As the largest public university system in the U.S. and a popular choice for international students studying in America, the University of California (UC) system's annual admissions policies and related information are closely followed.
Since last month when the UC system officially announced that undergraduate admissions will no longer consider SAT and ACT scores, UC has recently released new details and adjustments regarding its fall semester plan and undergraduate admissions policies.
Let's take a look at the latest changes in UC applications!
Full Return to In-Person Instruction, Vaccination Mandated
In the past couple of days, UC officially announced that all students or staff planning to return to campus in the fall will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The policy will take effect on August 4, two weeks before the start of the fall semester, serving as a key safeguard for UC's large-scale return to in-person instruction this fall.
UC campuses have been actively announcing and updating their fall semester plans since the beginning of the year.
In May, anticipating the vaccine mandate, many UC campuses updated their fall plans, announcing an even greater return to in-person activities.
Some UC campuses, led by UC Berkeley, have changed from a previously planned 7-day remote teaching observation period at the start of the semester to beginning in-person face-to-face instruction directly around August 25.
It is believed that the vaccine mandate will further facilitate the large-scale reopening of UC campuses in the second half of the year and better welcome international students back.
We also expect UC campuses to make further detailed adjustments and updates to their opening plans soon, and recommend that everyone closely follow official campus announcements.
With SAT/ACT Eliminated, How Does UC Review Applications Now?
The UC admissions office has clearly stated that SAT/ACT scores will no longer be considered as required application materials for 2022.
If applicants choose to submit SAT/ACT scores on their application, the test scores will only be used for course placement eligibility after enrollment and will have no impact on admissions decisions or scholarship awards.
Due to the removal of the SAT and ACT requirement, UC also pointed out: from now on, greater emphasis will be placed on applicants' high school grades and other comprehensive background factors.
Through the 13 review criteria listed by UC, we can see that apart from GPA, the university will also holistically evaluate applicants based on the resources and opportunities available to them and the abilities they have demonstrated.
The specific review criteria are as follows:
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Average grade in completed A-G courses, i.e., GPA
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Number of and performance in courses beyond the minimum A-G requirements
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UC-approved honors courses, Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate Higher Level courses, etc.
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Rank in the top 9% of the class at the end of junior year
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Quality of planned 12th grade courses
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The relationship between your academic performance and the educational opportunities available at your high school
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Outstanding performance in a specific subject area
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Outstanding work in a particular special project
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Recent, significant academic improvement
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Special talents, achievements, awards in a particular field
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Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of your high school curriculum or special school events
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Overcoming challenges posed by life experiences and special circumstances
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Location of your school and your environment
Without the boost from standardized test scores, future UC applications will pay more attention to GPA, number/difficulty of courses, activity experience/essays, and other application materials.
Also, each UC campus evaluates applications independently; when reviewing a student's application, they do not consider admission statuses at other campuses. Thus, preparation of application materials needs to be more thorough and comprehensive.
Some UC Campuses to Open Winter/Spring Transfer Applications
UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Riverside will accept transfer applications for the winter quarter or spring semester, with submission dates from July 1 to July 31.
Other campuses will still only accept regular fall transfer applications, with submission dates from November 1 to November 30 each year.
Students can use the CheckMajors page to determine whether their intended major accepts winter/spring transfers:
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses-majors/majors/
Additionally, UC Merced and UC Riverside also accept Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for winter/spring transfer applications, with the submission period from May 1 to May 31.
UC Plans to Reduce Out-of-State Student Admission Proportion?
Due to the huge demand from local students, California legislators are considering reducing the proportion of out-of-state and international students admitted to UC to free up more spaces for local residents.
The recently announced state Senate proposal aims to, over a 10-year period starting from 2022, reduce the proportion of non-resident freshmen from the current average of 19% to 10%, and compensate UC for the loss of out-of-state tuition revenue.
UC has always been a top choice for international students; if the admission proportion is halved drastically, international students will face even more intense competition, and the difficulty for non-California residents to enter UC will greatly increase.
Currently, UC opposes the proposal, stating that it limits its own financial flexibility and weakens student body diversity and academic freedom.
It is expected that UC will actively communicate with the state government to find a more suitable solution.
Final Thoughts
Whether it's the elimination of standardized test scores or the potential reduction in out-of-state admission rates, for international students who aspire to attend UC, our primary task is still to proactively enhance our own backgrounds in all aspects.
After all, as a public university, many of UC's decisions are influenced by the political environment and social issues of race and ethnicity. To stand out in an even more competitive application pool, personal effort cannot be overlooked.
As the application season approaches, we advise everyone to quickly identify their strengths, improve their weaknesses, stay informed about UC admissions trends, and strive for the best chance of getting into their dream school.
