Since Freshman decisions will be posting in the next few weeks for UC San Diego, I have started the Waitlist/Appeal Discussion thread.
2025 Waitlist Timeline: Waitlist opt ins need to list a 2nd alternate major. OOS admits April 16 , IS May 9 at 4 PM, Additional admits on May 12 and May 16.
Denial of some appeals April 25, 2025 and May 9
Please note that the waitlist admit numbers vary from year to year depending upon how many admitted students SIR by May 1.
Below is some Waitlist data from the last few years:
UCSD 2025 Waitlist CDS Edited March 22, 2026
Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
51369
Number accepting a place on the waitlist
36113
Number of waitlisted students admitted
2400
General Waitlist Information:
UCSD CDS states the waitlist is ranked but admissions states it is Not Ranked.
There is no way to determine your chances from being admitted off the waitlist. It will be depend upon how many admitted students SIR and how many spots are open after the deadline.
No specific timeline for waitlist admits. If space opens up before the SIR deadline of May 1, then students can be pulled from the waitlist.
Residency type and major are not broken out for the UC waitlist statistics.
The number of waitlisted students that actually enroll is not listed.
No LOCI’s since UC’s do not consider demonstrated interest. Opting into the waitlist shows your interest in attending.
Opting into the waitlist is by invitation only.
You cannot appeal your decision while on the waitlist.
New for Fall 2025, Waitlist opt ins can select an non-impacted/non-selective major for a 2nd alternate
Admissions appeal information:
Applicants who have new and compelling academic information that was not presented in their original application, may [submit an appeal through their Applicant Portal] by March 28. No appeals will be accepted after the deadline.
I got waitlisted, I am probably planning on submitting an SIR to Irvine- but I was wondering, for waitlisted applicants, I assume senior year grades/AP test scores might matter? We don’t submit them till July though, if I’m remembering correctly.
Also, for a small inconsistency on my transcript: I am going to inform UCI about it, should I inform UCSD? As there’s a chance I may be admitted off the waitlist? Or should I wait until I am, if I get off?
For the waitlist, UCSD does not accept any documentation or updated Senior grades. All you can do is opt in. Last year, they did ask applicants to list another alternate major if opting in.
No, UCSD will admit with the Primary major, alternate major or Undeclared. I have seen a few Selective majors admitted off the waitlist but pretty uncommon. Last year, UCSD asked waitlisted applicants to select a 2nd alternate major when opting into the waitlist. Not sure if this is an option this year also.
If you already applied undeclared, is there any advantage in listing a specific major as your alternate choice on the opt-in form? (This does seem to be an option this year as well.) Thanks!
Here are the timelines that I have kept track of the last few years.
UCSD:
2022: Admits May 9 and May 18. Some rejections May 23. Short list with trickles of admits till May 17. Final rejections on June 18-30.
2023: Wave of admits including some capped majors such as DS/Undeclared Engineering and EE on May 10. Admits May 22. Few admits June 7. Some students denied from the waitlist June 12. More denials on June 30.
2024: Friday May 17 after 3 PM, Friday May 24, Friday May 31, June 10, June 14, Rare admit June 20. Email to opt out of waitlist posted June 21. Denials sent August 6.
2025: Waitlist opt ins need to list a 3rd major. OOS admits April 16 , IS May 9 4 PM, Chem E admit May 12, Cog Sci/Undeclared Humanities/Psych May 16
Denial of some appeals April 25, 2025 and May 9
OOS and International spots usually open up earlier due to the high costs so many admitted OOS/Internationals will decline earlier than in-state applicants.
The UCs have significantly lower admit rates for instate kids even though their yield rates are significantly higher.
This is not true of all university systems, for contrast see UW. I think that is why the yield rates in UW are so much higher for instate kids, they know they will mostly get in and so they are not desperately trying elsewhere.
Approximately 1 out of 5 kids who opted into the WL last year were eventually admitted to SD.
All waitlisted students are asked to select a 2nd alternate major.
When and if any waitlisted student will be admitted depends upon how many students enroll by May 1. If lower than projected students enroll within the next 2 weeks, then it is possible, they may start admitting off the waitlist. Last year, they admitted mainly OOS students on April 16 but based on their historical waitlist timelines, this is not the normal timeline. After May 1, has the been when they have gone to the waitlist.
Thanks for the timeline info. With the OOS/International movement happening on the 16th last year, is there any buzz about a wave this week (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday)? Or does this cycle seem more likely to hold until the May 1 deadline?
My daughter got WL’d while so many of her friends got accepted. She declared Biochem, Bio, and undeclared as 2nd alternative. Her GPA is 4.2, she’s got so many clubs, internships at hospital.
WL at UCSD & UCSB. Rejected from All other UCs, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU
What the heck is going on? Are Cal residents being given less preference than OOS?
She got accepted at UW Madison, Santa Clara (with grant), UCR, UCSC. She outright dismissed all accepted offers and wants to commit to UW Madison.
My issue is UW Madison charges 4X more for OOS whooping $65k. The weather is freezing 9 months. I am having a hard time justifying such a high cost when we have been paying California high taxes.
Opinions welcome. This is causing so much stress anxiety in our family.