Freshman Student Admission

UCR seeks to recruit and retain an academically strong student body that has demonstrated the rigorous preparation needed for admission to a major research institution and reflects the diversity of our state and region.

This section describes the two-phase undergraduate admission and selection process at UCR:

• 1. Satisfying the University of California minimum admission requirements

• 2. Selection by UCR according to the principles of Comprehensive Review,

as determined by the UCR faculty

Meeting UC minimum admission requirements will not guarantee admission to UCR. Applicants who seek to increase their likelihood for admission should strive for achievement well beyond UC minimum requirements.

Final determination of admission will be made within the context of campus enrollment goals.

Freshmen Students interested in entering the University as freshmen need to satisfy the following requirements:

• 1. Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (a-g courses)

with at least 11 finished prior to the senior year. The a-g course requirements are shown in the box on this page. More information about the a-g course requirements can be found at universityofcalifornia. edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/a-g-requirements/index.html. The university will accept only those “a-g” courses that appear on the official UC-Certified Course List for the California high school the student attended. The UC-Certified course list is available at ucop.edu/agguide. Students who have attended high school outside the state of California will have their high school coursework evaluated in the context of the general A-G requirements noted on this page.

• 2. Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (3.4 for non-residents)

in these courses with no grade lower than a C.

• a. Honors Courses The university assigns extra points for up to four

year- long university-certified honors level, Advanced Placement, and/or UC-designated International Baccalaureate courses taken in grades 10, 11, and 12: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. College-level courses in the a-g college preparatory courses that are transferable to the university are also assigned honors grade points. A maximum of two yearlong courses taken in grade 10 are assigned honors points. Grades of D are not assigned extra honors points. (Extra points will be awarded to 10th graders only when they take honors courses that have been certified by the university as honors- level courses.) Acceptable honors-level courses include Advanced Placement courses, specific Standard Level and all Higher Level

a. History/Social Science (2 years required) Two years of history/social science, including one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government; and one year of world history, cultures, and geography.

b. English (4 years required) Four years of college preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth-grade English or no more than one year of approved ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement.

c. Mathematics (3 years required, 4 years recommended) Three years of college preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill part or this entire requirement, as may math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades that the student’s high school accepts as equivalent to its own math courses.

d. Laboratory Science (2 years required, 3 recommended) Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three core disciplines: biology (which includes anatomy, physiology, marine biology, aquatic biology, etc.), chemistry, and physics. The final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement.

e. Language Other Than English (2 years required, 3 years recommended) Two years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition, and culture. Courses in language other than English taken in the seventh and eighth grade may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if the student’s high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.

f. Visual and Performing Arts (1 year required) A single yearlong approved arts course from a single visual and performing arts discipline: dance, drama or theater, music, or visual art.

g. College Preparatory Electives (1 year required) One year (two semesters) in addition to those required in “a–f” above, chosen from visual and performing arts (nonintroductory-level courses), history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and language other than English (a third year in the language used in the “e” requirement or two years of another language). Undergraduate Admission / 30 International Baccalaureate courses, and college courses that are transferable to the university.

• 3. Meet the examination requirement by taking the ACT with Writing or the

SAT with Essay, by December of your senior year. SAT Subject Tests are not required. However, you may want to take them if you want to:

• • Demonstrate mastery of a particular subject

• • Satisfy an “a-g” requirement

• • Apply for a competitive major that strongly recommends them

(e.g., Bourns College of Engineering and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences recommend Math Level 2 and either Chemisry or Physics).

• a. ACT Assessment Test plus Writing To register, obtain a registration

packet from a high school counselor or register at act.org.

• b. SAT Tests To register, obtain a registration packet from a high school

counselor or register at collegeboard.com.

For the highest-achieving California applicants, we have two paths to admission. If you are in one of the following groups and you are not admit- ted to any of the UC campuses you apply to, you may be offered a spot at another campus if space permits.

• 1. Statewide Path Students who rank in the top 9 percent of California

high school students according to the UC admissions index, which can be found at universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/california- residents/admissions-index/index.html, or

• 2. Local Path (ELC) Students who rank in the top 9 percent of their

graduating class at a participating high school. Students whose high schools participate in the ELC program – which most California high

schools do – will be identified to be in the top 9 percent on the basis of GPA in UC-approved coursework completed in the 10th and 11th grades. To be considered for ELC, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and complete the following a-g courses prior to their senior year:

• a. History/Social Science

1 year

• b. English

2 Years

• c. Mathematics

2 Years

• d. Laboratory science

1 Year

• e. Language other than English

1 Year

• f. College-preparatory elective (chosen from the subjects listed above

or another course approved by the university) 4 Years

After students enter their coursework and grades in their applications, the University of California will compare their GPAs to the historic top GPA for their school. Students who meet or exceed that GPA, will be identified as ELC and will be designated as such on their application. For more information on this process, go to universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/ freshman/california-residents/local-path/index.html.

Students who do not meet UC’s minimum requirements, may be considered for admission to UC if they earn high scores on the ACT with Writing or SAT with essay, and two SAT Subject Tests. To qualify by examination, students must achieve a minimum UC Score total of 410 (425 for nonresidents), calculated according to instructions that can be found at universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/ examination/index.html. Additionally, students must earn a minimum UC Score of 63 on each component of the ACT Assessment plus Writing or SAT with Essay, and on each SAT Subject Test.

Students may not use a SAT Subject Test to meet Admission by Examination if they completed a transferable college course in that subject with a grade of C or better.

High School Proficiency Examination If a student does not have a high school diploma, the university will accept the Certificate of Proficiency awarded by the State Board of Education upon successful completion of the California High School Proficiency Examination. The university also

Comprehensive Review is the process by which UCR evaluates freshman applicants, who meet minimum UC requirements, using multiple measures of achievement and promise, while considering the context in which each student has demonstrated accomplishment. UCR will calculate an Academic Index Score (AIS) for all UC-eligible freshman applicants. The faculty of UCR have designated the measures described below to be used to calculate the AIS. Admission to UCR will be determined within the context of campus enrollment goals. Although no particular AIS will guarantee admission to UCR, prospective students who strive for the highest possible AIS increase their likelihood for admission.

High School GPA The strength of an applicant’s high school GPA is the strongest indicator that a student will be successful within an academically challenging UC environment. The capped GPA is calculated on the basis of all completed “a-g” courses with extra points added for UC-approved honors courses taken in grades 10 and 11, capped at 8 semesters. A capped GPA considers the extra points earned for honors-level courses and may exceed 4.0 for some students.

ACT Assessment Plus Writing or SAT with Essay Provide another effective measure for determining the potential for success of a UCR applicant.

Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses - AP and IB courses prepare students for college-level coursework. Therefore, students who take and do well in these courses tend to have a high probablity for success within the UC environment.

Low Family Income Students who demonstrate high academic achievement, despite low socioeconomic status, are likely to exhibit persistence, maturity, and insight. Low family income is determined based on total family members and household income.

First-Generation University Attendance UC-eligible applicants who are the first in their immediate family to attend college are apt to have personal strengths that will contribute to their academic success. Students whose parents have not graduated from a four-year college or university are qualified for first- generation university attendance.

Applicants to College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are strongly encouraged to take the SAT Math Subject Exam, and either the Physics or Chemistry SAT Subject Exam. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to take the ACT Science Reasoning Test and an Calculus Exam.

Applicants to Bourns College of Engineering should ensure strong preparation in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Their mastery of Mathematics should cover at least Pre-Caluculus, but an Advanced Placement course in Calculus is recommended. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to provide evidence of adequate preparation by taking the SAT Math Subject Exam, and either the Physics or Chemistry SAT Subject Exam, or the ACT Science Reasoning Test.

The following information is provided in compliance with the Federal Student Right-To-Know Act. It reflects four- and six-year cumulative graduation rates of the 4,458 incoming first-time freshmen for Fall 2010 and does not include graduation of students who transferred to other colleges and universities. All students enrolled in a degree program are included.

Graduated in four years 46.7%

Graduated in six years 72.9% 31 / Undergraduate Admission

will accept proficiency examinations from other states, or the General Education Development (GED) Certificate, in place of a diploma. However, a student must still meet the UC admission requirements and campus selection requirements.

Two paths to UC eligibility exist for nonresidents at the freshman level. The first is the same as described under UC Admission Requirements and the second is the same as described under Admission by Examination, with the following exception: Non-resident students must have a minimum GPA of 3.4.

UC Riverside has developed an admission program for homeschooled or other nontraditionally educated students in recognition of the benefits of the education these students have received, including the depth of learning, socialization, maturity, creativity, and vision. These qualities provide excellent foundations for pursuing an education at UC Riverside.

Visit admissions.ucr.edu/Admissions/pathsAdmissions for more information about how UCR defines a homeschooled or other nontraditional education and specific admission requirements.

Complete information on how to apply to UC Riverside as an international student can be found at international.ucr.edu. The credentials of an international applicant — a student who holds or expects to hold a student, exchange, visitor, diplomatic, or any other visa and who wishes to attend school in the United States as an undergraduate — are evaluated in accordance with the general regulations governing admission. UCR uses the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for all nonimmigrant F- and J-status students.

Students may apply electronically during the priority filing periods at universityofcalifornia.edu/apply. Early in the application filing period, students should submit the following to Undergraduate Admissions: official certificates and detailed transcripts of record, including hours and marks, accompanied by English translations; course syllabi; results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. An applicant from another country whose native language is not English must achieve a score of 550 (paper- based), or 80 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL or a score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Students may receive more information about the TOEFL at toefl.org. Students may receive more information about the IELTS at ielts.org.

Results of the test should be forwarded to Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants living locally should contact Undergraduate Admissions (see address below) for further information concerning other test options or completion of an acceptable English composition course to clear the English requirement.

Generally, financial assistance from the university is not available to nonimmigrant visa students. International students must provide proof that they possess sufficient funds to meet their educational commitments while studying in the United States. International students are considered nonresidents of California and are assessed the nonresident tuition in addition to the fees paid by legal residents of California.

For inquiries about the admission of international undergraduate students:

International Specialist Undergraduate Admissions 3106 Student Services Building University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A.; internationalinfo@ucr.edu

The university considers a transfer applicant a student who has graduated from high school and enrolled in a regular session at a college or university immediately following the summer after high school graduation. (Students cannot disregard their college record and apply as freshmen.)

California Residents must complete the following to meet minimum admission requirements:

• 1. Complete 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit

with at least a 2.4 GPA (2.8 for nonresidents). No more than 14 semester (21 quarter) units may be taken Pass/Not Pass.

• 2. Complete the following seven transferable college courses, earning a

grade of C or better in each course:

• a) Two courses in English (1 course in English Composition, 1 course in

Critical Thinking);

• b) One course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning;

• c) Four courses chosen from at least two of the following subject areas:

arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

Each course must be worth at least 3 semester (4–5 quarter) units.

Students who satisfy the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) prior to transferring to UC, may satisfy the seven- course pattern outlined above, depending on the courses taken. For more information, visit assist.org.

Students who were eligible for admission to the university when they graduated from high school — meaning that they satisfied the subject, examination, and scholarship requirements, in addition to campus selection — may be eligible for lower division transfer to non-selecting majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences if they have a 2.4 GPA (2.8 GPA for non-residents) in all transferable course work.

Nonresidents of California The minimum admission requirements for nonresidents are very similar to those for residents. Students who are not California residents should consult with Undergraduate Admissions for details. However, nonresidents must have a GPA of 2.8 or higher in all transferable college course work.

The UC does not grant credit for scores earned on the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

A regular undergraduate student who is registered at any campus of the UC may apply for transfer to another campus of the UC by filing the UC Undergraduate Application for Admission and Scholarships. Fees and procedures are the same for all undergraduates, and there is no special procedure for intercampus transfer.

An undergraduate student in good standing, currently registered at UCR, may apply for intercampus visitor status at another UC campus for one term. Forms and instructions are available at the Office of the Registrar, 2249 Student Services Building.

Disciplinary suspension or dismissal from a previously attended educational institution is considered in the admission decision.

Credit for English-as-a-Second-Language Course Work Students whose first language is not English may receive up to 12 quarter units of credit for English-as-a-second-language course work. Students may receive workload credit (for financial aid purposes) for courses taken beyond this 12-unit limit but will not receive additional unit credit applicable to the bachelor’s degree.

Credit for Native Language Students whose first language is not English may receive credit for course work in their native language and literature, provided such courses were completed at the college level in the country of the first language or at the upper-division or graduate level at UCR or another accredited English-speaking institution.

Unit Credit for Courses Taken Elsewhere The University grants unit credit only for courses consistent with its curriculum that have been completed

at other accredited colleges and universities. To be accepted for credit, the courses must be comparable to those offered at the university. Transfer Applicants Applicants are notified if the university requires a preliminary transcript(s). Applicants must request a final transcript from each college they attended. A transcript from the last high school they attended may also be required. Attendance at any other school or college after an application has been filed is considered to be part of the student’s record and must be reported to Undergraduate Admissions. Transcripts are due to the Office of Undergraduate Admission postmarked on or before July 1st. All other required information is due postmarked on or before July 15th. Undergraduate Admission / 32 Undergraduate Admissions determines the acceptability of courses taken at an institution other than the university. The faculty of the particular school or college in which the student plans to enroll determines the applicability of such course work in satisfaction of degree requirements.

As an integral part of the system of public education of California, the university accepts approved transfer courses at full unit value that have been completed with satisfactory grades in the community colleges of the state of California.

Limitations on Transfer Credits Students will be granted up to 70 semester/105 quarter units of credit for lower-division coursework completed at any instituion or any combination of institutions. For units beyond the maximum, subject credit for appropriate coursework taken in excess of this unit limitation will be granted and may be used to satisfy requirements.

• • Units earned through: AP, IB, and/or A-Level examinations are not

included in the limitation and do not put applicants at risk of being denied admission. Units earned at any UC campus (Extension, summer, cross/ current and regular academic year enrollment) are not included in the limitation but are added to the maximum transfer credit allowed and may put applicants at risk of being denied admission due to excessive units. Transcripts and Test Scores Undergraduate Admissions requires complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about a student’s academic program and work in progress in order to process and respond to the application in a timely manner. The transcript and other documents submitted as part of the application become the property of the university; they cannot be returned or forwarded in any form to another college or university.

Freshman Applicants Applicants are notified if a preliminary high school transcript is required. Applicants are responsible for requesting that testing agencies report examination scores for (1) either the ACT Assessment plus Writing or SAT Reasoning Test with Essay and, although not required but recommended for certain majors, (2) two SAT Subject Tests to UCR Undergraduate Admissions.

Admitted students must forward an official final high school transcript that shows the date of graduation, final transcript(s) for college work attempted, and official passing scores from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate specific Standard Level and all Higher Level examinations. Transcripts are due to the Office of Undergraduate Admission postmarked on or before July 1st. All other required information is due postmarked on or before July 15th.

UCR attempts to accommodate as many qualified students from other universities and colleges as possible, particularly as juniors and seniors. In addition to meeting minimum UC eligibility requirements, transfer students will be selected on the basis of academic preparation as assessed by their GPA in all transferrable coursework and completion of required major preparatory coursework where applicable. Applicants with 120 quarter units or more are also subject to screening beyond the minimum requirements for transfer students.

School of Business Administration Admission is selective based on the GPA in all transferrable coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.7. Applicants must complete all breadth requirements (or the IGETC), and the seven published lower-division business prerequisites (with a minimum GPA of 2.5). Further information may be obtained from The School of Business Administration, 2340 Olmsted Hall, at (951) 827- 4551.

Bourns College of Engineering Students are selected on the basis of academic preparation. Admission is selective based on the GPA in all transferrable coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.8, and completion of required major preparatory course work. See Admission to Majors under the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering section of this catalog or go to assist.org. For further information call Student Academic Affairs at (951) 827-ENGR (3647).

College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Students are selected primarily on the basis of academic preparation, as assessed by their GPA in academic coursework and strength of preparation for the intended major. Admission is selective based on the GPA in all transferable coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.7 and completion of required major preparatory coursework. Students should visit assist.org for updated and comprehensive major preparation requirements.

College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Admission is selective based on GPA in all transferrable coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.4. Neuroscience and Psychology applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in all transferable college coursework. Psychology applicants must also have a minimum of one UC transferable mathematics course equivalent to Math 004 or higher. For further information call Student Academic Affairs at (951) 827-3683.

120 Quarter Units or More Applications from UC-eligible applicants with 120 quarter units or more of transfer credit are reviewed by the Dean of the College for completion of a specified pattern of courses that provides continuity with upper-division courses within the major. 33 / Undergraduate Admission