When applying to the University of California (UC) as a first-year student, applicants can expect a thorough review process managed by hundreds of admissions staff. Three admissions professionals—Robert Penman from UC Davis, Melissa Chávez and Jayne Reimel from the UC central undergraduate admissions office—recently addressed common questions about the application process.
Penman explained that all UC campuses use a “comprehensive review” system with 13 factors considered in each application. “Each campus does this a little bit differently. Think of us as nine chefs: We’re all working with the same ingredients, but we’re developing different recipes that suit the needs of our particular campus and what our faculty are looking for at our individual locations,” he said. Some campuses like UC Merced and UC Riverside follow more structured formulas, while others take a holistic approach considering achievements within students’ life contexts.
The review includes academic performance, rigor of coursework, and personal experiences. Penman noted, “We want to know what you did with the resources that were available to you… We want to know about your unique experiences and interests, what you hope to gain out of an education from the University of California and what you can contribute to the UC community.”
Comparisons between students are not part of the process. Reimel stated, “One myth about admissions is that there’s this group of people sitting around a table saying, ‘Okay, we have one spot left and we have to decide, is it Jayne or Robert?’ It doesn’t work that way at UC. We never compare students to one another like that.” Each application is reviewed independently.
Admissions decisions are made separately by each campus even though there is one application for all campuses. “Each campus reviews their applications independently and comes to their own admission decision without regard for the other campuses,” Reimel said.
California residents receive priority in admissions; across all UC campuses for fall 2024 enrollment, over 85% of new undergraduates were California residents.
On which parts of the application matter most, Chávez commented: “The entire application is important… your extracurriculars, your activities and awards, your responses to the Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), your academic history—all of that is important.” Penman added that while every section matters equally in theory, academics remain central: “Academics are always the starting point… The Activities & Awards and PIQs are there to add depth… But they are not more important than anything else.”
There is a minimum GPA requirement—3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents—but admitted students often exceed these thresholds due to competition at most campuses.
Regarding test scores, Penman clarified: “We do not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admission process. But other test scores like AP, IB and A Levels…are all part of the review.” These scores can help demonstrate strength in certain subjects but are only one part of a holistic evaluation.
Financial need does not influence admission decisions at UC because its process is need-blind. Penman emphasized: “We do not consider a student’s ability to pay when we are making admission decisions.” He also pointed out robust financial aid options across campuses; most California residents with family incomes under $100,000 pay no tuition.
UC provides free resources for applicants including workshops and direct access to admissions staff via phone or email. Campuses also offer online content through social media platforms such as YouTube featuring video tutorials on applications and insights into each campus environment.
In offering advice for applicants, Penman urged students: “Stop trying to get inside my head… just focus on you and what you can control.” Reimel advised allowing enough time before submission so nothing important gets left out since changes after submission are limited.
Chávez concluded by reminding applicants about finalizing their submissions carefully: “Once you hit submit on your UC application there is very little you can change… So please allow plenty of time…”
