Improving your University of California (UC) Application

Every year,

thousands upon thousands of applications are filled out, submitted, and review by the University of California (UC) admissions departments. Many of those who apply are not admitted, but a percentage of applicants do go on to continue their education at a University of California campus. Throughout high schools in America (and specifically the state of California), workshops are held for University of California applicants in particular. These workshops aim to provide a general and informed overview of the application process, what information you would need present to fill out the online form, and in many cases, provide help and guidance regarding the personal statement portion of the application process.

It is generally known that when applying to a University of California (UC) – or any university for that matter – a factor in your chances of being admitted to the college of your choice falls within two major categories:

Academic Grades and your Personal Statement

Your grades act and serve as a reflection for the type of student you are in the classroom, or how strong you are in a particular subject or subjects. Your personal statement is a closer and more intimate view of that you as a person. The personal statement provides the University of California’s admission officers a better idea of who you are as an individual. This is where you have the opportunity to say something about yourself that you grades do not or have not already reflected.

Although your academic records/grades and your personal statement are two of the largest and most significant factors in your application process, there are still many parts of the process that are addressed, considered, and weighed carefully by the admissions board of University of California. One of the major categories of criteria that admissions officers also consider are your Activities and Awards section of the online application. This section of the UC application includes criteria such as:

1. Awards/Honors
2. Extracurricular Activities
3. Community Service
4. Education Preparation Programs
5. Coursework Other than A-G
6. Work Experience

Year in and year out, many University of California applicants focus primarily on filling out the portion of the application regarding academia and personal statements. In doing so, it is very easy to overlook or underestimate the importance of the Activities and Awards section. This section plays an important role in the decision making process for a number of different reasons. To begin with, the awards/honors section adds to your overall picture as to what type of applicant you are, i.e. a highly motivated individual who seeks out competitions and awards to become recognized in a particular talent, subject, or discipline.

Extracurricular activities allow you to appear well-rounded by displaying what you prefer to do on your off time from school. Community service shows your involvement in the world around you. The number of different educational preparation programs you are involved in shows your level of concern regarding the future of your education. Coursework other than A-G reveals your interest in subjects not strictly required by your school system, and work experience portrays a certain ability to time manage your life so that you can both receive an education, and realize yourself as part of the workforce in your community.

For these reasons, it is important not to overlook sections on your University of California applicant as they can really improve upon your application as a whole and say something about you that otherwise who not have been known to the admissions board of the UC system.

To take a look at the actual steps you will need to take to apply, visit the UC Application

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3. Transfer Applicants, Walk-through the 2011 UC Application

4. ELC and Statewide Eligibility for University of California (UC)

5. Make the Most of Your UC Application

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5 Responses to “Improving your University of California (UC) Application”

1. 2010-2011 UC Application Timeline | College News, College Scholarships, and Grants - CollegeToCareers.com says:

   September 15, 2010 at 12:07 am

   [...] you write your personal statements. This brag sheet will be even more useful when you fill out your UC application online. Although the online UC application’s “Activities and Awards” section does not look [...]
2. University of California (UC) Application Checklist 2011 | College News, College Scholarships, and Grants - CollegeToCareers.com says:

   September 22, 2010 at 12:03 am

   [...] and Awards: Another important step in the UC application process is the Activities and Awards section. By creating a comprehensive and thorough list of their achievements, an applicant to the UC system [...]
3. Abigael Akanbi says:

   November 10, 2010 at 7:39 am

   Hi, I’m frm Nigeria & I wnt 2 study criminal justice at d university of California irvines. How can I get admitted, & be able 2 study at d uni of California irvines.
4. Nohel says:

   November 10, 2010 at 9:54 am

   Abigael,

   You will need to apply to UCI as everyone else. You may want to contact the college directly and discuss your specific situation with an Admissions officer. What will most likely happen is if you have any college work completed in your country, they will want you to get your transcripts evaluated by a foreign evaluation service. UCI can direct you to one they have a specific relationship with or you can find some online. Once they assess what courses you have completed that are equivalent to courses UCI accepts, your eligibility will be determined.

   The best thing to do is contact UCI and get specific information on the application process for international students.
5. TAG at UC San Diego (UCSD) says:

   March 17, 2011 at 12:37 pm

   [...] Submit the UC Admission Application form [...]