Eligibility changes will give UC access to more California students

The new UC freshman admissions policy that will go into effect in fall 2012 will increase access to higher education for more of the state's high school graduates.

Under the new policy, it is estimated that 21.7 percent of California high school graduates would be entitled to a full application review compared with the 13.4 percent that was eligible in 2007, according to data from the California Postsecondary Education Commission.

"The new admissions policy will increase opportunity for students by expanding the number of applications our campuses review, while continuing to produce a freshman class that is just as qualified as in years past," said UC President Mark Yudof. "It also sends a clear message to California high school students that if they work hard, take challenging courses and do well, they will get to make their case for admission to UC."

All California high school seniors who fulfill admissions criteria will be entitled to a complete review of their applications at each UC campus to which they apply. Those criteria include: completion of 15 UC-approved college prep course, 11 by the end of 11th grade; a 3.0 or higher GPA in those courses; and completion of the ACT with Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test. The requirement to take two SAT subject tests will be dropped. UC is currently the only public university to require the two tests.

Among that pool of students, those who graduate in the top 9 percent of their high school or all high school graduating classes statewide will be guaranteed admission at a UC campus. The remaining students in the pool will still have a chance to compete for a UC slot when their applications are reviewed. Campus reviewers will consider both academic achievement and personal accomplishments and life experiences.

For more information: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/eligibilitychanges.