Transfer Q&A — Applying for Admission to UC

1. Is there ever a case when a student should not report prior collegiate academic work on the application?

2. Why is it important to list accurately all course titles and numbers on the application?

3. May transfer students apply to your campus without declaring a major?

4. Does your campus have an appeals process for applicants who were not admitted?

5. What are the unit limitations or restrictions on admission for students who have attended a four-year institution before enrolling at a California community college? Do any majors or schools on your campus interpret this policy differently?

6. May a student be admitted for one term but defer enrollment until a subsequent term?

7. Are applicants with disabilities provided additional consideration in the application process?

Is there ever a case when a student should not report prior collegiate academic work on the application?

No. Students must always report all prior collegiate academic work on the UC application. This includes any college or university work done outside of the United States. Students are often reluctant to show academic work that is several years old, or work that may reflect weak study habits. But no matter how old or strong the academic record, students must report all prior work.

top

Why is it important to list accurately all course titles and numbers on the application?

Inaccurate or incomplete course titles not only slow evaluation of the application; they could result in a student not receiving proper credit for fulfilling a course requirement — which, in turn, could affect his or her eligibility or selection for admission.

May transfer students apply to your campus without declaring a major?

UCB
In most cases, transfer students may not apply without declaring a major. Applicants who will have 60 UC-transferable units upon transfer must declare a major when submitting the application. Students who have completed a significant amount of lower-division preparation for their major are the most competitive in the admission process. Only in very special circumstances, approved by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, are lower-division, undeclared transfer applicants considered, and then usually only in the College of Letters and Science.

UCD
Lower-division applicants to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences may apply as Undeclared/Exploratory. All UC Davis colleges require junior-level applicants to declare a major.

UCI
Students with 60 UC-transferable semester units must declare a major when submitting the application to UCI. With the exceptio of The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, and the School of Social Sciences, lower-division applicants may apply as undeclared in: Division of Undergraduate Education, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, School of Humanities, School of Physical Sciences, and School of Social Ecology.

UCLA
Transfer students must declare a major when submitting the application. UCLA gives priority to students who have completed most lower-division major-preparation requirements and who are most prepared to start upper-division coursework upon enrollment.

UCM
Transfer students may apply undeclared within a school. However, students are encouraged to declare a major early in their junior year in order to make timely progress toward a degree.

UCR
All transfer students must declare a major on their application for admission. However, transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter units may be admitted with an undeclared major to the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. All colleges require junior-level applicants to declare a major.

UCSD
Transfer students may apply without declaring a major. However, selected majors in the Jacobs School of Engineering have established screening criteria: transfer students interested in Bioengineering or Bioengineering-Biotechnology must apply to and be selected for admission to those majors at the point of application. Effective fall 2011, transfer students interested in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering (along with either Bioengineering or Bioengineering-Biotechnology) must apply to and be selected for admission to those majors at the point of application. All engineering applicants are strongly encouraged to complete all the major-preparation courses determined by the Jacobs School of Engineering for the major. Furthermore, effective fall 2011, all majors in the Division of Biological Sciences will be impacted.

UCSB
Transfer students must declare a major when submitting the application. Moreover, all transfer applicants to Biological Sciences majors, Economics and Business Economics majors, Computer Science B.A./B.S. programs, the College of Engineering and the College of Creative Studies must be selected for admission to the major at the time of application.

UCSC
Junior-level transfer students may not apply as Undeclared/Undecided and must indicate a major when submitting the application. The major listed on the application is considered a "proposed major"; transfer students must formally declare a major during the second quarter of attendance at UCSC.

top

Does your campus have an appeals process for applicants who were not admitted?

UCB
To appeal, applicants must submit a letter containing new and compelling information not available at the time of the original application, their college transcript through the most recent term and any supporting documentation to the attention of the Appeals Committee, 110 Sproul Hall #5800, Berkeley, CA 94720.

UCD
UC Davis strongly encourages applicants to select a college/university to which they have been admitted, as very few appeals are granted. Students not admitted will be directed to a website providing them with detailed information about the selection process. If applicants choose to appeal, they should provide information not included in their original admission application such as: new and compelling personal circumstances that may have impacted their academic performance, a medical condition, possible errors in their application, or extraordinary achievement or recognition received since their application was submitted. Applicants should include courses and grades for fall and winter, and spring work in progress. Online appeals must be completed by the applicant; appeals submitted on behalf of the applicant (by a parent, counselor, etc.) will not be accepted. Appeals for fall 2009 must be received in Undergraduate Admissions by the May 13 deadline. Appeals are reviewed by a committee, therefore, UC Davis is unable to meet with applicants or discuss their appeal by telephone or via e-mail. Applicants may monitor their appeal status on myadmissions.ucdavis.edu.

UCI
UC Irvine will consider appeals to selection decisions if there is new and compelling information that warrants reconsideration of the applicant’s file. To appeal, an applicant should mail the following items in one package: Appeal Cover Sheet (available at www.admissions.uci.edu under Appeals Information); a letter written and signed by the applicant stating reason(s) for appeal; the college transcript through the most recent term; additional documentation relevant to a reconsideration; and an updated list of courses in progress for the current term, if applicable. Appeals made via fax, e-mail or phone will not be accepted. If any of these documents are missing from the appeals package, it is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Additional information is available at www.admissions.uci.edu under Admissions Information, then UCI Comprehensive Review and Information on Appeals. After submission, the status of the appeal is located on MyAdmissionsApplication@UCI.

UCLA
To appeal, applicants should submit a written letter of appeal as soon as possible after receiving the denial letter; include academic letters of recommendation. UCLA reviews all letters of appeal received. However, no spaces are set aside to be filled through the appeal process. Direct appeals to the Appeals Committee, UCLA Undergraduate Admissions and Relations With Schools, Box 951436, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1436.

UCM
To appeal, applicants may send transcripts and a letter providing additional information. Such a letter might include grades for courses completed since filing the application, explanation for poor academic performance and any other information pertinent to the student’s case. Appeals may be sent in by fax to (209) 228-4244 or by e-mail to admissions@ucmerced.edu.

UCR
Applicants who have new and compelling information not available at the time of the original application or not reported accurately on the application may submit a written appeal. The appeal must outline the reasons for appeal and be accompanied by supporting documentation (e.g., transcripts, revised test score reports, etc.). Appeal instructions can be found at the applicant's MyUCR webpage (www.My.UCR.edu).

UCSD
Applicants who believe an error was made may write a letter of appeal. Applicants must write their own letters. Transfer applicants should include updated official transcripts from each of the schools they have attended. Direct appeals to UC San Diego, Admissions and Relations With Schools, Attn: Transfer Admission Appeals, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0021, La Jolla, CA 92093.

UCSB
Applicants may send a letter of appeal providing additional, compelling information not available at the time of the initial decision. Transfer applicants should include updated official transcripts from all schools attended. Address appeals to the Admissions Review Committee, UC Santa Barbara, 1210 Cheadle Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2014.

UCSC
Applicants must submit a written appeal presenting new and compelling information beyond that included in the application and personal statement. Appropriate information might include grades for courses completed since filing the application, explanation for poor academic performance and any other considerations pertinent to the case. For appeal instructions, go to admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/10_transferNotAdmittedUD.cfm.

top

What are the unit limitations or restrictions on admission for students who have attended a four-year institution before enrolling at a California community college? Do any majors or schools on your campus interpret this policy differently?

UCB
Each of the colleges and the Haas School of Business establishes its own unit limitation policies for students who have attended a four-year institution before enrolling at a community college:

College of Letters and Science: A student who has accumulated more than 80 transferable semester units from a four-year institution is considered to have excess units and will not be admitted. A student who has completed 80 or fewer UC-transferable semester units at a four-year university and then transfers to a community college will not accrue excess units and will be considered for admission.

Students who have attended only a community college will be granted subject credit, but not unit credit, for appropriate two-year college coursework taken in excess of the community college 70-unit limit; such subject credit may be used to satisfy/complete requirements.

College of Environmental Design: This college follows the same unit accumulation policy as the College of Letters and Science (see above), except that its limit on transferable coursework taken at a four-year university is 86 semester units.

Other colleges: UC Berkeley's other colleges total both university units and a maximum of 70 community college UC-transferable units. The limits on combined transferable university and community college work are as follows:

College of Chemistry: 80 semester units; applicants with more than 80 units require special approval.

College of Engineering: 89 semester units.

College of Natural Resources: 90 semester units. Though the College does not have a specific unit limitation, it carefully reviews applicants with 90 or more semester units to ensure that they can graduate within a reasonable time.

Haas School of Business: No maximum limit.

top

UCD
Applications from students who have completed 80 or more transferable semester units (120 or more transferable quarter units) of combined baccalaureate institution and community college coursework are subject to review by the deans of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the College of Letters and Science and the Division of Biological Sciences. Units earned through AP or IB examinations are counted separately for this purpose; AP and IB units do not put applicants at risk of being denied admission or of having an admissions decision delayed due to a dean’s review. Applicants subject to review will be admitted if a dean’s assessment is that the student is making good progress toward the baccalaureate degree and can complete the degree within the college's maximum unit limit.

All transfer applications to the College of Engineering undergo careful screening to assess the level of academic preparation for the major; the College of Engineering does not conduct a separate review of applicants who have 80 or more transferable semester units (120 or more transferable quarter units) of combined baccalaureate institution/community college work. Students who are well prepared for the majors will be admitted to the College of Engineering even if they exceed the 80/120-unit standard.

UCI
UC Irvine does not set a limit on the number of units an applicant may earn at a four-year institution before enrolling at a community college. It is important to note, however, that at least 36 of the final 45 quarter units completed by a student for the bachelor’s degree must be earned in residence at the UCI campus.

UCLA
With the exception of the School of Nursing (post-licensure), UCLA generally considers a student who has accumulated more than 86 transferable semester units (129 transferable quarter units) at a university to have exceeded maximum units allowable for admission. Such a student will not be admitted. For the College of Letters and Science, a student who completed 86 or fewer UC-transferable semester units (129 or fewer transferable quarter units) at a university then transferred to, and remained exclusively at, a community college does not exceed the maximum units allowable for admission purposes.

UCM
UC Merced considers a student who has accumulated more than 80 transferable semester units (120 transferable quarter units) at a university to have exceeded maximum units allowable for admission. Such a student will not be admitted without committee review and approval. A student who completed 80 or fewer UC-transferable semester units (120 or fewer transferable quarter units) at a university then transferred to, and remained at, a community college does not exceed the maximum units allowable for admission purposes.

UCR
UC Riverside does not limit the number of units an applicant may earn at a four-year institution before enrolling at a community college. However, UC-eligible applicants who have attended a four-year institution and who present 80 or more semester (120 or more quarter) units in transfer credit will be reviewed by the dean of the college for completion of a specified pattern of courses that provides continuity with upper-division courses within the major. An applicant will be admitted if the dean’s office determines that the student can complete a baccalaureate degree within the maximum limit of 216 quarter units.

UCSD
UC San Diego considers a student with more than 90 transferable semester units (135 quarter units) from the combination of a two-year and a four-year institution to be in senior standing. UCSD sets a 90 semester unit limit when a student has attended both a two-year and a four-year institution. UCSD will transfer a maximum of 70 semester units from a community college; the admissions staff looks for those students who have accumulated 90 or fewer semester units.

UCSB
The College of Letters and Science does not accept applications from students who have earned 135 or more transferable quarter (90 or more semester) units from a combination of two-year and four-year institutions.

UCSC
UC Santa Cruz does not accept applications from students who have earned 135 or more transferable quarter (90 or more semester) units from a four-year institution or a combination of two-year and four-year institutions. This campuswide policy is not subject to college or departmental interpretation.

top

May a student be admitted for one term but defer enrollment until a subsequent term?

UCB
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment. However, the Colleges of Letters and Science, Engineering, Natural Resources and Environmental Design may offer spring admission to several hundred applicants whom the University was unable to accommodate for the fall semester. Most of these spaces are in the College of Letters and Science. In addition, students with special circumstances may write to the director of admissions (110 Sproul Hall #5800, Berkeley, CA 94720-5800) to defer admission to a later term; such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

UCD
The Deferred Enrollment Program allows newly admitted undergraduate students to postpone their initial enrollment at UC Davis for up to one year. The purpose of deferred enrollment is to allow students time to pursue opportunities that will assist them in clarifying their personal and educational goals (e.g., job opportunities, non-collegiate experience, and additional time to resolve personal or medical problems). Students are not allowed to enroll in another college or university during this time. Students can submit the deferred enrollment application and $60 fee through their MyAdmissions web page after they have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by the deadline. In addition, students must also satisfy all University admission and entrance requirements, as well as UC Davis's campus selection criteria. The final deadline to submit a deferred enrollment application is the first day of the quarter in which the student was admitted.

UCI
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment. However, a student with a compelling reason, (i.e., medical, military) for not entering in the quarter for which he or she was admitted may request a deferment of enrollment to a subsequent term by writing a letter to the director of admissions (204 Aldrich Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-1075) stating the reason for the request. The student will have to file a new admission application for the deferred term.

UCLA
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment; students are admitted to the term for which they applied. However, written requests for deferred enrollment will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

UCM
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment. However, a student with a compelling reason may request deferment of enrollment to a subsequent term by writing a letter to the director of admissions (5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343), stating the reason for the request. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis for a maximum deferment of one year.

UCR
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment; students are admitted to the term for which they applied. However, written requests for deferred enrollment will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

UCSD
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment. There is no formal policy, however; occasional exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.

UCSB
Generally, admitted students may not defer enrollment. There is no formal policy, however; occasional exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.

UCSC
UC Santa Cruz does not automatically grant requests for delayed enrollment. Students who are interested in deferring enrollment must write a letter of appeal to the associate director of admissions (150 Hahn Student Services, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064) explaining their circumstances. Unless the appeal is granted, the applicant should request that all existing application materials be retained, and file a new application for the desired quarter. In the event that the request for delayed enrollment crosses academic years, a new application must be filed for consideration.

Are applicants with disabilities provided additional consideration in the application process?

An applicant’s academic accomplishments in light of life circumstances, including disability, may be considered in the application process. Applicants who believe that a disability played a significant role in their academic accomplishments should discuss this in their personal statements. However, applicants with a disability are not required to provide information regarding the disability on their applications or in their personal statements.

Students needing information about campus programs and services available to accommodate a disability should contact the disabled student services office at each campus. (See contact information for each campus.)

top