University of California

Comprehensive Review 201

Today’s Presenters

Elizabeth Tisdale, Counselor, Undergraduate Admissions, UC Riverside

Gary A. Clark, Jr., Director, Undergraduate Admissions, UC Los Angeles

Michael McCawley, Director, Undergraduate Admissions, UC Santa Cruz

Comprehensive Review 102

• Minimum qualifications for a freshman

• UC Riverside overview

• UC Los Angeles overview

• UC Santa Cruz overview

• A case study – one of over 100,000+ that applied for

admission

Freshman Minimum Qualifications

Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (“a-g” courses), with at least 11 finished prior to senior year.

Earn the required grade point average (GPA) in “a-g” courses

3.0 California resident3.4 Non-residents

Meet the examination requirement by taking the ACT with Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test by December of your senior year.

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2

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GPA calculated from 10th & 11th grade course work weighted by a maximum of 8 semesters UC-approved honors grade points

9% x 9% UC systemwide guarantee for CA resident applicants

The Required “a-g” Course Pattern

UC looks for academically strong students who enrich the student experience and succeed academically to a timely graduation.

A-G Subject Area Requirement

a. History/social science 2 years

b. English 4 years

c. Mathematics 3 years (4 years recommended)

d. Laboratory science 2 years (3 years recommended)

e. Language other than English 2 years (3 years recommended)

f. Visual and performing arts 1 year

g. College-preparatory elective 1 year

Comprehensive Review

• Grade-Point Average• Test Scores• Courses

Completed/Planned• Honors Courses• Eligibility in the Local

Context (ELC)• Quality of Senior-Year

Program of Study• Academic Opportunities in

California High Schools• Performance in Academic

Subject Areas

• Achievements in Special Projects

• Improvement in Academic Performance

• Special Talents, Achievements, and Awards

• Participation in Educational Preparation Programs

• Academic Accomplishment Within Life Experiences

• Geographic Location

14 UC Faculty-Approved Criteria

Implementing Campus Selection

Each campus has a faculty committee that has

plenary authority over undergraduate

admissions / selection. • Determine the model of Comprehensive Review that fits the campus – all campuses use comprehensive review.

• Campuses determine which of the 14 criteria they will use, and what weight each criterion will be given.

UC RiversideApplication Review

Process

Application Review Process

•Fixed weighted system • Academic Index Score (AIS)• Score developed by Faculty• Selectivity varies by major

•Comprehensive Review Criteria

• GPA• Test Scores• AP/IB• Socio Economic Factors

•Personal Statement• Provides context and additional

information not found on application

•Supplemental Review Process

Moving Towards Holistic Review

• Admit rate is nearing 50%

• Holistic review process is in its early stages– Selection criteria will be reviewed

by faculty

• Projected to move to Holistic Review in 2016– Pilot program will be launched in

2015

The Holistic Review

The Holistic Review Process

• UCLA uses the holistic evaluation process to identify the best candidates for admission to The College of Letters and Sciences. The professional schools use the holistic score in conjunction with departmental reviews when making their decisions.

• All our readers participate in an extensive training and certification process throughout the months of November and December prior to beginning their review of real cases.

• Each application is read twice by two independent readers. The reviews are blind and neither reader knows the score of the other. If the scores of the two readers differ significantly, the application will be read a third time by a senior reader. We refer to this as a “disparate” review (we have a disparate rate under 4%).

• Quality control checks include by-school reviews, high/low checks, and special populations including foster youth, twins and veterans.

Holistic Review Criteria • Academic Criteria:

• Grades (unweighted and weighted GPA), ELC status• College preparatory courses (strength of curriculum, rigor,

senior year course load)• Test Scores (SAT or ACT plus writing, AP, IBHL)• Other evidence of intellectual achievement (extraordinary,

sustained achievement in any field or intellectual endeavor)• Achievement in academic preparation/enrichment programs

• Personal qualities of the applicant:• Leadership ability, character, motivation, tenacity, initiative,

demonstrated concern for others and the community

• Non-academic achievements:• Accomplishments in the performing arts or athletics,

employment, leadership in school or community organizations or activities, community service

• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus

• Diversity of personal background and experience

What is our form of Comprehensive Review?

• Our method is called Holistic Review

• We use all 14 faculty-approved criteria

• Fully trained Admissions Readers conduct our Holistic Review

WHAT WE REVIEW

• Entire application read, including personal statements and additional comments

• We review for “context” – student in comparison to their peers

• School characteristics

HOW WE ASSESS/SCORE

• Read a minimum of two times

• No fixed weights/points

• Single score for each applicant

• Recognizes academic achievements, leadership, talents, projects, and personal circumstances

A Case Study

What our three campuses would say about this applicant

Questions?

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