THE EMAIL I SENT MY JUNIORS TODAY

Dear Students,
 
The UCs have started releasing their admissions decisions and there are a lot of very upset seniors in California right now. It is absolutely critical that you do something academic this summer. The minimum is taking one community college class, however I recommend taking two if you really want to attend a UC. This semester and summer are your last opportunities to make yourself competitive for admission to the UCs.
The UCs look at 13 factors. PLEASE READ THESE OVER AND SEE HOW MANY OF THEM APPLY TO YOU:
 
1. Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses.
2. Number of, content of and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum A-G requirements.
3. Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Higher Level and transferable college courses.
4. Identification by UC as being ranked in the top 9 percent of your high school class at the end of your junior year (Eligible in the Local Context, or ELC).
5. Quality of your senior-year program as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned.
6. Quality of your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school.
7. Outstanding performance in one or more specific subject areas.
8. Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
9. Recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress.
10. Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as significant community service or significant participation in student government; or other significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus.
11. Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of your high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs.
12. Academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and special circumstances, including but not limited to: disabilities, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, difficult personal and family situations or circumstances, refugee status or veteran status.
13.   Location of your secondary school
 
Here are the GPAs at each UC for 2022. Every year the UCs become more selective, so expect these numbers to go up. Remember these are capped GPAs because the UCs only allow eight semesters of Honors or AP grade bumps.
 
Berkeley: 4.15-4.31
UCLA: 4.21-4.33
UCSD: 4.12-4.30
UCSB: 4.15-4.31
Davis: 4.06-4.30
Irvine: 4.08-4.29
Santa Cruz: 3.94-4.25
Riverside: 3.81-4.2
Merced: 3.50-4.08
 
THE UCS ARE VERY GPA DRIVEN. TO HAVE A CHANCE OF ADMISSION YOU NEED TO EXCEED THE LOWEST GPA LISTED FOR THE SCHOOL TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING.
 
Please be ready to discuss this at our next meeting if you have any UCs on your college list.
 
Thanks,
Melissa