ELC is just based on the following criteria below. ELC is just one of 13 areas of UC application review criteria used but it is still possible to be admitted to a UC even if the student does not have the ELC designation.
How do I qualify?
If you are a California resident and rank in the top 9 percent of students in your California high school class — and your high school participates in our ELC program — you may be eligible for ELC designation.
We will identify the top 9 percent of students based on GPA in UC-approved coursework completed in the 10th and 11th grades. To be considered for ELC, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and complete the following A-G courses prior to your senior year:
| History | 1 year |
|---|---|
| English | 2 years |
| Mathematics | 2 years |
| Science | 1 year |
| Language other than English | 1 year |
| Other A-G courses | |
| (chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university) | 4 years |
After you enter your coursework and grades in the UC application, we’ll compare your GPA to the historic, or benchmark, GPA for your school. If you meet or exceed that GPA, you’ll be designated ELC and we’ll add a note to your application.
How does UC calculate my school’s historic or benchmark GPA?
- UC uses transcripts that your school has submitted for the top 15 percent of your high school’s junior class, after final junior year grades are entered.
- Based on these transcripts, UC establishes a historic, or benchmark, GPA representing the expected GPA for the top 9 percent of the students from your school.
- Schools are periodically asked to submit transcripts so that we can monitor and adjust benchmark GPAs.