Scholarship Requirement

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The Scholarship Requirement defines the grade point average (GPA) you must earn in the "a-g" subjects and the test scores you must achieve to be eligible for admission to UC. The University uses an Eligibility Index — a combination of GPA and test scores — to determine if you meet this requirement. Beginning with fall 2007 applicants, the minimum GPA is 3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for nonresidents.

To see whether you meet the Scholarship Requirement, refer to the index and detailed information below, or use the preliminary eligibility calculator at right.

Grade Point Average

To determine your eligibility, the University calculates your GPA in the "a-g" subjects by assigning point values to the grades you earn, totaling the points and dividing the total by the number of "a-g" courses. Points are assigned as follows: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, and F=0 points. (Pluses and minuses are not calculated in the grade point average.)
Only the grades you earn in "a-g" subjects in the 10th and 11th grades - including summer sessions - are used to calculate your preliminary GPA. Courses you took in ninth grade can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if you earned a grade of C or better, but they will not be used to calculate your GPA.

Honors Courses: The University assigns extra points for up to eight semesters of University-certified honors-level and Advanced Placement courses taken in the last three years of high school: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two yearlong 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.

The courses must be in the following "a-g" subjects: history/social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, language other than English, and visual and performing arts. Also, they must be certified as honors courses by the University. In these subjects, as well as in computer science, acceptable honors-level courses include Advanced Placement courses, Higher Level and designated Standard Level International Baccalaureate courses, and college courses that are transferable to the University.

D and F Grades: If you have earned a D or F in an "a-g" course, you must repeat the course with a grade of C or better in order to apply it toward your Subject Requirement. The original D or F grade will not be included in the GPA calculation, and the new grade will be used. If you repeat a course in which you initially earned a grade of C, the second grade will not be used.

UC Score Total

The University calculates your UC Score Total as follows:

If you took the SAT Reasoning Test: The University converts your highest scores in critical reading, math and writing from a single sitting and two SAT Subject Tests from different subject areas to equivalent UC Scores (see translation table below). Then all five UC Scores are added together to produce your UC Score Total (critical reading + math + writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

If you took the ACT plus its Writing exam: The University takes your highest math, reading, science and combined English/writing score from a single sitting and converts them to equivalent UC scores (see the translation table at right). To give the ACT writing component equal weight to the SAT writing exam, the University multiplies the sum of your converted math, reading and science scores by two-thirds, then adds the converted English/writing score. This subtotal is then added to your two highest SAT Subject Test scores from two different subject areas, which are also converted to equivalent UC Scores, to reach your UC Score Total ([math + reading + science] x 0.667 + English/writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

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