Some of the UC’s do an augmented review of up to 15% of the applicants. Usually there is specific reason(s) why the augmented review is requested but in general, Mid-year transcripts are not needed.
The Augmented Review pool should be limited in size to no more than 15 percent of all applicants.
The criteria for referring an applicant for Augmented Review include the following:
Evidence of focus on an area of special talent which may have limited a student’s time to participate in a broader range of activities.
Evidence of character traits that imply a strong likelihood of making a significant contribution to campus life.
Evidence of significant academic achievement or the potential for academic achievement at the University in spite of extraordinary or compound disadvantage or learning difference, or physical disability or other unusual circumstances.
Evidence of significant improvement in the academic record accompanied by one or both of the following: (1) reasons for the initial poor performance; and (2) sustained and in-depth participation in educational outreach programs, which demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to succeed academically within a challenging environment.
Evidence of relative lack of access to, counseling about, or support to take college preparatory, honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes or required college entrance examinations.
So about a month after applying I just learned about the ‘UC GPA’. When I researched the average GPA of admitted UCSB applicant I found the middle 25-75% was around 4.15-4.30. Thinking this was calculated using normal GPA standards found everywhere else in the country, and my weighted GPA being around 4.9, I considered UCSB a ‘target’ school. However, if this is the ‘UC GPA’ am I screwed?? Do they not look at your normal GPA at all??? The one that the whole country uses???
This is the UC. Capped weighted GPA based on 10-11th a-g course grades and an 8 semester Honors point cap.
UC’s consider all 3 UC GPA’s: Unweighted, Capped weighted and Fully weighted based on the calculator below but UCSB will emphasize the UW and Capped weighted. Fully weighted is mainly used for statistical purposes.
The UC’s have their own GPA calculation but will also review individual course grades for completion of the a-g requirements and for HS rigor so not the same GPA calculation that other schools use. UC’s are transparent about how they calculate the GPA’s while many schools will not list how they recalculate.
The thing is there is no single GPA that the whole country uses. The manner of calculating GPA varies from school to school and that is precisely why the UCs - like many other universities - have their own standardized way of calculating GPA so that they can compare students fairly. The UC’s GPA is a bit different from others, but it is still designed so that they can compare students in a standardized manner in terms of both grades and rigor in core classes (while allowing for a high school transition period in 9th grade while many students are still getting their bearings).
Since you mention a gpa calculation “the whole country uses” it makes me think you may not be a CA resident. If so you should also be aware UC only gives honors weighting in calculating gpa to AP or IB courses for OOS applicants, not for courses designated honors by their HS
@juso
My S24 emailed admissions@ucsb.edu – with his first & last name, noted First Time Freshman Fall 2024 Applicant and UC Application ID # – that he hadn’t received the email re: portal. It turns out that he had unsubscribed from their mailing list so that was why. They re-sent the portal email as well as the original email to say that UCSB received application.
Hi!! Chance me please. I’m from North Carolina and am so nervous. Here are my stats:
2 brothers currently enrolled at UNC
Rank 49/400
4.4 (weighted) 3.9 (unweighted)
4 years of Spanish
4 APS 5 DE
Honors: National Beta Club, National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, CC President Circle
Student Body President (12th grade)
Junior Class Secretary
Sophomore Class Secretary
4 Years Varsity Cheer
Varsity Cheer Captain (12th grade) Won first every state championship as Captain
Founder/President Of Best Buddies at my school (special needs friendships)
Varsity Soccer 3 years
Part Time Starbucks Employee
DECA
Key Club
Selected and attended UNC Journalism Camp ober summer before Senior Year
Brand Ambassador/Influencer for 11 brands
Coca-Cola Scholarship SemiFinalist (1% acceptance rate)
Voted for 2024 Prom Chair
North Carolina 4A 2023 NCHSAA Cheerleading Spirit Scholar Award
Ronald Raegan Scholarship Semifinalist
I think my essays were really good!!
I applied test optional. I also have gotten into Auburn, University of San Francisco (with 90k), South Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, Charleston, and Wilmington. I got deferred from Harvard and UGA so holding out hope!
Haha. I saw your post in the UNC thread. My daughter applied to UNC OOS this year, but I’m a UCSB alum, so I check this thread periodically. Can’t go wrong with either school- both are fantastic!
