First-Year Students

The admission and selection process for UC Santa Cruz reflects the academic rigor and preparation needed to succeed at a major research institution. Meeting the minimum qualifications for the university does not guarantee you admission as a first-year student. Achieving beyond the minimum qualifications not only prepares you for success, it will also increase your chances of being admitted.

Using a comprehensive review process comprising 13 faculty approved criteria, each application is thoroughly reviewed to determine the full spectrum of a student’s academic and personal achievements, viewed in the context of their opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications for UC

You will need to satisfy the following minimum requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses ("a-g" courses), with at least 11 finished prior to the beginning of your senior year. For a full list of "a-g" requirements and information on courses in California high schools that meet the requirements, please see the Office of the President's A-G Course List.
• Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better (3.40 or better for a non-resident of California) in these courses with no grade lower than a C.
• The Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) can be satisfied by Directed Self-Placement, standardized test scores, or other means. See Writing Program for more information.

Standardized Test Scores

UC Santa Cruz does not use standardized exam scores (ACT/SAT) in our comprehensive review and selection process. Like all UC campuses, we consider a broad range of factors when reviewing a student's application, from academics to extracurricular achievement and response to life challenges. No admission decision is based on a single factor. Exam scores may still be used to meet area b of the a-g subject requirements as well as the UC Entry Level Writing requirement.