Guardian's employer and/or job title
Inputting Classes on Application:
Inputting Classes on Application:
More on Inputting Senior classes:
Classes you are taking in 1st semester you need to indicate: IN PROGRESS (IP)
Classes you are taking in the 2nd semester you need to indicate: PLANNED (PL)
ALL A-G courses must be listed on the application, even if you got D’s or F’s and retook classes.
Economics/American Government:
If you are currently taking Economics in Sem. 1 add it as “in progress” and Am Govt as “planned” 2nd sem
If you are taking American Govt in Sem. 1 add it as “in progress” and Econ as “planned” 2nd sem
If you are currently taking AP US Govt: add AP US Govt as “in progress” in sem. 1 and Hon Econ. as “planned” for 2nd sem
Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
Directions:
You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you: But you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
Questions:
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
University of California Virtual Tours:
UC Berkley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
After you have applied to a UC Campus:
After you have applied to a UC Campus:
Admissions decisions
Admissions decisions
If you are a fall-term freshman applicant, each campus you applied to during the filing period generally will notify you whether you have been admitted between March 1-31.
These notification dates apply only to applicants for the fall term who file during the October 1 - December 2 filing period. Fall applicants who file late or applicants for winter or spring should contact the campus admissions office regarding admission notification periods. Learn more about admissions decisions »
Campus portals
Campus portals
By January, each campus you applied to will email you to create a username and password for access to the campus’ applicant portal. This is the site where the admission decision will be posted along with other important information. You should check each campus portal frequently.
Provisional admission
Provisional admission
Offers of admission are provisional until the campus receives your final official transcript and verifies successful completion of all coursework required for UC eligibility. Each campus provides newly admitted students with conditions for admission that must be satisfied prior to enrollment at the University.
The subject requirement must be completed no later than the date of your high school graduation. If any information on your application is found to be incomplete or inaccurate or if your performance drops significantly during the senior year, the offer of admission may be revoked.
Review of admission decisions
Review of admission decisions
UC campuses review each applicant's record thoroughly, and admission decisions are rarely reversed. However, students who are not admitted may request a review of the decision if they believe there was an error in the evaluation or can provide new and compelling information not included in the initial application. Each campus has specific procedures to handle such appeals. Contact the campus admissions office for information.
Acceptance of admission
Acceptance of admission
Each campus that accepts you for admission will issue you a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) form or direct you to a website where you can declare your intent to register. Use this form or website to indicate whether you accept or decline the admission offer.
You are strongly encouraged to wait until you hear from each campus you have applied to before you declare your intent to register.
Students who are admitted as fall-term freshmen must submit the SIR by May 1.
For most campuses, the SIR submission process is online. However, if you are required to mail a paper SIR form, it must be postmarked by these dates. Applicants admitted at a later date or for the winter or spring term should respond by the deadline indicated in the offer of admission.
You may accept admission to one campus only. You may not transfer your acceptance from one campus to another after you declare your intent to register. A $250 non-refundable deposit must accompany your acceptance.
Waitlists
Waitlists
Fall-term freshman applicants will receive waitlist offers by the end of March, with an opt-in deadline of April 15. Waitlists could extend into the summer based on specific campus enrollment needs.
You can accept waitlist offers from multiple campuses, but you can only accept one offer of admission.
Even if you accept a waitlist offer at a UC campus, you should submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to ensure you have a place to attend in the fall.
You can log in to your application to review and, if necessary, update your telephone number, email, mailing address or various test scores. You can also apply to additional campuses if they're still open.
If there are changes to your academic record:
If there are changes to your academic record after you submit your application, you might need to notify the campuses to which you’ve applied.
If you change schools or add or drop a course after you submit your application, you should notify all the campuses you applied to except for UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.
If you failed to earn a C or better in a course after you submit your application, you should notify all the campuses you applied to except for UC Berkeley and UCLA.
If you receive an offer of admission, be sure to confirm with the campus admission office that they are aware of any deficient grades or schedule changes.
Campus instructions & websites for reporting changes:
UC Berkeley will not accept post-submission updates. Updates will not be considered in the application reading process.
UC Davis - Visit the MyAdmissions Login page for more information about making post-submission updates.
UC Irvine - To report low grades earned or significant schedule changes, login to your UC Irvine Applicant Portal.
UC Merced - Academic updates are allowed if you are admitted. To make updates, use the "myCourseUpdate" link in your UC Merced Connect portal.
UCLA - Some post-submission updates will be accepted. Visit the UCLA Contact Form further details.
UC San Diego will not accept post-submission updates. Updates will not be considered in the application reading process.
UC Santa Barbara will not accept post-submission updates. Updates will not be considered in the application reading process.
If there are changes to other sections of your application:
Minor changes to your activities, awards, volunteer work or employment are unlikely to have an impact on your admission decision. Changes to the Activities & awards and PIQ sections will not be accepted once your application is submitted.
As a reminder, once your application is submitted, you cannot unsubmit or submit a duplicate application. Duplicate applications will be canceled.
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