<p>I am quite surprised as well. Here is the link to the review process
[Application</a> Review Process - Freshmen](<a href=“http://ucsd.edu/prospective-students/freshmen/eval-process.html]Application”>http://ucsd.edu/prospective-students/freshmen/eval-process.html)</p>
<p>Some factors could be
- lower unweighted GPA
- rigor of classes
- impacted major</p>
<p>And then the subjective factors of personal statement
[University</a> of California - Personal statement](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html)</p>
<p>So if someone is on the fence and/or perhaps geographically closer to another UC area (low yield/over matched) that may have been some factor? I really wonder if the UCs do take other UC acceptances into account. If you do a search on UC acceptances, there are a ton of people who will get rejected UCSD and accepted UCLA or rejected both and accepted UC-Berkeley.
I am starting to think, geographic distances and knowing where else the candidate has been offered, may play a certain factor.</p>