Applications are available in the College Guidance Office. Filing period is November 1 – November 30.  Online application can be found at www.ucop.edu/pathways

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA CAMPUS ADDRESSES:

Applying to the University of California

Following the steps outlined below will help easily facilitate the process of applying to the UC system.

1.         Pick up an application from the College Counseling Office (or apply on-line at http://www.ucop.edu/pathways)

Applications for the UC system will arrive in September. Seniors will be notified as soon as they arrive. Only 1 application is given to each senior applying to the UC system. Making copies of the application for rough draft purposes is strongly recommended.

2.         Filing the application

The UC application filing period is November 1- 30. If you plan on applying to the UC system, your application should be in your college counselor's office no later than the last week of October. Students file only 1 application,   but may be considered at multiple UC campuses. The cost for applying is $40 for each campus. Applications are mailed to a central processing center which will distribute the information to the UC schools you have designated. Any additional information that is required such as letters of recommendations, school profiles or transcripts will be requested by each campus and must be mailed directly to the campus itself.

3.         Complete all standardized testing

The UC system requires the SAT I and three SAT II Subject Tests: Writing, Mathematics (Level I or II), and a 3^rd test in either history, foreign language, English literature or science. These exams may be taken in spring of junior year or fall of senior year. It is best to have all necessary tests completed by November of the senior year. You are responsible for requesting that your test scores be forwarded to the campuses to which you are applying.

REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

Requirements for admission to the UC system are based on a student’s grade point average in required subjects and standardized testing data. SMES students who take the required SMES core curriculum to graduate will meet the minimum number of courses required by the UC system and will have no difficulty in meeting those minimum subject requirements. It is favorable to take more than the minimal number of required courses during your four years at SMES to increase your chances of being admitted to the UC campus of your choice. Generally, it is advisable to take four years of academic credit in the five core academic disciplines (math, science, English, history, foreign language).

To be eligible for the UC system, you must meet three separate requirements. They are the Subject, Scholarship, and Examination requirements.

Subject Requirement: To satisfy the first requirement you must complete certain high school classes with a defined UC GPA. The sequence of courses is known as the "A-G" course requirements. Each of the seven alphabet numbers represents an academic subject and the required number (and level) of classes you must complete with a “C’ average or better in grades 9-12. They are:

A. History/Social Science- 2 years required. This includes one year of US History or one half-year of US History and one half-year of civics or American government; and one year of world history, cultures, and geography.

B. English- 4 years required. Four years of college preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing.

C. Mathematics- 3 years required, 4 years recommended. College preparatory level math to include elementary and advanced algebra, and two and three-dimensional geometry.

D. Laboratory Science- 2 years required, 3 recommended. Courses to include two of these three lab science disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics.

E. Language Other than English- 2 years required, 3 years recommended. Two years of the same language other than English.

F. Fine Arts-  2 semesters of acceptable arts courses from any of the four VPA areas (dance, drama/theater, music and visual arts).

G. College Preparatory Electives- 1 year required. You can choose from the following areas: visual and performing arts, history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and language other than English.

*Revision of UC eligibility subject requirements for SMES Class of '04, '05:  Students must satisfy the requirement by completing two semesters of approved arts courses from a single VPA area (dance, drama/theater, music or visual arts).

**Revision of UC eligibility subject requirements from SMES Class of '06 and later:   Students must satisfy the requirement by completing a single year-long approved fine arts class that meets the approved guidelines.

 Scholarship Requirement: This is where your UC GPA counts. You must attain a certain GPA in the “A-G” requirements to be eligible for admission to the UC system. Remember, only the grades you earn in A-G subjects in grades 10 and 11 are used to calculate your UC GPA. Courses you take in ninth grade can be used to meet the subject requirement but they will not be used to calculate UC GPA. If your “A-G” UC GPA is 3.3 or higher, you have met the minimum requirements for admission. If your UC GPA is below 3.3 but above 2.81, you have met the minimum requirement if you achieve the necessary SAT I exam score indicated in the eligibility Index (please refer to the annual University of California Introducing the University publication available in the College Guidance Office).

Examination Requirement:

Lastly, you must submit the following test scores:

• SAT I or the ACT exam (ACT scores will be converted to SAT I scale). The verbal/math score on the SAT I must be from the same sitting (unlike many private colleges which will take your highest verbal and math score from your best test).

• Three SAT II Subject tests, including writing, Mathematics level I or level II, and one test in one of the following areas: English literature, foreign language, science or social studies/history.

Some Additional Quick Facts About the UC System Application Process

“D” and “F” grades in “A-G” courses must be repeated or validated. Grades for repeated courses in which you initially earned a grade of “C” or better will not be used. So, do well the first time around!

The UC system will grant you extra points for your UC GPA for up to four units (four years) of university certified honors level and advanced placement (AP) courses taken in the 10-11 grades of high school (A=5, B=4, C=3). A grade of “D” in an honors or advanced placement course does not earn extra points.

At least 40% and not more than 60% of freshmen admitted by each campus are selected on the basis of the aforementioned criterion. The remaining freshmen are selected using the academic criteria as well as Supplemental Criteria. Supplemental Criteria consists of: special talents (athletics or music), special circumstances (disabilities, low family income, personal difficulties, etc.), first generation college, and location of residence. These factors help build a cultural and socioeconomic diverse university.

UC GPA

Grades from courses taken in grades ten and eleven and satisfying the “A-G” requirements are the only ones included in the calculation of the UC GPA. In the UC GPA, the numerical value of letter grades is as follows:

A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D= 1 point, F= 0 points. The system disregards plusses (+) and minuses(-). The UC system will add an extra point for Honors and AP courses for up to four year-long courses.

UC Eligibility Index

Under the  index (below), the minimum GPA required for UC eligibility is  2.80.  The SAT I composite is defined as the highest combined mathematics and verbal scores  from a single sitting.  Highest individual SAT II scores, from any sitting, will be considered.