Helping Students Apply

Prospective transfer applicants should be advised to plan their coursework carefully. First, the courses they take should help them meet the minimum admission requirements for transfer students. In addition, students should select community college courses that partially or completely fulfill a variety of other University requirements. All courses students take to meet University requirements must be transferable.

How to Apply

The University prefers that students use the online application for admission. The online application helps students file a more accurate and complete application by using error messages to highlight common mistakes and missing information before they file. Additional privacy guards help ensure their information stays secure.

Students who do not have easy online access may download a printable application form. Students who want a copy of the application mailed to them can e-mail ucinfo@ucapplication.net. They should include their name, address and the term to which they are applying, and state whether they are a freshman or transfer applicant.

Students may apply to one or more of UC's nine undergraduate campuses using a single application. (The San Francisco campus has its own application and filing procedures.) Not every student can be admitted to his or her first-choice campus. Applying broadly will significantly increase a student's chances of being admitted.

When to Apply

The University gives first consideration to students who apply during the filing periods listed in the box on this page. Applications are accepted after these periods only if space is available. Most campuses stop accepting applications at the end of the filing period or shortly thereafter.

Most majors and programs are open to new students in the fall term. There are fewer openings in the winter and spring terms. Students should check with the campus admissions office if they are considering applying to a term other than fall. Information about which campuses and programs are accepting applications is available online. Students should make sure all official records, including high school transcripts, transcripts from other institutions and final transcripts, are sent by the specified deadline. A student’s application will be sent to the campuses he or she designates, and it will be considered simultaneously by each one. Students may apply to different majors at different campuses.

Application Fees

The $60 application fee entitles a student to apply to one UC campus. If a student applies to more than one campus, he or she must pay an additional $60 for each campus selected. These fees are not refundable and are subject to change.

Fee waivers

The University will waive application fees for up to four campuses for students who otherwise would not be able to apply for admission. Students who qualify for fee waivers and who select more than four campuses must pay $60 for each additional choice. To be accepted for the fee waiver program, a student’s family income and size must fall within specific guidelines. Students can apply automatically for a fee waiver within the  online application.

Advice for Transfer Students

Students increase their chances for admission and success after transferring if they develop and follow a pre-transfer plan of college coursework. Many prospective transfer students know which UC campus and program they wish to attend and have a general knowledge of University requirements; however, this is not enough to ensure a successful transfer. It is essential that students research the specific requirements of their intended major and campus and the community college courses that are approved to meet these requirements.

Knowing what the requirements are and planning their community college program around them will maximize students' chances for admission to their first-choice campus and program. Meeting requirements in advance will give students more freedom when selecting courses once they enroll in the University. They may also be able to complete their undergraduate education within four years, without having to attend additional terms to meet requirements or take prerequisites.

Information to assist in the transfer process is available online and in a variety of UC publications, including Answers for Transfers [PDF], the campus General Catalogs and the community college's UC Transferable Course Agreement and the articulation agreements with UC campuses.

International and Nonimmigrant Students

Applicants must pay a higher application fee of $70 for each campus selected. However, students who meet any of the following conditions qualify to pay the lower application fee of $60 per campus:

• Have lived in California for at least the last 12 months
• Are under 18 and have a parent or legal guardian living in California
• Have a parent, legal guardian or spouse who is an employee of UC
• Currently attend a California high school or college or have attended one for two or more years

The online application automatically determines the application fee.

The Personal Statement

The personal statement is an important part of the application for admission. The University uses it to learn more about each student as an individual. Early on in the admissions process, each student should review the personal statement guidelines and take time to write, revise and thoroughly proofread the statement before adding it to the application.

Reporting Student Data

Transfer applicants to the University must complete the Academic History section of the online undergraduate application (called the Self-Reported Academic Record on the paper application). The record provides a report of the applicant's academic performance in college, which will be used for preliminary review of the application.

It is important that all the information requested be included and that the information is accurate. All college courses taken or planned should be listed, regardless of length of attendance or whether the student thinks the course will be transferable.

Students should refer to transcripts and grade reports to complete the Academic History; they should not work from memory.

Updating the Application

Transfer students who apply for fall 2008 admission will be asked in January to update their grades and coursework on the Application Update website. The site allows applicants to give UC their final grades from the previous fall, as well as a list of all courses in progress or planned for winter and spring. (Applicants to other terms will be notified of the Application Update period.)

In addition to allowing an initial evaluation of the transfer applicant's academic record, the self-report may be used to help determine which applications are considered for highly competitive programs. The admissions offices may also use the Academic History to make preliminary offers of admission to transfer applicants. The information on the self-report will be verified when the sutdent's official transcripts are received.