Mid-April marks the most important moment for those of us in community college applying to UC.
All the hard work and dedication over the past two years pay off this month. Every email ding will make your nerves tingle, and every exciting login to the portal will be an unforgettable life experience.
I believe many of you have already received your offers to some extent, so let’s take a look at what to do after receiving an offer! If you were rejected by your dream school or waitlisted, don’t worry—you still have a chance.
For Students Who Received an Offer
Congratulations on receiving your offer! All your hard work has not been in vain! But don’t let happiness go to your head.
Once you’ve decided to accept this offer, you need to log into your Student Application Portal before the following deadlines to submit your SIR (Statement of Intent to Register) and pay the deposit to secure your spot.
CSU: May 1
UC: June 1
1. Admission Contract
Of course, there are other things to keep in mind.
If you have already selected and confirmed which school you will attend, the very first thing to do is log into its admission portal and check your admission contract.
We need to understand that the university that sent you the acceptance letter has the right to revoke it. So make sure to check in your Admission Contract which type of agreement applies to you.
General Provisional Agreement
1. Meet admission requirements
2. Maintain the academic level you had when admitted
3. Submit transcripts and other required documents
Specific Provisional Agreement
E.g., must pass all Spring 2021 courses with a grade of B or better
2. Immunization Requirement
Basically all UCs require students to get the necessary vaccinations before arriving on campus in October.
Although this will not directly affect your admission status, it may impact your course registration time after enrollment.
3. Report of Academic Changes
After accepting the university’s offer, if there are any academic changes, report them to the university as soon as possible! This could also significantly affect your admission.
Changes that need to be reported include:
Withdrawing from a course listed on your application
GPA no longer meets the minimum transfer requirements
Receiving a D or F in any course
Failing to meet the requirements of your Admission Contract agreement
Noticeable decline in grades, etc.
4. Sending Official Transcripts
After the Spring 2021 semester ends, do not forget to send your latest official transcripts to UC Admissions.
5. Check I-20 and Visa (International Students Only)
After being admitted to the new school, you will need to transfer your SEVIS (I-20) record to the new institution at the end of the semester.
Generally, you need to submit a Transfer Out form to your original community college and also submit a Transfer In form to the new UC.
For Waitlisted Students
First, congratulations! You’ve been placed on the waitlist rather than receiving a straight rejection. So what is a waitlist? A waitlist is used by admissions offices to manage enrollment numbers in order to meet recruitment targets. It means you are still under consideration, but there may not be enough spots available.
Waitlists are opt-in only—you must be invited by the school. After receiving the notification, be sure to read the details carefully. For example, some schools may require spring grades, essays, or other documents by a specific critical deadline.
Generally, after the May 1/June 1 deadlines, schools will notify you whether you’ve been accepted or rejected. Once admitted off the waitlist, you will have a limited number of days to accept the offer—don’t miss it!
Also, while waiting for your dream school’s waitlist decision, don’t forget to submit the SIR to a school that has already offered you admission.
For Students Who Received a Rejection
There can be many factors that lead to a rejection from a dream school:
- The student did not meet the minimum admission requirements
- The student did not complete the major preparation requirements
- The student did not submit the TAU or respond to emails requesting additional information
- The GPA was not competitive enough.
However, do not lose heart—this doesn’t mean there’s no chance. You can file an appeal and provide additional documents that could change your application result.
The appeal process varies by school, but typically schools consider the following when reviewing submitted documents:
- On a case-by-case basis;
- New documents/merits, such as new academic or personal information (winter/spring grades are not considered), or compelling extenuating circumstances;
- Availability of spots.
For detailed appeal deadlines, please check each school’s official website.
Once you have prepared your appeal documents, submit them through the school’s admission decision portal.
Again, it’s best to submit the SIR to a school that has already offered you admission when you appeal, to ensure you at least have a place to attend.
Final Words
Here, I sincerely wish all UC transfer students that your two years of hard work have not been in vain, and that you are overwhelmed with offers!
The waiting process is agonizing, but it is also the prelude to a pleasant surprise. I believe everyone’s efforts will be rewarded handsomely.
With the easing of the pandemic and the widespread availability of vaccines, I believe we will soon return to normal campus life and enjoy a wonderful learning experience on the campus of our dream school.
