The document provides information to help students prepare their UC transfer application, including the application timeline, requirements, and tips for completing each section. It emphasizes starting early, researching campuses, gathering materials, and revising personal statements. Key parts of the application include choosing majors and campuses, providing academic history and test scores accurately, discussing activities and awards, and addressing two personal statement prompts about intended major and a personal quality. [/SUMMARY]
2. Overview
• Student Preparation
• Comprehensive Review of the Application
• Filling Out the Application Basics
• The Importance of Accurate Details
• The Personal Statement
• Submitting the Application
3. Student Preparation
• Prepare early
• Research campuses
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions
• Gather materials
• Use the checklist in the Apply Online to UC brochure:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/A
pplyOnline_13-14_Transfer.pdf
• Email communication is important!
• Apply broadly
• Brainstorm specific concrete examples that you are proud
of throughout the past few years
• Get reviews of your personal statement and revise, revise,
revise
4. Application Timeline
Date/Deadline Task
September 1-30 TAG Application Filing Period
October 1-31 UC Application Opens
November 1-30 Submit online UC Application
January Update Coursework & Grades (TAU)
April Notification of Admission
June 1 SIR (Statement of Intent to Register)
Deadline – Transfer
To access the UC online application, visit:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
5. Eligibility vs. Selection
• Every UC campus gets the same application
• Every UC campus you apply to will evaluate if
you have met minimum admissions requirements
• Each UC campus will review your application for
admission individually using the information in
the application
6. Comprehensive Review
Assess the student within the context of academic and
personal experiences
• Completion of major • Honors courses/programs
preparation courses • Talents, achievements,
• Completion of breadth/GE awards
requirements or IGETC
• Special college
• GPA in all transferable
courses projects/programs
• Accomplishments in light
of life experiences
• Geographic Diversity
7. Filling Out the Application Basics
• Contact Information – so campuses can
communicate with you
• Campus Selection
• Major Selection
• There is a 30 minute time limit for each
page of the application; click next or log
out to save
8. Getting Started…
The filing deadline for fall 2013 is 11:59 ALL first-time
p.m. PST Nov. 30, 2012. applicants start here!
Returning users sign in.
9. Navigating
Update your e-mail or other account Save/Logout
information using “my UC application” at any time
Learn what is in each
Use the progress bar to navigate to section.
different sections of the application.
Read commonly
asked questions for
helpful information.
Use the buttons on
the bottom to move
from page to page.
11. Choosing a Major
Select a major,
alternate major
or no alternate
major.
Click on a college to
expand the list of
majors available and
make your selection.
12. Ranking San Diego Colleges
You must click on this
link before ranking SD
colleges.
Rank the San Diego
colleges in order of
preference.
This will NOT affect your
chances of admission to
UC San Diego.
13. Scholarships
Be sure to open and review each category of scholarships!
Select scholarships that match your interests or characteristics (up to 16 total).
14. Biographical
Although many questions in the Biographical section are
voluntary, this information gives evaluators a more complete
picture of your academic accomplishments in light of special
circumstances.
15. Biographical
Students applying for EOP will be required to
provide information on parent education, income
and family size in the next steps of the Biographical
section.
20. Academic History (CCC courses)
Click on UC transferable courses
+/- to are pulled from the
expand the ASSIST database
list of
courses
within a
department
24. Activities and Awards
• Other categories include
Educational Preparation
Programs, Work
Experience, Awards &
Honors, and
Extracurricular Activities
• Applicants are limited to
five entries for each, so
select the ones that are
most meaningful
25. Test Results
• Select the exam, enter dates tests taken
or planned, and add scores if available.
• Send official scores to UC by the
reporting deadline.
26. The Personal Statement
• 2 Prompts, students must address both
• 1,000 words total or less
• View as personal interview on paper
Click on the
“Tips” box
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-
statement/index.html
27. The Personal Statement
Statement #1:
What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed
and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work,
internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities
— and what you have gained from your involvement.
Statement #2:
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or
experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment
makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
Additional Comments:
Use this space to tell us anything else you want us to know about you and your
academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in
the application. Limit your response to 550 words or less.
28. The Personal Statement: Final
Thoughts
• Start early, get feedback, and REVISE!
• Define your motivation/momentum in
topics you are passionate about
• Decisions are never made on the personal
statement alone
• Avoid some common mistakes
29. Submitting the application and next
steps
• Include additional comments where
appropriate
• Don’t forget to hit “Submit”
• Approximately 5 weeks after you submit,
go back into the application to update it
30. Review and Submit
Before starting submit process, carefully
review information on summary page.
32. After You Submit
Update your grades and
courses (Transfer
Academic Update)
Update your
account
information
33. Transfer Academic Update
Students receive information
about the online Transfer
Academic Update when they
receive their emailed and
printed application
acknowledgments.
Update submission
PRIORITY deadline -
January 31
34. Transfer Admission Guarantee
• Seven UC campuses offer guaranteed admission to students
who meet specific requirements.
• Beginning in the fall 2012 TAG cycle, students are only able to
submit a TAG to ONE campus.
• The filing period for TAG is September 1-30.
• By participating in a TAG program, students can receive:
• Early review of their academic record at some campuses (usually
November)
• Specific guidance on major preparation and general education
requirements UC Riverside
UC Davis
UC San Diego*
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC Merced
UC Santa Cruz
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/transfer/guarantee/
35. Questions & Contacts
UC Home Page:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
Admission Requirements:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions
Online Application:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
UC Application Center
(800) 207-1710 (within the U.S.) or (661) 336-5723 (outside the U.S.)
ucinfo@applyucsupport.net
Notas del editor
This PowerPoint presentation will help students prepare for the UC application by teaching them how to present themselves in light of UC readers’ expectations of qualified applicants. We want prospective students to feel confident in completing the online application that will provide us with comprehensive applicant profiles that goes beyond coursework, grades and test scores. First we will start with a few basic tips for counselors.
UC Counselor Conference 2012
For students, we recommend the following: Begin preparing for the application now: You don’t need to wait until it is available online Start by researching the campuses so you know where you will want to apply Gather materials Use an email that you will check regularly UC campuses are selective: Apply to different types of campuses throughout the system for your best chance of being admitted and finding a good match Take time to remember all the important things you have done throughout the last four years Your personal statement is important! Write it early, then have family, counselors, and friends review and give feedback
You can begin filling out the application on October 1 st , but cannot submit it until Nov. 1 st . Don’t wait until Nov. 30 th !! You may want to use a password spreadsheet because y ou will have a unique login at each UC campus to check your application status. Keep track of your user name and passwords!! Reply to requests in a timely manner Application fee= $70 domestic (CA and out-of-state) students; $80 for international (out-of -country students who are studying outside of the UC) students (price per campus) In January, you must log in to your application at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/afterapply to provide your grades for the last completed term and update your planned coursework. Download the “Apply Online To UC” brochure at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply.
Selection/Competitiveness: Each campus receives more qualified applicants than it can admit and enroll. The selection process at each campus is necessary when more eligible applicants apply to a campus than a campus can admit. Each UC uses 8 points to evaluate applicants beyond just their GPA and test scores in order to select the applicants who would be best suited to their campus. This is what makes a student competitive in the applicant pool. Applicant Pool: Who are you applying against? Remind students that they are not just applying with students from their schools and communities, but also with students from small rural areas, high-income and college-going areas, out-of-state students, etc. Even if students think their backgrounds or situations are not worth explaining, they MUST explain it so UC readers understand them better. The readers need more than just a school name or city to get a better sense of the applicant.
What is comprehensive review? Process each campus uses to select transfer class ALL campuses use Comprehensive Review and have since 2002 Each campus can determine which type of Comprehensive Review is most appropriate (one example: single-score holistic review) Meeting minimum requirements/qualifications does not guarantee admission to campus of choice In general campuses, look for: Good grades & appropriate prep – IGETC and/or major prep Involvement, leadership Evidence of hard work –they want to know that you can be successful at their campus. UC looks for students who have challenged themselves in many ways: Students are most successful at our campuses if they have shown academic promise through their grades, test scores and other academic pursuits. Each student is reviewed within the context of his or her available opportunities: If a student does well compared to peers within the same situation (school, environment, etc.) and uses the application to explain that context, the student will provide UC readers with a better understanding of the relative difficulty or ease in which the student completed what is presented on the application. We ask many questions as part of the application process so that we can get to know each student. Since there are no opportunities for interviews or recommendation letters, our goal is get a sense of students’ lives, interests and personalities through their applications. Students are only doing themselves a disservice if they do not completely fill out all parts of the application. Comprehensive Review: Campuses apply eight selection criteria approved by University faculty. In evaluating applications, all campuses place high importance on academic achievement. Evaluation process and weight of each factor vary by campus. Each campus may differ in the both the quantity of criteria utilized and how heavily each is weighted. Students should visit each campus’ website for their specific selection process
Take the time to fill out all of the application completely and accurately Students should carefully fill out the entire application and that especially includes their basic information, like contact information. Campus Selection: Make decisions wisely, apply broadly Major Selection: Your major selection has a large impact on how your file is reviewed at the transfer level The application will automatically save your information when you click “next” or when you “log-out” but not when you close the browser without clicking next or log-out; there is a 30 minute inactivity period when the application will log you out (includes personal statement section too)
Create Your Account New users must enter a unique e-mail address and password. You will use this same account if you apply for a later term. If your family has multiple applicants or has future applicants, different e-mail addresses must be used for each applicant. Your password must be at least eight characters (and must have a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and/or symbols). Create a secret question/answer combination that you will remember. Be sure to keep login information safe and memorable. Once “Create An Account” is complete, you will receive an e-mail confirming the start of your application. Campuses use e-mail to send critical, time-sensitive correspondence to applicants, so provide an e-mail address that you check regularly and plan to keep until you enroll in college. Remember, you may need to adjust your e-mail filters to accept mail from UC addresses. Review Common Questions on each page Open/closed majors Downloadable “Apply Online to UC” brochure Log In First-time users start by clicking “New Account.” On return visits, enter e-mail and password information under “Sign In.”
Navigating the Application The highlighted step shows you where you are currently in the application. Each page has an “Inside This Section” and “Common Questions” area. Use the “Next” and “Previous” buttons on the bottom of the page to save and move through the application. Don’t use the browser navigation (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari). After you’ve completed the first step, “Start Application,” you can click on any of the top navigation boxes or steps in “Inside This Section” to move to the next step or jump ahead. Navigating to another page will save your work. If you need to change your account information (e-mail, name, date of birth), you can do this in “My UC Application.” “ Sign Out” stores your information when you take a break.
If an applicant does not have a social security number, he/she may skip that item We use the SSN to accurately and reliably merge official ACT and/or SAT scores and the FAFSA with the application Citizenship and Social Security Number (SSN) You must select a country of citizenship or “No Selection” in the country drop-down Applicants who choose a country other than the United States will have follow-up questions on permanent residency and/or visa status (students who choose “No Selection” will not have follow-up questions) SSN is encrypted and kept secure
Choosing a Major You must select a major for each campus you choose. Select an alternate major, if available (alternate majors not available at Berkeley), or select “No Alternate Major” at bottom of the list. The online application displays which majors are open/closed to your applicant level. After selecting major/alternate major, scroll to bottom of the page and click “Next.” Repeat steps for each campus you selected. If you find that most of the majors are closed, it may be that you have selected the incorrect applicant level or the open filing period has passed. Most transfer students will need to apply as junior-level applicants If you hover over certain colleges/majors, additional information will appear (e.g. For “major closed,” it might recommend that the major is only open to upper division students and the student should apply to a different major)
San Diego Colleges If you’re applying to UC San Diego, you must rank the colleges in order of preference to have the best chance of assignment to the college of your choice. Your ranking of colleges does not affect your admission to UC San Diego. Boxes to rank the colleges only appear once you click the “Learn about UCSD colleges” link (opens a pop up window)
Scholarship Opportunities “ Restricted” scholarships are available to students with particular backgrounds or career goals. There are about 230 scholarships, with a dozen new scholarships this year. To make sure you are considered for these scholarships: Open each scholarship category to see the expanded list Review each scholarship and select if a characteristic applies to you You can select up to 16 choices Scroll to bottom and click “Next” to save your selections Research other campus-based scholarships in the link provided
About You Biographical information provides evaluators with a more complete picture of your academic accomplishments in light of special circumstances. You may wish to use the personal statement (1) to describe how your military service has been instrumental in developing your educational plans or (2) to indicate if you are entitled to educational benefits as a result of your own military service or the service-connected death or disability of a parent or spouse.
Special Circumstances More information for foster youth is available on the UC Counselor’s website. Applicants interested in EOP will need to provide a brief statement as well as parent education and income information.
Family Size and Income Information about your parents’ education, income, and family size is used to provide contextual information about your home environment. This information will not be used to determine residency status or financial aid. You can change income information before the application is submitted (not after), but cannot resubmit for fee waiver based on revised information Fee waiver for up to four campuses is available on-line as part of the application. Students fill out this section and then have an opportunity to apply at the end.
Family Size and Income Many students may not know if they are considered “dependent” or “independent.” If students select “independent,” this screen will appear to confirm they selected the correct applicant status.
It is very important for students to thoroughly fill out all sections of the application, since this is opportunity to tell each admissions officer about personal details that make each applicant unique. Academic History: Needs to be accurate as we will check to make sure you inputted information correctly when we receive your transcript at a later time. This is an important part of the application since campuses will continue to be selective and look for strong academic indicators - “Additional Comments” box in the Academic History section: You can include additional academic items that you were unable to list elsewhere on your application Activities outside of school: Don’t abbreviate the names of clubs or awards: Spell them out and explain your level of involvement. Use the Worksheet that is a part of the Applying to the University brochure and is posted on the Counselor Conference website: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/ApplyOnline_12-13_Transfer.pdf You don’t have to list the same activity in multiple areas (for instance listing Honors Society in “Awards and Honors” and “Extracurricular Activities”), but make sure all of your activities are reflected in some way If you take care of siblings or in other ways support your family which does not allow you to take part in as many activities outside the classroom, either list it or let UC readers know in the personal statement. We understand that students are gaining valuable life experience and consider that as part of the comprehensive review.
Colleges Attended Enter all colleges attended, dates of attendance, term and grading system information Click “Add” to save the school information. Remember to list all colleges attended – even if you took only one class. Dates are very important – for evaluation, especially with high school classes Especially important to list ALL institutions, including international, this is required
Academic History – California Community College Courses Transferable courses taken at a California Community College are pulled from the ASSIST database. Expand the department course list by clicking on the “+.” Select the course(s) taken and enter the units and grade. If the CCC course was not UC-transferable or courses, you can enter the courses in the table provided.
Academic History – Non CCC Courses If courses are not on ASSIST, you can enter the courses in the table provided. You must enter all classes taken even if you believe it is not transferable, you withdrew, or you repeated the course.
Transfer Admission Programs If you are participating in a Transfer Admissions Program(s), check off the appropriate box(es). TAG = see slide 34 for more information
Transferable Courses If the coursework you have entered indicates that requirements in English composition and mathematics have been satisfied with ASSIST courses, no additional information will be needed. Otherwise, answer the questions on transferable course requirements.
Activities and Awards (use worksheet at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/ApplyOnline_13-14_Transfer.pdf) Categories include Educational Preparation Programs, Community Service, Work Experience, Awards & Honors, and Extracurricular Activities. Each area is limited to five entries, so select the ones that are most meaningful. Enter details about each activity. Average the number of hours you were involved in each activity on a weekly basis for the whole year. 160 characters per entry for the description Focus mostly on awards earned and activities since out of high school (select “after 12 th ”), but refer to any activities that they have participated in for a long time including both high school and college (e.g. “I’ve played soccer since I was 5 years old, was on Varsity & was MVP in high school and I have just started a club team at my Community College.”)
AP and IB Exams Report Advanced Placement and UC-approved International Baccalaureate examinations you have completed. Test results that happen during high school will take precedence and may result in a duplication of credit. The first instance of the material will be used (usually AP/IB)
Talking Points: Students may allocate word count as they wish. If a student chooses to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest that the shorter answer be no less than 250 words. Do not compose your essay in the application. The application will time-out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and your work may be lost. Typing will not register as “activity.” You must navigate to another page to save your work. Very important part of the application/selection process, but not the ONLY part! Personal Statements play a integral part of the application/selection process and should present additional information not previously reported on the application. The student’s response should supplement areas that warrant elaboration and provide context for information provided on the rest of the application. This is a student’s opportunity to showcase special talent, leadership, initiative, intellectual curiosity, etc. It can also be used to present any obstacles, opportunities, achievements and/or special circumstances
Personal Statement Tips Read each prompt carefully and be sure to respond to all parts. Use specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make. Relax. This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application; an admissions decision will not be based on your personal statement alone. #1 – what is your major? What have you already done that is related and what do you hope to do with it as you learn/after you graduate? Give specific examples of your experiences to back up your claims. #2 – what are you most proud of? Passionate about? -how have you achieved within your context? Additional Comments – Give students guidance on what to put in Additional Comments This is NOT a continuation of the personal statement A good example of something that a student may choose to insert here would be something that affected their schooling but wasn’t all encompassing – for instance, if a student had mono or switched schools during their first year with only a small affect on his or her grades, then it might be more appropriate to use the additional comments section than the personal statement. However in the same instance, if the student feels that mono or a school change dramatically affected them or is the thing to which shows best their dreams and aspirations (prompt 1) or their best accomplishment (prompt 2) then for that student it would be appropriate to write about it in the personal statement. Additional information to keep in mind: Who are the Admissions Readers? They don’ t know you, you don’t know them so you MUST explain what you mean. Write like you are speaking to a stranger, a respected adult or like it is an interview, so make sure to explain your whole situation. This is your opportunity to draw connections among all of your experiences and to talk about all the hard work you’ve done. Do not use general statements, use specific examples of your experiences to back up your claims. Do not use abbreviations
Counselors: If a student wants you to review their application, make sure you ask them for a copy of their transcript and a copy of their extracurricular worksheet so you can: - Give feedback within the context they they’ve presented - See if there are any gaps that need to be explained or something they list on their worksheet that might be a more compelling story than what they have written Avoid common mistakes like: - Generalities: Stick to facts and specifics you want us to know about yourself - Stretching the truth: Just be honest. Most lies reveal themselves to us in the admissions process. - Inappropriate use of humor. - Creative writing (poems, scene setting, or clichés) Other Tips and techniques: Focus on facts Be concrete Prove your points USE vivid, specific details EXAMPLES Help the reader get a visual Explain how you felt Show your Passion!! More tips in detail: Start early Allow time for reflection, thoughtful preparation and revision. Choose a topic for both essays. Look critically at the information in your application: your grades, awards, activities and work experience, family and income. Anticipate questions an admissions evaluator will have after reading your application. The personal statement is your opportunity to answer those questions. Compose your personal statement in a word-processing program. Don't type it directly into the application. This way, you will have the opportunity to print copies for review. Write persuasively. Present your information and ideas in a focused, deliberate and meaningful manner. Provide specific, concrete examples to support your point. A personal statement that is simply a list of qualities or accomplishments usually is not persuasive. Proofread. In addition to checking your spelling, be sure your grammar is correct and your essays flow smoothly. Solicit feedback. Your personal statement should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends — can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's published words but your own. Copy and paste. Once you are satisfied with your essays, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared. Relax. This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. An admission decision will not be based on your personal statement alone. Special instructions for veterans & their families: Because UC is interested in knowing about your or a family member's military service, you may wish to use the personal statement to communicate the following: Describe how your military service has been instrumental in developing your educational plans. Indicate if you are entitled to educational benefits as a result of your own military service or the service-connected death or disability of a parent or spouse. Indicate if you are affiliated with the military, such as the spouse or dependent of someone who is on active duty or a current participant in an ROTC-type program.
Make sure you update your application if any information changes Respond to requests from the campuses, and if you get a new email address, make sure to update it promptly!
Review Summary Carefully review your information on the summary pages. Check for sections marked “In Progress,” open sections to review and update the information by clicking “Edit” and returning to that step. “ Completed” means the section was visited and minimally required information was provided. Thoroughly review the information to confirm that you didn't inadvertently skip a section you were planning on going back to later. Click “Start Submission Process” when ready to continue with the submission process.
Signature Releases Review and check the release authorizations to share your application information with scholarship agencies, parent/guardian, counselors and/or UC organizations and alumni groups. Electronically sign and date your application to verify accuracy and acknowledge you are the author of your personal statement. The electronic signature also authorizes the release of your official test score to all UC campuses applied to. Official test scores need be sent to one UC campus only. Information in the application is subject to verification. If you are selected for verification, non-compliance will result in cancellation of your application. UC feels very strongly about students’ integrity on the application. The new Statement of Integrity affirms that students have submitted Accurate, complete and honest information that they themselves wrote or created.
Application Fees - $70 per campus for domestic students (both CA and out of state); $80 for international (with international academic records) Payment is required and is non-refundable. There are two payment options: credit card or check. The University prefers credit card payments as it is the fastest and most efficient payment option. Credit card payments are handled in real-time by a reliable and secure electronic credit card processing gateway. The University does not collect or store any credit card information. If you meet low-income and family-size criteria, you may want to apply for a fee waiver. (Criteria are the same for eligibility for the federal free/reduced lunch program.) You may apply online for a fee waiver only once. If you qualify for a fee waiver and have applied to more than four campuses, you must select a payment method (credit card or pay by mail) to pay the application fees for these additional campuses. Update Your Application About five weeks after the filing period closes, you will need to log back in to your application and provide your grades for the last completed term and update your planned coursework. You can update personal information, add campus choices (depending on availability), and make a credit card payment on the UC Application website. If you add or drop a course or fail to earn a C or better in a course, make these updates on the Transfer Academic Update on the UC Application website. If you enroll in a new college after applying, make these updates on the Transfer Academic Update on the UC Application website
The Transfer Academic Update (TAU) is important and must be filled out accurately with winter/spring/summer schedule changes and any grades from fall or intersession. After researching major requirements at UC, a student may decide to complete a different set of courses prior to transfer. It is important that this update is included in the Transfer Academic Update so that a student can be given full consideration. The UC campuses review the Transfer Academic Update for fall grades and to confirm that the work they listed on their application is either in progress or planned. Applicants to UC Berkeley are required to provide additional update information at MyBerkeleyApplication (https://students.berkeley.edu/myberkeley/myberkeleyapp.asp) by January 31 Intersession grades – Don’t wait for your intersession grades unless you already have them in time for the deadline; grades will not be used in GPA calculation (grades are only used through end of fall) LAST YEAR: The Transfer Academic Update website stayed open until March 31 st , BUT all campuses have a priority deadline of January 31 st . Any revisions that the student makes to the original TAU are automatically updated on the Evaluator’s Review Tool, and evaluators are notified each time a revised TAU is received.
Purpose of TAG – to encourage students that there is a space for them if they prepare properly Bullet #1 - All campuses have different criteria for TAG Bullet #3 – TAG application NOW OPEN! https://uctag.universityofcalifornia.edu/index.cfm Draft TAG Matrix is currently available on the counselor resource website at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/ Final TAG Matrix was posted in July 2012 *UC San Diego will be phasing out their TAG program. The final year that students will be able to apply for a UC San Diego TAG is in 2013 for the Fall 2014 year. How this affects campus selection
These new numbers are effective as of Sept. 17 th . Please note: This information has changed since last year. There are new phone numbers and email addresses, so make sure to update any of your resources.