UC looks at ending admissions guarantee
14 Comments Published by clay November 25th, 2007 in State and Local Politics.UC looks at ending admissions guarantee
What is the ‘real’ motive of this proposal? On the one hand, if it is about thousands of applicants being rejected, then it sounds like the UC campuses want more students. I would prefer to see the UC system raise the standards, which would probably result in a reduction of students. On the other hand, the current plan gives students and parents some predictability. I am not sure this type of standardization is needed at the UC level (maybe the CSU level).
The measure, to be discussed Tuesday by UC
The proposal is designed to help students attending rural and inner-city high schools who may lack access to honors courses and advisers who can inform them about the courses and standardized tests that UC requires for admission.
It would do so by also eliminating a requirement that applicants take two SAT subject tests, thus reducing the number of compulsory SAT tests from five to three.
In addition, it would modify the calculation of the minimum grade point average to place less weight on honors and college-level courses.
A separate policy that guarantees admission to students in the top 4 percent of their graduating high school class would remain.
Supporters of the proposal, which was submitted in May by a UC faculty committee, said the current process rejects thousands of applicants because they didn’t take all the courses and tests required for admission.
But some faculty members fear the loss of the guarantee would remove the predictability that students and parents count on.
Under the current system, students are guaranteed admission to one of UC’s less-selective campuses, UC Merced or UC Riverside, if they:
Receive a 3.0 grade point average (B average) on required courses;
Earn an average score of 470 on each of the SAT math, English and writing tests and two SAT subject tests, such as history or science.
Those achieving higher grades can be admitted with lower SAT scores, based on a sliding scale.
If a student applies to a specific campus, such as UCSD, and is not admitted but meets the minimum UC requirements, he or she is accepted to UC Merced or UC Riverside. About 300 students accept those referral admissions each year.
“Right now, parents and students can say that if I do this, then I’m guaranteed a place at UC,” said Jim Posakony, a biology professor and chairman of UCSD’s faculty senate. “That’s valuable for planning and just for psychological knowledge.”
I was not aware that there was guaranteed admission to UC level schools. It sounds like the UC system has thought heavily about this, because they have a referral system if a deserving student can not get in to a more competitive school. I understand the stress of applying to colleges, and the reassuring feeling I get when I learn that someone cares about all the work I’ve done in the past. Keep guaranteed admission in the UC’s.
I think the guarantee should remain. Even with it there, it takes no stress away from the entire application process. This process is one of the most tedious things I’ve ever done. I really want nothing to do with it. If they do anything, they need to figure out a way to be more effective with the application process. I think they need to have certain deadlines for certain things. I dont like how the entire application is due on one date and how you can work on it whenever you want leading up to that date. It makes it more difficult for the procrastinators therefor more stressful. The guarantee is deserving I think. If the student does everything they are supposed to and they aren’t accepted to their first choice per say, and get differed to another, at least they have something. A UC is a UC at the end of the day. It just sucks majorly that they weren’t admitted to were they would have preferred to learn.
I think the guarantee is effective just the way it is. Dont change it at all. Why change what isnt broken. Just completing the application is hard do cause us more stress by making it harder to get in the school. Let us compet for the private schools, we need some sucrity somewhere just incase we waste our time with USC or YALE!! I know I am already having a hard time just because my GPA is where they want it please dont completly crush my educational dreams. I say give those who really want it and who will really work for it the opportunity to do the distance. just because you can get in dosent really mean you want it. Help the little people out!! Lend an helping hand.
I was not aware that everyone meeting the requirements was guaranteed admission to one UC school, whether their choice or not, its still offered. I think the attitude of “if I earn these grades and SAT scores ill be set” is not necessarily a good one. With the guarantee there, the process is very time consuming and quite tedious. It has been difficult for me to fill out the application without any help from a counselor. I think a change should result in the process itself, if there is one.
On a side note, being in the top 4% that are guaranteed admission is wonderful, but at the same time stressful because you might not be accepted into the school that you want to go to or one that even offers your major. It kind of scary because you are left in the dark, per se.
Although i do agree with doing away with the SAT 2 requirement. The SAT’s are quiet expensive and some families cannot afforded them; I understand there are few waivers and such to eliminate the burden of paying. SAT’s also require lots of studying for most people to do well on them, and the easiest way to study is to buy a book on the subject, but those are quiet expensive as well. It seems that the UC system is the only one in California to require subject test except a few private schools. It just doesn’t seem like the SAT 2′s are a necessity to me.
I say stick with guaranteed admission but eliminate SAT2′s.
I say keep the guaranteed admission but change it, so that the student has some say. I am currently aware of the ELC (Eligibility in the Local Context) Program which guarantees the top four percent students of their graduating class a spot in a UC school. The downside to this program is that it doesn’t guarantee a spot of the student’s UC choice or admission to their first choice. A student who qualifies in the ELC program is guaranteed admission to one of the nine UC campuses. I think that the ELC’s purpose is to encourage students to attend the UC schools that are less popular. As an ELC student, I have got accepted into UC Riverside and UC Merced, universities that don’t even have my major, so it was pretty much pointless to be an ELC student. They even said in the letter they sent to me, “It has been my experience that many students are familiar with only one or two UC campuses, usually those nearest their home or mentioned most frequently in the news.” However, I say the program could be improved so that being an ELC student is something meaningful. I think they should let the student pick their top three UC schools and then the UC system could pick from that list. But, I can see why the UC system may not want to do this is because some UC schools are more favorable than others, like UCLA and Berkeley. Another idea could be that the ELC should recommend schools that best meet the student’s specific education goals with their major in mind.
College applications are stressful. I think we can all agree with that. But I think that keeping guaranteed admission would be comforting not only for the students, but for the parents as well. It gives deserving students a chance to feel appreciated and that all their hard work has not gone to waste.
However, there is a part of this standard that I disagree with. I don’t think it’s fair to turn away a student just because they’re missing one course or one SAT 2. If the potential student is missing five or something, then that is grounds to be suspicious. But I know that many seniors stress about getting all the required courses out of the way and under their belt. I also think that the SAT 2′s should be optional. We have enough stress as it is and missing one course doesn’t mean that we aren’t great students. I think that the UC should look at the all around application and if the student shows other potential, then let the one missing course or the one SAT 2 test slide.
But mostly, I think that the guaranteed admission should stay basically the way it is.
I think that the UC admittance guarantee is not only beneficial for students, but also for the UC system. I received one of the ELC letters and it informed me that I was guaranteed admittance to one of the schools but that it would be smart of me to apply to as many schools as possible. It is a very reassuring to know that you will have a college to go to, but you still don’t know if you’ll get into one that you actually want to go to. Really, this system helps the UC’s in that it forces you to apply to as many schools as you possibly can, and that can get very expensive. It doesn’t seem like a huge amount of money for the individual, but when you take the top 4% of every high school in California the application costs definitely accumulate.
The guarantee is reassuring, but I’m still uneasy about the system. I think it should definitely continue, but perhaps they can give students a stronger reassurance- something like being able to get into one of your top three choices for schools.
College applications are a long and stressful process for both parents and their children. There is different ways that both college and high school classes that we have taken can be coded according to the college. Sometimes there are essays to fill out for some college and not for others. By not creating a current guarantee to someone who is UC eligible for students will create even more stress for students. I believe the current given to UC eligible students should stay the same, since they are people who get the good grades and SAT scores. The only think I believe should be changed is taking out the requirement to take at least two subjects test.
College is a whole new experience for a student to tackle. Growing up we always wanted to attend one of the most prestigious schools like Yale or Stanford. As the years went by and we understood the college system more we became more realistic. By not giving UC eligible students a guarantee that a person will get accepted it is not fair to that person. That person could have worked extra hard in school to get those grades and then when they get to college and their application is screened like everyone else’s if they do not get into a college of their choice. This does not seam logical and even a little unfair for those students. Since it will become more difficult for that person if they are not accepted to the colleges of their choice and are not accepted to any. It would make the whole process from them even more complicated and hectic.
UC San Diego is thinking of getting rid of the guarantee claiming to help rural and inner city students who do not have access to honor courses and advisers to tell them what classes to take. However at our school we still manage to fulfill the requirement for UC School with no honor classes and a hard to reach counselor. Nonetheless, this may be a result of it being mandatory that we take those classes and not having the choice to choose our own classes. Still in actuality it can be done since we still manage to do it. So this argument to me is not a very good excuse to say is the reason that this decision is being brought up. Also I do not think it will be fair if people who took college classes or honor classes given less weight. When it is apparent that during those courses those people had to experience a more difficult curriculum.
Let’s say for example that a person applies to two different UC colleges. The person meets the UC eligibility in order to be guaranteed a place if they are not accepted into the UC of their choice. If there was no guarantee and did not get into any other colleges that person would probably not be able to attend college. If they did they probably would have to go to a community college.
Taking away the guarantee to a UC school would not be a wise choice. Since many students would suffer by not being able to attend college because they did not pick more UC schools. Also it would not be fair for students who have taken college level or honor classes to not be given a weighted grade on it. When it is oblivious that the classes were more challenging than regular classes.
I think this is a good idea, it really helps students recieve an equal oppotunity in getting in to a great UC school. The UC’s are a lot harder to get into than a CSU and it it gives more hope to students within a low quality school to try any way. Here at I-Poly i feel I suffer alot in the grade point area because most UC’s average freshman gpa is above a 4.0. We dont have AP classes to boost it so we have to sit at most a 4.0. I think giving students a garuntee spot in means that there are fewer spots for every one else who might not have a 4.0, it makes every one have a level playng field. Plus when they give out garuntees based soley on gpa and SAT scores the people who might not have the most stellar grades but have a lot of extra curriculars and might have over come adversity to even get the gpa they have would not get a garuntee. There are college essays for a reason, so they can allow people in not based soley on grades but on the all around good.
I would agree with keeping the UC guarantee system that gives students a chance to go to a UC. The system seems like a great way to give students a chance and pursue their goals. Right now it is very difficult to get into a UC because of all the requirements and amount of money that it cost to get in. However, with the guarantee system it makes it much more easier for students to gain acceptance. Right now I am applying to UC Riverside and their requirements are actually what I have and its great to know that I can most likely get accepted. Filling out college applications takes time and is very stressful and the guarantee system is definitely a great way to get into a UC. It sure enables a person with good grades and okay SAT scores to get into the University. Plus knowing that you have a spot into the University of your choice is a great reward.
i had no idea they were using this kind of system. it kind of sucks because there are some people that are really smart but jsut cant hack it in school i guess personal problems and what not and mess up a little. this kind of new system would pretty much mess with their future. it really sucks if someone was looking over your apps for UC’s all the hard work u put into filling it out and writing essays, they take a glimpse see something they dont like and then toss it. that jsut doesnt fit good with me so i say stay with what has always been going on and look over everything
A guaranteed admission is an effective way of encouraging students to attend a UC school. It allows students to have ONE guaranteed admission, which is a relieving pressure. That’s a students’ worst nightmare, not getting accepted to at least one college. This program allows students to feel advantaged and relieved about the entire stressing application process. I worked hard throughout my high school career and qualified for the ELC (Eligibility in the Local Context) Program. This allows me to have guaranteed admission at least ONE UC school. I got automatic acceptance to two schools, which both are good for my major. Having this ELC, it also gives me a more of a chance to get accepted to UC schools. I think this program is successful and should continue existing. I think it’s beneficial to the UC schools that not many apply to like Merced and Riverside. The lower class UC schools could use all the perks. I understand that all ELC applicants are guaranteed to UC Merced. They don’t get many applicants, therefore, allowing more acceptances towards schools. I support the guaranteed admissions. It’ll help many potential students.
A guaranteed admission is an effective way of encouraging students to attend a UC school. It allows students to have ONE guaranteed admission, which is a relieving pressure. That’s a students’ worst nightmare, not getting accepted to at least one college. This program allows students to feel advantaged and relieved about the entire stressing application process. I worked hard throughout my high school career and qualified for the ELC (Eligibility in the Local Context) Program. This allows me to have guaranteed admission at least ONE UC school. I got automatic acceptance to two schools, which both are good for my major. Having this ELC, it also gives me a more of a chance to get accepted to UC schools. I think this program is successful and should continue existing. I think it’s beneficial to the UC schools that not many apply to like Merced and Riverside. The lower class UC schools could use all the perks. I understand that all ELC applicants are guaranteed to UC Merced. They don’t get many applicants, therefore, allowing more acceptances towards schools. I support the guaranteed admissions. It’ll help many potential students.
I wasn’t aware that this was going on, because I was fairly sure that the gaurantee they described was that given to the top 4% of California (ELC). I thought that currently the given guidelines were simply necessary for eligibility, not gauranteed admission. If that truly is the case (gauranteed admission), then they should remove this. It’s no wonder that state universities have such budget issues, if they’re letting in everyone that can pass a few classes. i think the gaurantee should definitely be removed or turned into eligibility instead.