UCSD Admission Requirements? Just like other universities out there, there are basic criteria one must reach to be able to gain admission, UCSD is no different from them. At the University of California, San Diego, competition for admission is very high, and it does not end at meeting the requirements.
However, applicants admitted to UC San Diego exceed minimum UC admission requirements. Also, they will not consider SAT or ACT test scores as a factor in admissions decisions through Fall 2024.
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UCSD Admission Requirements
Find out the admission eligibility criteria for undergraduates, including that of international students in this very article. After, that proceed to the application portal and do the needful. Undergraduate Admissions First-Year Student application requirements.
- As a first-year applicant, you must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and satisfy the following UC admission requirements.
- For first-Year applicants completing California Community College coursework, Neither IGETC certification nor partial-IGETC completion may apply toward the fulfillment of UC San Diego college general education requirements for incoming first-year students.
These are the requirements for undergraduate students seeking admission with UCSD.
Subject Requirements
To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego, you must complete UC College preparatory courses (A-G courses) in the subjects below and earn a “C” grade or better. Complete at least 11 of the 15 courses before your senior year of high school. The A- G courses;
- History/social science – 2 years.
- English – 4 years.
- Mathematics – 3 (4 years recommended).
- Laboratory Science- 2 (3 years recommended).
- Language is other than English.
- (Or another second language)- 2 years (3 recommended).
- Visual and performing arts – 1 year.
- College preparatory elective- 1 year.
For California residents, courses must be on your high school’s UC-approved course list. While for non-California residents, there is no pre-approved course list for schools outside of California.
GPA (Grade-Point Average) Requirement
To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego, you must earn the following minimum GPAs:
- Applicants leaving in California must earn a GPA of 3.0 (or better) with no grade lower than “C.”
- Applicants leaving outside California & International applicants must earn a GPA of 3.4 (or better) with no grade lower than “C.”
Your GPA is based on the above courses taken during the 10th and 11th grades.
Take note;
The University of California has temporarily suspended the letter grade requirement for A-G courses completed in spring 2020 for all students, including UC’s most recently admitted undergraduate. A-G courses completed in spring 2020 with Pass (P) or Credit (CR) grades will satisfy appropriate A-G criteria.
The Pass or Credit grade in spring and summer 2020 will continue to meet the A-G criteria for any student currently enrolled in high school during the 2019-20 academic year. However, the Pass (P) or Credit (CR) grades will meet A-G subject requirements but will not be calculated in the GPA.
The school will continue to calculate the GPA for admission purposes using all A-G courses passed with letter grades in grades 10 and 11, including summer terms following grades 9, 10, and 11. Also, bonus points in honors-level coursework will continue to be capped at 8 semesters of honors points in A-G courses completed with letter grades of A, B, and C in grades 10 and 11.
Exams Criteria
University of California, San Diego will not consider SAT or ACT test scores as a factor in admissions decisions through Fall 2024. So, if you just choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.
International Students -Language criteria
For the international applicant- if your native language is not English and your high school education was in a country where English is not the language of instruction, it will require you to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules).
Your scores will be reported to the UC San Diego Office of Admissions. The school requires a minimum score of 83 for the TOEFL or a minimum score of 7 for the IELTS.
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Tests
If you complete Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the school recommends you complete the related AP examination to demonstrate subject mastery. Just like, The International Baccalaureate (IB) scores can be used to showcase academic mastery. However, to get unit credit toward the baccalaureate degree, you need to submit an official copy of your AP or IB scores directly from the testing agency.
Personal Insight Questions
The school gives you the opportunity to tell them who you are, what’s important to you, and why you belong at UC San Diego by answering 4 of the 8 personal insight questions when you submit your application. It’s wise to choose questions that reveal the most about you and best reflect your experiences.
Nevertheless, all questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. And your answers are limited to a maximum of 350 words, so make each statement count.
