uc san diego waitlist essay

UC San Diego Freshman Class of 2028 Waitlist/Appeals Discussion

i got in for molecular biology! this was my dream school and i started crying (and hyperventilating) haha

Your daughter rocked it, your username “ParayingToWaitlistGod” really manifested it! Not sure if it’s too late to change my userName now.

Daughter just got off the waitlist sometime today. Political Science-8th College- Deciding between UCI and UCSD. Already said no to Cal.

congratsss!! btw any international or out-state admits?

Anyone in cogsci admitted yesterday?

Anyone in engineering or comp sci get off waitlist?

Anyone in public health got off the waitlist?

How is about any biochemistry acceptance?

Son got off waitlist yesterday for Data Science, Marshall College. In state, freshmen.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions about UC San Diego.

Applying to UC San Diego

We are planning for fall 2022 teaching to be primarily in-person with normal classroom occupancy in accordance with public health guidelines. For more information, visit Return to Learn .

UC San Diego enrolls for Fall term only. Using the UC application, apply the year before you plan to enroll. The UC Application opens on August 1 and applications may be submitted October 1 - November 30. Review the First-Year Student Application Timeline and Transfer Student Application Timeline for more details.

UC San Diego is a competitive university. Admitted students always exceed the minimum requirements for admission. Learn more about the average student profile for First-Year Admitted Students and Transfer Admitted Students .

Academics & Majors

We offer 150+ undergraduate majors in nearly every subject you can imagine. Review our undergraduate majors and decide which is best for you.

First-Year students may be admitted to UC San Diego as undeclared. Transfer students must be admitted into a major and may not be admitted as undeclared. Transfer students applying to select majors visit the Transfer Major Preparation page for information on the preparatory coursework that must be completed to be considered for admission to the major.

If you need help choosing a major, speak with an academic counselor to assist you in selecting a major that matches your interests.

Selective majors are majors with limited enrollment. If you are applying to a selective major , we strongly suggest that you submit an alternate major on your application and that your alternate major not be selective. If you are not admitted into a selective major, you may be admitted to your alternate major. First-Year students not admitted into a selective major may be admitted as undeclared. Transfer students are not admitted as undeclared and will not be admitted to the university if they are not admitted to a major.

UC San Diego’s small colleges help you thrive in a welcoming community. Students have access to personalized advising, support services and leadership opportunities through their college while enjoying the advantages of a large Tier 1 research institution. Each college has their own philosophy and traditions, as well as their own General Education requirements. Learn more about our colleges and the college system .

Applicants to UC San Diego rank the colleges on the UC Application. We recommend reviewing the colleges when completing your ranking. Students who are offered admission to UC San Diego are assigned a college based on this ranking. College assignment is not based on major choice or academic interest. Students may study any major regardless of college affiliation.

The College to which you are assigned has no impact on your major. College assignment is not based on major. Students may study any major regardless of their college affiliation. No single college is better than any other.

Each UC San Diego undergraduate student belongs to one of our small colleges. On your UC Application, you will be asked to rank your College preferences so that if you are offered admission we can assign your college based on your ranking. We will try our best to assign you to your top picks. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be admitted to your primary College selection.

Cost & Financial Aid

Visit UC San Diego’s Financial Aid and Scholarship Office site to learn more about the Cost of Attendance .

There are many ways to finance your education. At UC San Diego, we believe every student admitted to our institution should be able to attend, regardless of income, and we are committed to providing a comprehensive need-based financial aid program. Learn more about costs and applying for financial aid on our Financial Aid and Scholarships site.

Students from other U.S. states are not eligible for California financial aid. However, UC will help you receive federal financial aid for which you are eligible. International students are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid. To be granted a visa, international students must prove sufficient funds to meet all expenses for studying in the U.S. Learn more about paying for college and California residency for tuition purposes .

For information on potential scholarships please visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships website.

It is a multi-year plan starting fall 2022 that sets tuition and other mandatory systemwide fees for undergraduates at the time of enrollment, with the expectation that those charges should remain at that same level each following year for the duration of their college careers, up to 6 academic years. For more information on the plan, visit the UC San Diego Financial Aid and Scholarships’ Tuition Stability Plan page or visit the University of California’s Frequently Asked Questions page .

To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego, you must complete UC College preparatory courses (A-G courses) in the specific subjects and earn a "C" grade or better. Complete at least 11 of the 15 courses before your senior year of high school. Learn more about First-Year Application Requirements including subject, scholarship and personal insight questions.

There is no pre-approved course list for schools outside of California. The UC Application will instruct you to list your out of state courses based on the categories for the UC College preparatory (A-G) courses located on our First-Year Application Requirements site .

You must receive a high school diploma, or a General Education Diploma (GED), or a Certificate of Proficiency. You must also meet the requirements listed on the Home-Schooled Students page of the University of California website .

Undergraduate Applicants should not send transcripts prior to an offer of admission as they are not reviewed during the application review process. Applicants will be contacted directly if additional information is required.

First Year Admitted Students that accept the offer of admission are required to submit final official transcripts directly from each institution they attended from grades 9 through 12 by the July 1 postmark deadline. Students attending multiple schools must order an official transcript from each school to be delivered to UC San Diego. Students who attended a high school outside the United States prior to transferring to a high school in the United States must request each school to send a transcript regardless if prior schools are listed on your final transcript. In addition, students must submit college transcripts reflecting any earned college credit regardless if it is transferable or not.

You may send your official transcripts to the University of California San Diego either by mail or electronically through one of our preferred electronic transcript providers.

SEND TRANSCRIPTS BY MAIL: You must order an official transcript from your academic institution which must be sent to us directly in a sealed envelope addressed as follows:

University of California, San Diego – Office of Admissions Attn: Transcripts 9500 Gilman Drive, # 0021 La Jolla, CA 92093-0021

SEND TRANSCRIPTS ELECTRONICALLY through Parchment , a safe and secure method of requesting your official transcript(s). If your school is registered with Parchment to send electronic transcripts, please order transcripts through your school's website or create an account with Parchment directly.

We also accept transcripts electronically through eTranscriptCA, Credential Solutions, Digitary, eScripSafe, Scribbles, SCOIR, and National Student Clearinghouse if your academic institution is registered with these e-transcript vendors. Please check whether your school utilizes these e-transcript vendors to send transcripts and order through your school's transcript ordering process. Make sure you select University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA as the receiving school if you choose one of these e-transcript vendors. Some vendors may list our school as UC San Diego.

International Students: Please review Required Documents from Schools Outside the United States for information regarding submitting transcripts from academic institutions outside the U.S.

Between June 1 and August 1, we experience very high mail volume and can take several weeks to receive, process and validate official transcripts during the summer. Please monitor the Triton Checklist for receipt of your transcripts under Transcripts & Test Scores. Keep a copy of your transcript order for future reference if needed. We will notify students with missing transcripts in late July to request another transcript if needed. For general questions about transcript submissions, please use the Contact Form on your Applicant Portal.

Current enrolled undergraduate students may also use this delivery method to submit official transcripts from other schools in which coursework was earned for evaluation. Please allow up to four weeks for evaluation and posting of credit to your record.

UC San Diego conducts a verification process for the students who accept the offer of admission to validate the applicants self-reported academic record. UC San Diego policy and procedure if UC San Diego or the Secretary has reason to believe that the high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education:

Public Information on Procedures

• UC Quick Reference Guide (PDF) (pg. 56 – Reporting Student Data): This section outlines the use of self-reported information followed by the receipt of final documents (high school transcript) after a student accepts an offer of admission, as well as the penalties for not providing accurate information.
• The UC Transcript Information Website
• UC Academic Senate Regulation 420

Article 2. Submission of Academic Records 420.

Each applicant for freshman admission must arrange for the University to receive, prior to the date established by the Office of Admissions, the final official high school transcript as well as a transcript for all collegiate courses that have been attempted.

The final official transcript from the high school from which the applicant graduated must show the date of graduation and the grade and the year taken for each course used to satisfy the requirements specified in Regulation 424. (Am 19 May 69, CC 2 May 77; Am 26 May 82) (Am 17 June 2009).

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC San Diego is committed to a diverse incoming class and is actively seeking applicants who wish to major in History, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Theatre & Dance and Visual Arts. Submitting a portfolio is a way to enhance your overall UC San Diego application.

Any incoming first-year or transfer applicant interested in pursuing a major in one of the Arts departments (Music, Theatre & Dance, Visual Arts) may submit an optional portfolio/audition tape.

Undeclared Arts Majors

Undeclared Arts majors are welcome to submit a portfolio in your area of primary interest.

You may begin reviewing the submission requirements and loading your materials on October 1. However, you must complete your basic application to UC San Diego before you will be able to complete this supplemental submission, as you will need your application ID number from the UC Application. The department faculty will review the art portfolio/audition tape and share their evaluations with UC San Diego's Admissions Committee. Click here to submit a portfolio (after you have applied to UC San Diego).

Living at a California address does not mean you automatically have resident status in terms of tuition. The financial independence requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduate students whose parents are not California residents to qualify for classification as a resident at the University of California. This includes students from community colleges and other post-secondary institutions within California. Transfer students who were classified as residents of California at their previous school should not assume that they will be classified as residents at UC San Diego. See the Registrar's Office webpages .

Applicants to UC San Diego rank the colleges on the UC Application. We recommend reviewing the Colleges when completing your ranking. Students who are offered admission to UC San Diego are assigned a college based on this ranking. College assignment is not based on major choice or academic interest. Students may study any major regardless of college affiliation.

We do our best to assign you to a College that matches your rankings on the UC Application but we cannot guarantee you will be assigned to your highest-ranked College. Not to worry, though. Every College at UC San Diego features an exceptional academic program, friendly advisors, unforgettable traditions and state-of-the-art living facilities.

No, students may study any major regardless of college affiliation.

Not at all. We assign students to Colleges after we determine that they will be admitted to UC San Diego.

UC San Diego admits only for the Fall term to which the student applied. Students who would like to enroll at a later date must reapply when they are ready to attend. Rare exceptions may be made for admitted students who have received military orders to report for active duty or if you require acute medical care for up to a maximum of one year only. Requests for deferment must be made by submitting the Request for Deferment Form . Only students who accept the offer of admission may be considered for a deferment. To be eligible to request a deferment, all transcripts and test scores must have been submitted by the deadline and validated.

We have a dedicated page for prospective transfer students . Transfer students enrich the Triton community with a diversity of interests and experiences and thrive at UC San Diego!

Not all majors require completion of lower-division coursework for admission. Applicants for the departments listed on our Transfer Major Preparation site will be screened for completion of major preparation coursework and the grades earned.

As part of the requirements for transfer admission, applicants must complete a pattern of courses known as the 7-course pattern .

ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer) is the official repository of articulation for California's public colleges and universities providing the most accurate and up-to-date information available about student transfer in California. ASSIST is a student-transfer information system that displays reports of how course credits earned at one California Community College can be applied when transferred to a California State University or University of California campus.

ASSIST is available at assist.org .

Assist.org is the official transfer and articulation system for California’s public colleges and universities. You select your current California Community College and explore lower division major preparation and department articulation.

While Assist.org is being updated with the latest information, you can find more information on our Course Transferability Guide site. Here you'll find information on UC San Diego's new and updated majors for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Students planning to transfer to UC San Diego, effective Fall 2018 or later, can use this information as a guide to planning coursework at their respective California Community College.

UC San Diego does not have articulation agreements outside of the California Community College system. This means there is no official way to determine which courses will transfer to UC San Diego; however, the general rule of thumb, unofficially, is that if the course(s) was completed at a regionally accredited college or university, and, an equivalent course(s) is offered at the University of California, then the course might transfer to UC San Diego. The only official way to determine UC transferability is to apply for admission.

Please review the UC San Diego Catalog to determine program requirements by major.

Transfer Admitted Students that accept the offer of admission are required to submit official transcripts from every college/university they attended by July 1. For those who graduated from high school in the United States and completed a U.S. History course, you can submit a high school transcript to clear the American History & Institutions requirement.

Completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is not required for admission; however, completion will satisfy the lower-division/GE requirements for the following undergraduate colleges: John Muir, Earl Warren, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, Sixth and Seventh Colleges . Eighth College will begin accepting transfer students in 2025.

For Revelle College , IGETC does not clear all lower-division GE requirements. Students with IGETC are required to complete 3 courses in mathematics and 5 courses in natural science before transfer or while enrolled at UC San Diego.

Please refer to individual college websites for more information:

• Thurgood Marshall

Eleanor Roosevelt

• Earl Warren

If you plan to follow the IGETC, consider:

partial IGETC is also possible.

following IGETC can make your path to graduation easier – once you transfer, you can concentrate on your major field of study.

Military Connected

We have many resources and services dedicated to helping you transition from the military to college life. We have a Military-Connected page dedicated to helping you get started with your application to UC San Diego as an Undergraduate student.

Use the links on our Military-Connected page to connect directly to a wide range of helpful resources.

Yes. We offer many benefits specifically for veterans, including financial aid for you and your dependents, priority class registration (after the first quarter), a welcome week orientation, active student veterans organizations and a student veterans resource center. Learn more about the complete scope of veterans benefits available at UC San Diego.

No, UC San Diego does not have an ROTC campus office. ROTC programs at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego handle UC San Diego's ROTC process. Learn more about using ROTC funds at UC San Diego .

International Students

Visit the International Students webpage for additional information about the qualifications for International students.

UC San Diego will not consider SAT or ACT test scores as a factor in admissions decisions.

Demonstration of English proficiency is still required for international students, please visit our webpage to learn more.

AP grade reports for tests taken in May are sent to the colleges or universities you designated at the time you took your exams when scores are released by CollegeBoard. You may also designate UC San Diego (school code 004836) as your Free Score Send Recipient.

Some grade reports take longer to reach us for four main reasons:

inconsistent student identification information;

late return of exam materials to the AP program; or

some students test late using an alternative form of the exam; or

you may have selected the wrong school and will need to submit another order. Be sure to verify UC San Diego (school code 004836) is the designated recipient of AP scores as there are several universities in San Diego.

If you requested your exams in May and they qualify for academic credit, the scores and credit will display on MyTritonLink on the Academic History page in time for new student enrollment.

Official Advanced Placement scores will display on the Academic History section of MyTritonLink for students who have accepted the offer of admission when College Board sends AP scores to UC San Diego electronically. If your test scores are not showing by the time enrollment appointment times are published, please email us at [email protected] with the following information:

• date/s you requested your scores from College Board
• names used each time you took the exam (even if it only varies by the inclusion or exclusion of a middle initial)
• the year in which you took the exams
• the method of delivery you chose—one week or rush delivery.

If you need AP Calculus scores to fulfill a prerequisite and they are arriving late, you may email a copy of your results from College Board to the Math Placement Office at [email protected] and notify them that your AP scores may be delivered after July 15.

If you requested your tests after the month of May, we might not receive your test scores by your scheduled enrollment time. We will continue to process incoming test scores as they arrive; however, we cannot guarantee these scores will be posted in time for your enrollment. Tests are processed in the order they are received. Please allow a minimum of two weeks after you receive your confirmation from College Board that your scores have been sent. This will allow processing time for credit to be posted in the Academic History section of MyTritonLink.

If the name you used varied in each testing sitting, College Board will not be able to match your name and will not be able to send us one grade report for the cumulative tests taken. If this is the case, you will need to request from College Board that a grade report, including AP grades from all prior years, be sent to UC San Diego.

The number to use for College Board is 004836 .

A score of 3 or higher fulfills the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement .

AP Calculus scores are used to verify prerequisites for math courses. Scores of 3 or higher on the AP calculus AB exam earn 4 units of math credit (8 units for BC scores of 3 or higher). Scores of 2 may be used to place into introductory calculus courses (see UC San Diego General Catalog - Advanced Placement Credit ).

If you have any questions regarding your math placement, please visit the Math Testing and Placement website or contact the Math Testing and Placement office at [email protected] .

If you have received:

an AP calculus AB score of 2 or higher; or

a BC score of 3 or higher; or

if you received a BC score of 1 or 2 WITH an AB subgrade of 2 or higher,

then you should request from the College Board that your AP Calculus scores be sent to UC San Diego immediately.

(NOTE: AP Calculus AB scores of 1 or BC scores of 1 or 2 WITH an AB subgrade of 1 will not satisfy any prerequisites for math courses.)

Check your AP Student Grade Report. If the College Code 4836 is listed, then your scores have been sent to the UC San Diego Admissions Office.

Since your AP calculus scores may not be received and posted before the online enrollment period, you should also send a copy of your AP Student Grade Reports showing your AP Calculus score to the Math Testing and Placement Office (fax 858-534-1011 or email [email protected] ) as early as possible.

Include your PID, your desired math placement, and your contact information on the fax or email. Once the Math Testing and Placement Office has received your AP Student Grade Report, they will pre-authorize you to enroll in your desired math course subject to the prerequisite you met and the timely receipt of your fax or email.

To request International Baccalaureate (IB) transcripts, go to the IB website .

In order to complete the request form, you may need some of the following information:

University of California, San Diego Office of Admissions ATTN: TRANSCRIPTS 9500 Gilman Dr. # 0021 La Jolla, CA 92093-0021 United States

Applicant Portal

New applicants will be invited to log into the Applicant Portal where they can complete Checklist tasks and learn of their application decision in the spring. All applicants will receive an email notification in November with login instructions to create their account at that time.

You can log into your UC Application to review and, if necessary, change your telephone number, email, mailing address, TOEFL or International Exam Scores. You can also apply to additional campuses if they are still accepting applications. Minor changes to your activities, awards, volunteer work or employment are unlikely to have an impact on your admission decision and cannot be updated.

After the Applicant Portal opens in October, applicants can update their choice of major and college ranking until January 31. Transfer students must log into the UC Application to submit the Transfer Academic Update by the priority deadline of January 31.

Look for an email invitation from UC San Diego containing Applicant Portal Login Instructions sent in mid-December to the email address you provided on your UC Application. You might need to look in your SPAM folder. The email will provide the Portal Link, Username and Pin to create your account. If you do not receive the email, please contact [email protected] and ask that they resend the email to you.

Campus Tours

We offer various types of tours of our campus .

Please refer to our Directions & Parking page for up-to-date information.

Guests are instructed to meet at the Triton Center , where they can check-in for the tour. You can find us on the first floor of the Student Services Center next to Town Square. Please feel free to use our Self-Guided Tour map as a guide.

If you will be arriving in a charter bus, we ask that students be dropped off at Matthew’s Loop, located at the end of Matthew’s Lane. To access Matthew’s Lane:

Please exit Genesee Avenue from I-5. If exiting from the Northbound side, make a left at the exit. If exiting

from the Southbound side, make a right turn at the exit.

Make a right onto Campus Point Dr. and continue straight as it will turn into Voight Drive (you will pass a hospital, baseball fields and even see our trolley line).

Make a left onto Matthew’s Lane (Voight will come to a “T”).

Students can be dropped off at the loop at the end of Matthew’s Lane.

Charter buses can be parked in lot P782, located to the east side of the campus by the medical side. Please use our campus map for guidance.

We require all guests to check-in before attending the tour. A mobile check-in option will be emailed to you an hour before the tour. We recommend that you utilize this contactless method to let us know when you arrive. Please be mindful that your location services must be enabled on your device in order for the mobile check-in to work. You also need to be in close proximity to campus for this option to work. If you are still facing issues with the mobile check-in, we are available in the Triton Center to help. Please plan on arriving a few minutes early to ensure you are not late for your tour.

Our campus spans an area of 1,976 acres . In the interest of your time, and to avoid exhaustion, our tour route will only go through the central campus. We have additional tour routes available on our Self-guided Tour Map for you to explore if you would like to see more of the campus during your visit.

Due to privacy and security reasons, guests are not permitted to enter residential buildings at this time. If you wish to learn more about the housing accommodations here at UC San Diego, please visit the HDH Undergrad Housing website .

You are also welcome to stop by the Triton Center and connect with a Student Assistant to learn more about the living and learning neighborhoods and the dining experience here at UC San Diego.

The academic year is currently underway, so we recommend visitors do not try to open the classroom doors as classes might be in session. Please be mindful of the students and staff using the classroom space.

UC San Diego has dozens of places to eat on campus. We recommend stopping by the Price Center , which has a variety of quick-serve options. Depending on the time of year, some dining options might be closed and/or have a change to their usual hours of operation.

Bring walking shoes and weather protection! The 90-minute walking tour is entirely outside. Although rare in sunny San Diego, please bring an umbrella if rain is in the forecast as there is minimal shelter from rain along our tour path.

We have two wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis that you can request from our office. Send an email request including your name to our office at least 2 business days before your tour to reserve one of our wheelchairs. We will not be able to accommodate any requests for wheelchairs on the day of your scheduled tour. Our Campus Ambassadors will not be able to push you, so please ensure that you or someone in your party will be able to do so.

If you have your own wheelchair, all our Campus Ambassadors are trained on wheelchair accessible routes and can easily adjust the tour to avoid stairs or steep slopes.

UC San Diego Parent & Family Programs has partnered with Bartell Hotels to offer families, students, alumni, and friends reduced hotel rates at some of the finest properties in San Diego. Please visit their Local Resource landing page for more information.

Yes! We welcome small tour groups of less than 20 people to visit any of the many restaurants frequented by our student population. We recommend that you check the dining website for specific hours of operation and any special events happening on the day of your visit. We kindly accept all major credit cards; however, all locations are cash-free. If you would like to use a prepaid campus card (Triton Cash), please contact [email protected] for more information.

If your tour group is larger than 20 people, please get in touch with us at [email protected] , and we will be happy to provide you with information on large group accommodations. We offer a range of options to accommodate groups of all sizes, and we would be delighted to help you plan a memorable visit.

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If you didn't find the answer you were looking for, please use the dropdown below to locate contact information for further assistance.

Directory of Key Campus Offices

Select from the dropdown below and we'll point you to the right people.

Admission Advising: First-Year and Transfer Undergraduates

Office of the registrar including residency, parent and family programs, housing dining hospitality, the colleges.

Learn more: mycompass.ucsd.edu/public

Revelle College

John muir college, thurgood marshall college, earl warren college, sixth college, seventh college, campus community centers.

Learn more: diversity.ucsd.edu/centers-resources/community-centers.html

APIMEDA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American) Program

Black resource center (brc), cross cultural center, intertribal resource center (itrc), lgbt resource center, raza resource centro, student veteran resource center (svrc), women's center, undocumented student services center, career center, departments and majors, office for students with disabilities, outreach coordinators for out-of-state and international students, study abroad, applicant portal and triton checklist.

Email: [email protected] Phone: (858) 534-4208

New Applicants will receive an email invitation to the Applicant Portal in mid-December to complete action items and learn of their application decision in the spring.

Admitted students accepting the offer of admission receive an email invitation to the Triton Checklist to complete pre-enrollment tasks such as applying for on-campus Housing, college orientation and academic advising, instructions to submit and monitor receipt of official transcripts, and other important requirements within 48 hours after accepting the offer.

Login Questions

Financial aid and scholarships.

Deferments may be considered for extenuating circumstances preventing the student from enrolling in the Fall Quarter term they were admitted to such as medical need, military deployment and other unforeseen events. Please submit an appeal to [email protected] providing your name, UC San Diego identification number, reason and length of deferment.

Deferments cannot exceed more than one year. Applicants must re-apply for admission if their plans have changed and cannot attend within the next academic year.

Graduate Division

International students and programs office (ispo).

After accepting an offer of admission , students will receive an email invitation to the Triton Checklist to complete pre-enrollment tasks. International Students will find a link to the I-Portal on the Triton Checklist for international student orientation and I-20 processing instructions. You will create an account in the I-Portal after you have been granted access to the Triton Checklist. You will then work with the International Students and Programs Office (ISPO) directly.

Math Testing

Other placement exams: https://students.ucsd.edu/academics/exams-grades-transcripts/exams/placement-exams.html

Military Affiliated

Veteran resource center, military connected benefits coordinator, office of admissions, test scores.

For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page .

Transcripts

Operations Hours: M-F, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Pacific Time) Email: [email protected] Phone: (858) 534-4208

Only students who have accepted an offer of admission are required to submit official transcripts by July 1. Please refer to the Triton Checklist after accepting an offer of admission for instructions.

UC Application Center

Email: [email protected] Phone: (800) 207-1710 - toll free in the U.S. International phone: +1 (925) 298-6856

How to Apply Application Filing Period: November 1 - November 30

How to Apply Application Filing Period: November 1 - December 4

Due to the technical difficulties that many were experiencing on Nov. 29, the deadline for the UC application has been extended to 11:59 pm PST, Friday, Dec. 4.

However, we do encourage applications to be submitted as soon as possible! If you can, please don't wait to apply until the new deadline date.

UC San Diego Admissions on Youtube

Explore our admissions youtube channel

Triton Admissions Guide

Your guide to UC San Diego’s academics, research and resources

First-Year Requirements

Minimum requirements for applying to UC San Diego

Community Brochure

An inside look at UC San Diego’s diverse community

View More Resources & Publications

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Get Into UCSD: Admissions Stats + Tips

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

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What’s Covered:

How hard is it to get into ucsd, average academic profile of accepted ucsd students, what is ucsd looking for, how to improve your chances of getting into ucsd.

When you consider UCSD’s location and weather (which are best described as idyllic), it’s a miracle that anyone attends class—yet the school is among the best public universities in the nation . More than merely recognized nationally, the University of California San Diego is consistently ranked among the top research universities in the world . 

The University of California San Diego is very difficult to get into. UCSD’s Class of 2025 had an applicant pool of 98,669 and accepted 37,584 students—giving the school an overall acceptance rate of 38% . 

UCSD’s acceptance rate is low, but your personal chances of acceptance are tied to the strength of your profile. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator uses a host of factors—like your GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars—to estimate your odds at the University of California San Diego and provide tips to improve your profile.  

The average high school GPA of UCSD’s Class of 2025 is 4.09 —76.6% of them graduated with a 4.0.

The middle 50% SAT score of UCSD’s class of 2025 is 1280-1460 . The middle 50% ACT score is 26-33 . It’s worth noting that the SAT and ACT are not used to make admissions decisions at any of the UC System Schools, including UCSD. 

Every student in UCSD’s Class of 2025 graduated in the top tenth of their high school class. 

The University of California San Diego is first and foremost looking for applicants with strong academic profiles. In addition to possessing great grades and a high class rank, UCSD (and the UC System as a whole) has a set of academic prerequisites known as the A to G subject requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for admission. Most applicants graduating from public school should have no trouble satisfying them, but they can prove troublesome for applicants from private schools or those who were homeschooled. 

The A to G subject requirements are a collection of 15 courses that are prerequisites for admission to the University of California San Diego: 

To satisfy the A to G subject requirement, in-state students are required to earn a GPA of 3.0 and cannot get anything less than a C. Out-of-state applicants have an even higher bar to clear—they must earn a 3.4 GPA and can also not receive a grade lower than a C. 

Although academics take precedence at UCSD, there are other qualities they look for in applicants. According to UCSD , they’re looking for students who demonstrate “leadership, motivation, tenacity, initiative, originality, creativity, intellectual independence, responsibility, insight, and maturity.” The university is also looking to field classes with students from different backgrounds and values cultural, socioeconomic, and intellectual diversity. 

How UCSD College Evaluates Applications

According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, UCSD considers the following factors “very important” :

• Course rigor

These factors are “important” :

• Extracurricular activities 
• State residency 
• Volunteer work 

These are “considered” :

• Class rank 
• First generation 
• Geographical residence
• Work experience

And these are “not considered” :

• Standardized test scores
• Recommendations 
• Religious affiliation/commitment
• Racial/ethnic status 

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

1. Achieve at least a 4.09 average GPA while taking the most challenging classes available

The University of California San Diego places considerable weight on your academic performance. The university considers both GPA and course rigor as “very important” to admissions, and the average high school GPA of UCSD’s Class of 2025 is 4.09 . But UCSD students didn’t just earn great grades in high school—they did so while tackling challenging coursework. It’s common for students at top-tier schools like UCSD to have completed between five and 12 AP classes . 

Selective schools that receive an enormous amount of applications, like UCSD, use a tool known as the Academic Index to expedite admissions decisions. Academic Index consolidates your entire academic record into a single number. If your Academic Index fails to meet UCSD’s standards, you risk being viewed as unqualified and your application not given serious consideration. 

If you’re earlier on in your high school career and your GPA is low, there is still time to improve it. Check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re a junior or senior, you’ll need to buckle down, as you’re unable to increase your Academic Index with higher test scores like applicants at many other schools.

2. Write engaging essays

Outside of academics, essays are the best way to stand out from other applicants at UCSD. The University of California San Diego—like all UC System schools—requires applicants to answer four essay questions from a selection of eight prompts: 

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

UCSD received almost 100,000 applications for its Class of 2025. To distinguish yourself from the thousands of other essays submitted, you’ll want to avoid cliches and write in your unique voice. Make sure to highlight the qualities that aren’t easily gleaned from your application and show why they make you a good fit at UCSD (and how the school will benefit from you being on campus). For UCSD-specific essay advice, check out our article, “ How to Write the University of California Essays 2021-2022 .”

3. Cultivate one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”)

Almost every applicant at the University of California San Diego will have an exceptional academic profile. This places extra importance on areas like extracurriculars for separating yourself from other applicants. UCSD views extracurricular activities as an “important” part of their admissions process. 

A strong extracurricular profile will feature a highly developed interest, known as a “ spike ,” and one of two impressive extracurriculars. Just how much weight do your activities outside of the classroom carry with colleges? The four tiers of extracurriculars provide a good guide for how schools value them:

• Tier 1 activities are the rarest, most impressive, and extremely compelling to colleges. These extracurriculars demonstrate exceptional achievement, leadership, or merit and include things like winning a national award, earning nationwide recognition in athletics or music, and attending a prestigious merit-based summer program. 
• Tier 2 extracurriculars demonstrate great accomplishment and leadership but are more commonly seen by admissions officers and don’t carry the same weight as those in Tier 1. Examples of Tier 2 activities are winning a regional award, earning state-level recognition in athletics or music, or holding a position like student body president. 
• Tier 3 extracurricular activities are good for highlighting your interests outside of the classroom but do little to differentiate you from other candidates. Tier 3 activities include captaining a varsity sport, playing in a regional musical ensemble, or holding a minor leadership position in a well-known club. 
• Tier 4 activities are the most common and least impressive to college admissions. These activities include playing a sport or instrument, participating in a club, and general volunteer work. 

4. Aim for a 1460 SAT and 33 ACT 

The schools of the UC System no longer use the SAT or ACT when making admissions decisions. That said, having strong standardized test scores is a quality shared by the majority of UCSD students—the middle 50% SAT/ACT score of UCSD’s Class of 2025 is 1280-1460/26-33 . 

Although standardized test scores are not used to make admissions decisions at UCSD, you may submit your test scores, and there are some benefits for doing so. Standardized tests may be used as an alternative method to fulfill minimum requirements for admissions eligibility or for course placement after you enroll. To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips

5. Apply Early Action/Early Decision

Many colleges have early decision and early action programs that allow applicants to get a jump on the college admissions process and gain an advantage over other applicants— applying early can increase your chances even when controlling for profile strength. 

Unfortunately for applicants to the University of California San Diego, it and the rest of the UC System schools do not offer early decision or early admission. This makes it even more essential that your academics are impressive, your essays are polished, and your extracurriculars are impressive. 

How to Apply to UCSD

The deadline to submit your UC application is November 30 and decision notifications are sent on March 31 . 

Application Requirements

UCSD and the other schools of the UC System accept only UC Applications. In addition, you’ll need to submit your four personal essays and ensure you’ve met the UC System’s subject requirements. Arts majors pursuing music, theatre, dance, and visual art may submit an optional (but highly recommended) portfolio for review. 

Learn more about UCSD

Interested in learning more about the University of California San Diego? Check out these other informative articles: 

• What is UCSD Known For?
• Guide to UCSD Undergraduate Research Opportunities
• What Does it Cost to Attend The University of California–San Diego?
• College Admissions Story: Rachel from UCSD
• UCSD Student Panel
• Live Q&A With Current UC San Diego Students

Want to know your chances at UCSD? Calculate your chances for free right now .

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, got waitlisted at ucsd—what are my chances.

Hey there, I just found out I've been waitlisted at UCSD. I know it's hard to predict, but does anyone have any insight into the general chances of getting in off the waitlist? Any advice for what I can do while I wait would be appreciated too!

Hey! First off, congratulations on being waitlisted at UCSD—it's still an accomplishment. As you mentioned, it's challenging to predict your exact chances of getting off the waitlist, as the number of waitlisted students accepted varies year to year depending on the number of accepted students who choose to enroll and other factors. For the most recent year we have data (2022), out of the 36,113 students who accepted a place on the waitlist, 2,400 were admitted, which is an acceptance rate of ~6.6%.

However, keep in mind that this rate can vary significantly from one year to another. For example, in 2021, over 25% of students who accepted their spot on the waitlist were accepted. That year, the process was still competitive, but significantly less so.

Although you can't control the number of accepted students who ultimately enroll at UCSD, you can take a few steps to increase your chances and ensure that you're prepared, whether or not you get in off the waitlist:

1. Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): Let UCSD know that you're still interested in attending their institution. Update them on any recent achievements or accomplishments you've had since submitting your application. Keep it short, concise, and professional. You can read more about how to write a strong LOCI on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest/.

2. Keep your grades up: Continue to perform well academically in your final semester or quarters of high school, as UCSD will likely request your latest transcripts before making a final decision.

3. Research and commit to another option: While you wait, make sure to finalize a decision on another school where you've been accepted. You don't want to miss out on any deadlines for accepting offers, applying for housing, or securing financial aid. If you're ultimately accepted at UCSD, you will be able to withdraw your commitment to the other school without penalty, although you will likely lose your enrollment deposit.

4. Stay patient: It can be tough waiting, but remember that waitlisted students likely will not hear back until after the May 1st commitment deadline. In rare cases, such as when an enrolled student needs to unexpectedly defer their admission due to personal circumstances, you may even be accepted off the waitlist in the days before freshman orientation begins. Be prepared for a potentially long wait.

Regardless of the outcome, remember that there are many great colleges out there, and where you go doesn't define your future success. Congratulations again on being waitlisted and best of luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Admissions decisions

If you are a fall-term freshman applicant, each campus you applied to during the filing period generally will notify you whether you have been admitted between March 1–31.

These notification dates apply only to applicants for the fall term who file during the October 1–November 30 filing period. Fall applicants who file late or applicants for winter or spring should contact the campus admissions office regarding admission notification periods.

Campus portals

By January, each campus you applied to will email you to create a username and password for access to the campus’ applicant portal. This is the site where the admission decision will be posted along with other important information. You should check each campus portal frequently.

Provisional admission

Offers of admission are provisional until the campus receives your final official transcript and verifies successful completion of all coursework required for UC eligibility. Each campus provides newly admitted students with conditions for admission that must be satisfied prior to enrollment at the University.

The subject requirement must be completed no later than the date of your high school graduation. If any information on your application is found to be incomplete or inaccurate or if your performance drops significantly during the senior year, the offer of admission may be revoked.

Review of admission decisions

Our campuses review each applicant's record thoroughly, and admission decisions are rarely reversed. However, students who are not admitted may request a review of the decision if they believe there was an error in the evaluation or can provide new and compelling information not included in the initial application. Each campus has specific procedures to handle such appeals. Contact the campus admissions office for information.

Acceptance of admission

Each campus that offers you admission will issue you a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) form or direct you to a website where you can declare your intent to register. Use this form or website to indicate whether you accept or decline the admission offer.

You are strongly encouraged to wait until you hear from each campus you have applied to before you declare your intent to register.

Students who are admitted as freshmen for the fall term must submit the SIR by May 15. 

For most campuses, the SIR submission process is online. However, if you are required to mail a paper SIR form, it must be postmarked by this date. Applicants admitted at a later date or for the winter or spring term should respond by the deadline indicated in the offer of admission.

You may accept admission to one campus only . You may not transfer your SIR from one campus to another after it's been submitted. A $250 non-refundable deposit is required with the SIR.

Fall-term freshman applicants will receive waitlist offers by the end of March, with an opt-in deadline of April 15 for most campuses. Waitlists could extend into the summer based on specific campus enrollment needs.

You can accept waitlist offers from multiple campuses, but  you can only accept one offer of admission .

Even if you accept a waitlist offer at a UC campus, you should submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to a college or university where you have been offered admission by May 15 to ensure you have a place to attend in the fall. UC campuses generally plan to release admission decisions from the waitlist between May and July. 

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UC Freshman Waitlist Information & Waitlist Statement Guideline

Waitlist Information Waitlist Statement Writing Guidelines Appeal While On Waitlist Waitlist Numbers Waitlist Statement Help

UC Waitlist Information

Each UC campus handles the waitlist opt-in process a little differently. All UCs have synched up the waitlist opt-in deadline to April 15 this year. Carefully review the waitlist information and/or FAQ from the campus that made you a waitlist offer before opting in.

Most UC campuses will not release waitlist decisions until well after the May 15, 2024 SIR deadline, so be sure to follow through with a backup plan in case the waitlist decision doesn’t work out in your favor. There is no penalty for you to withdraw the SIR if you are accepted from the waitlist somewhere else (except losing the $250 deposit).

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UC Waitlist Statement Writing Guidelines

If a waitlist statement is allowed (most likely UCLA will be the only campus allowing that), be sure to explain why the campus is right for you. For example, what opportunities will the campus offer you and how do you intend to take advantage of those opportunities? You should also reinforce why you are the right student for that campus. For example, what experiences, knowledge, skills, and characteristics do you bring to the campus and how will you positively contribute to the student body and/or the campus community?

For campuses that do NOT have a waitlist statement, keep in mind that they will NOT review unsolicited information.

Appeal While On Waitlist

UCs do not allow applicants who were offered waitlist option to appeal. For UCs where you are required to decline the waitlist offer in order to appeal, keep in mind you are significantly more likely to be admitted from the waitlist than from appeal. Carefully weigh your options before proceeding.

UC Waitlist Numbers

Not sure if you should opt-in or give up? Take a look at the waitlist numbers from previous years to help you decide the best way forward!

Waitlist Statement Help

Find general waitlist statement help on my YouTube Channel (watch Understanding How the UC Appeal and Waitlist Process Works first, then check out How to Compose Your UC Waitlist Statement ).

Need more help with your waitlist statement? Learn more about the service options I have available.

Know someone who can benefit from this information? Share the page with family and friends using a button below!

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Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

Does Davis allow waitlist letters, there is an additional comment section like UCLA’s?

I believe there is an additional information section, but it’s part of the grade update form and meant for students to explain academic issues.

Should I send a letter of continued via email, since it was stated on the UCLA waitlist FAQ that “additional materials (including letters of recommendation) cannot be accepted and will not be reviewed if sent”.

You have space in the UCLA waitlist opt-in form to add information so just use that.

When do the UC’s start processing the waitlist usually? Do they wait until the May 15 deadline to start processing waitlist? I am interested to know more about San Diego and Berkley.

Majority of the UCs won’t release waitlist decisions until after the SIR deadline.

Is the UCI and UCD waitlist a lottery system?

My best guess is there are “clusters” of applicants of varying levels of qualifications and the campus would start pulling applicants off the top level cluster until it runs dry then move to the next cluster. There are usually four or five times more qualified applicants than the campus has space, so putting together huge clusters is easy. Whether admission from the cluster is random or not is difficult to say.

Questions or Comments? Cancel reply

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UC San Diego Ranked No. 7 Best US Public University by Center for World University Rankings

• Amanda Rubalcava - [email protected]

Published Date

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The University of California San Diego has once again been named No. 7 among U.S. public universities in the latest Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), upholding its position from the previous year. 

According to the 2024 “Global 2000 List by the Center for World University Rankings,” UC San Diego is ranked No. 21 among all U.S. universities and No. 34 in the world. The university has also secured a place in the top 0.2% among over 20,000 universities worldwide analyzed for the latest rankings.

CWUR evaluates universities on four key factors: quality of education (25%), employability (25%), faculty (10%) and research (40%). UC San Diego maintained its strong positions in both faculty rank (12) and research rank (22), echoing its standing in 2023. These scores are determined based on indicators such as the number of faculty members recognized with top academic distinctions and the quantity of research papers appearing in highly influential journals. 

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"UC San Diego is proud to maintain its position as the 7th ranked public university in the nation, which underscores our steadfast dedication to providing students with a top-tier education and unparalleled research opportunities," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "This recognition from CWUR also highlights the exceptional caliber of our scholar community, who continually pioneer groundbreaking discoveries across a spectrum of fields such as engineering, medicine, mathematics, the fine arts and more."

The university’s diverse academic programs are led by industry experts and skilled faculty researchers who explore innovative concepts and inspire fresh perspectives. Just this month, UC San Diego announced that two faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences : Stephan Haggard, distinguished research professor of political science at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, and Kenneth Intriligator, distinguished professor of physics. Founded in 1780, the academy is considered one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies. Additionally, five university researchers were recently elected 2023 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science , one of the world’s largest general scientific organizations. Professors include Peter Ebenfelt, Robert Heath, Natalia Komarova, Dean Kit Pogliano and Wei Xiong.

UC San Diego scholars are also leading research aimed at helping society understand the effects of toxic offshore dumping . Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and colleagues have found that deep-sea fish and sediments collected from a once-legal offshore dump site near Catalina Island are contaminated with numerous chemicals related to the pesticide DDT, which is now known to harm humans and wildlife. 

Additional research efforts also include a look into how international physicians can help play a role in addressing health care needs. A new study  from the School of Global Policy and Strategy shows that relaxed visa requirements enable more foreign-trained doctors to practice in remote and low-income areas, without reducing employment of U.S.-trained doctors. Further, UC San Diego scientists have developed a new AI tool to generate new drug candidates for cancer, which could significantly streamline the process and open doors for never-before-seen treatments. 

In addition to this recent recognition by CWUR, UC San Diego consistently achieves top positions across various prestigious national and global ranking lists. The university was ranked as the nation’s sixth-best public university in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings. To explore UC San Diego's accolades further, visit the Campus Profile . For additional information about CWUR, please visit the organization’s website . 

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