UC Santa Cruz Class of 2029 Waitlist and Appeal Discussion

Colleges & Universities University of California - Santa Cruz
1

Since UCSC will posting the rest of their Freshman decisions by March 20th, I have started the Waitlist and Appeals discussion thread.

2024 Waitlist Timeline: Few admits on May 3 for Winter quarter. Admits on May 28, June 7, June 24. Some denials posted on June 28. Few admits July 12.

Waitlist admit numbers can vary from year to year depending upon how many admitted student SIR by the deadline.

Here is some Waitlist Data for UCSC.

UCSC Waitlist 2024 CDS Data

Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list: 15397
Number accepting a place on the waitlist 10111
Number of waitlisted students admitted 3339

UCSC Waitlist 2023

Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list: 18398
Number accepting a place on the waitlist 12285
Number of waitlisted students admitted 10812

UCSC Waitlist 2022

Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list: 18099
Number accepting a place on the waitlist 11919
Number of waitlisted students admitted 1573

General Waitlist Information:

  1. UC Waitlists are not ranked and it is not first in, first admitted.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Residency type and major are not broken out for the UC waitlist statistics.
  5. The number of waitlisted students that actually enroll is not listed.
  6. No LOCI’s since UC’s do not consider demonstrated interest. Opting into the waitlist shows your interest in attending.
  7. Opting into the waitlist is by invitation only.
  8. You cannot appeal your decision while on the waitlist.

UCSC Admissions Appeal information: Admissions Appeal Information

3

Does anyone know how late waitlist spots are offered? Given that they start school in late September, we’re trying to gauge how long to hold out before moving on to a plan b. Thanks!

4

Here are the timelines for the last 3 years:

UCSC:

2022: No posted admits, some denials on June 9 and waitlist closed on June 18. 2023.

2023: Small number of admits on Monday April 24, 2023. Rare admit May 3. More admits on Friday May 5. Few admits May 18 and June 6. Few admits around June 18 including CS. Admits on June 30 but for Winter quarter (appears to be a new option for Freshman admits).

2024: Few admits mentioned on May 3 (Reddit) Winter quarter. Few admits May 28. Admits June 7, Few admits June 24. Some denials June 28. Few admits July 12.

5

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve seen mentions of waitlist rejections, and you note denials above. How and why does this happen?

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Usually when the waitlist is closed, UCSC will send out rejections to all student still on the waitlist. For the past few years, some of the UC’s including UCSC will deny some waitlisted students near the end of the process but still keep a few on the waitlist in case spots open up due to “summer melt”.

I rely on social media posts to get the timeline for the admits so it is not an exact science since not all admitted or denied waitlisted students will post on social media so the timeline is just a guide.

7

Hello! Can anyone please tell me how housing works for admitted students off the waitlist? Are they guaranteed on-campus housing if/when decisions come out in June/July?

8

Housing for admitted waitlisted students was guaranteed last year but the housing situation can change so I would contact Housing about your question for the most up to date information.

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9

Has anyone been admitted off the Waitlist yet?

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I have not seen any post about waitlist admits. UCSC may wait for the trickle down effect as other UC campuses pull from their waitlist.

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Kid just got in off waitlist for Undeclared - Human Psychology, Culture, Society. No email yet, just thought to check the portal and saw the update.

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12

Congratulations to your student and how long do they have to accept or decline?

13

Thank you! They have until 5/14. Got off WL yesterday for Davis (and already committed at USF) so now have to weigh all pros and cons. Davis deadline is 5/13.

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14

Still waiting to hear back. Fingers crossed!!!

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15

i didnt apply to ucsc, but i think i would’ve gotten in based on my stats. as an incoming freshman, would it be possible to apply for winter quarter and start attending then?

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UCSC does not normally accept Freshman for Winter or Spring Quarter admission only Fall. I would check with admissions to confirm but historically only transfers are eligible to apply for Winter Quarter.

17

It seems like in previous years, business students on the waitlist were offered winter quarter admissions. Is that a general practice throughout all years, or just a lucky series of events. Id assume too, that if they are usually offered winter admissions than business is a lot less impacted? I’m probably wrong, though.

18

For Fall 2023 Freshman applicants, there were many students admitted off the waitlist for Winter quarter in a variety of majors while for Fall 2024, there was only a few Winter quarter admits off the waitlist vs. Fall quarter. It varies from year to year and the majors admitted will also vary so there is no consistent pattern. Up until Fall 2023, I had not seen any Winter quarter Freshman admits off the waitlist for several years.

19

Very interesting, thanks for the insight!

20

Sorry for the double message in the thread but its been killing me for some time so I had to ask.

Does anyone know if there’s been any movement recently? I’m a little worried since last year, when they didn’t take many people off, it took them a long time to get to everyone. I’m also considering calling the admissions office because I saw someone on reddit who got an idea of the situation by calling.

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