Thousands of students admitted to the University of
California, Davis, for fall 2002 are touring the campus and
getting answers to their questions about studying and living
in Davis during the campus's Welcome Week, now under way.


They are among the more than 21,000 California students who
have been or will be admitted to UC Davis under a new
selection process that, in addition to academic achievement,
considers a broad variety of factors.


Of the 16,970 California freshmen admitted, about 4,550 are
expected to enroll at UC Davis. An additional 4,800
applicants seeking to transfer from a California community
college have been or will be admitted by early May, and about
1,900 are expected to enroll.


"The academic and personal accomplishments of our admitted
freshmen are very impressive," says Gary Tudor, director of
undergraduate admissions and outreach services.


He adds that he was particularly pleased with the number of
core courses completed beyond the 30-course minimum required
for eligibility to the University of California. "This means
that students, parents and counselors are thinking carefully
about the right way to prepare for UC."


Among UC Davis applicants who stated their ethnicity and were
admitted as freshmen, the overall proportion of those from
traditionally underrepresented groups declined three-quarters
of a percentage point.


Systemwide admissions numbers for UC are accessible here.



Selection Process


UC Davis received 26,504 applications from California
freshmen, up 4.24 percent overall and 4.03 percent among
underrepresented groups, and 4,636 applications from transfer
students, up 0.74 percent overall and down 0.82 percent among
underrepresented groups.


For the first time, the applications were evaluated according
to what is known as "comprehensive review."


While 15 criteria used in the selection process are weighted
toward academic achievement, such accomplishments are
considered in the context of the opportunities and challenges
an applicant has experienced. And an applicant's personal
achievements -- from demonstrated leadership to special
skills and talents -- are used to assess merit and likely
contribution to the campus community.


About 110 specially trained faculty and staff read an average
of almost 240 freshman applications each. "It was a
challenge, but our faculty and staff really rose to the
occasion," Tudor says.


At UC Davis, comprehensive review replaced a tiered system
that had selected 60 percent of the class on academic
criteria and 40 percent on academic criteria and personal
factors.



Mix of Admitted Freshmen


Californian freshmen from historically underrepresented
groups -- African American, American Indian, Chicano and
Latino -- accounted for 15.52 percent of this year's admitted
students who stated their ethnicity, compared with 16.28
percent last year.


The percentage of Asian American students increased to 39.66
percent of this year's admitted students who stated their
ethnicity, compared to 39.53 percent last year.


Caucasians this year represented 43.22 percent of admitted
students who stated their ethnicity, compared with 42.25
percent last year.


This year, a smaller share of admitted students declined to
state their ethnicity -- 7.84 percent of all those admitted,
compared with last year's 8.18 percent.



Changes in Numbers


The number of admitted California freshman students
identifying themselves as members of historically
underrepresented groups increased by 1.42 percent, from 2,393
last year to 2,427 this year. There were increases among
Latinos, from 466 to 489 or 4.93 percent; African Americans,
from 404 to 416, or 2.97 percent; and American Indians, from
105 to 110 or 4.76 percent. Chicanos decreased 0.42 percent,
from 1,418 to 1,412.


Students identifying themselves as Asian American this year
increased by 6.76 percent, from 5,810 to 6,203.


The number of students identifying themselves as Caucasian
increased by 8.84 percent, from 6,210 to 6,759. Those who
identified themselves as being from other ethnic groups
decreased 11.97 percent, from 284 to 250, and accounted for
1.60 percent of all admitted students stating their
ethnicity. Those who declined to state their ethnicity
increased from 1,309 to 1,331 or 1.68 percent.



Deadlines


Admitted freshmen have until May 1 to indicate their intent
to register at UC Davis, and admitted transfer students,
until June 1.


Additional Media contacts:
-- Gary Tudor, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach
Services, (530) 752-3018, gdtudor@ucdavis.edu


Editor's Note: A table listing admitted students by ethnicity
is available from Julia Ann Easley of the News Service at
(530) 752-8248 or jaeasley@ucdavis.edu. Please provide a fax
number.