What should I know about UC Davis Admissions?

Hello everyone. I have my sight set on UC Davis and was curious about the details of their admission process. What do they typically look for in an applicant? Also, any unique requirements I should be aware of?

UC Davis, like all schools in the University of California system, uses a holistic admissions process. This process means that they consider all aspects of your application, not just your grades and test scores. For the incoming class profile, Davis values students who have shown a genuinely rigorous course load in high school. They also value applicants who have achieved highly in their classes, with the average GPA for incoming freshmen typically well above a 4.0 on a weighted scale.

It's also worth noting that aside from coursework and academics, UC Davis also attaches significant importance to extracurricular involvement. They look for applicants with a strong history of meaningful involvement in clubs, sports, community service, or jobs. Unlike other colleges, UC Davis does not categorize extracurriculars into tiers, but they do expect applicants to have several activities where they demonstrate leadership, dedication, or noteworthy achievement.

In terms of testing, for the 2024-2025 application cycle, UC Davis is test-blind, which means they do not consider SAT or ACT scores at all in their admission review. Unlike some other schools which are test-optional (where you have the choice whether or not to submit scores), at UC Davis, providing your test scores will not give you any advantage because they simply won't look at them.

Another essential thing to note about UC Davis, like all UC schools, is that they require responses to four out of eight personal insight questions as a part of the UC application. These short essays (350-word limit each) are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your creativity, critical thinking, and reflections on your personal experiences and how these experiences have shaped the person you are today.

Lastly, UC Davis does not consider letters of recommendation for most applicants. Letters of recommendation will only be requested for specific applicants, as part of a supplementary review.

Remember that UC Davis, like most colleges, is looking for students who will contribute positively to the campus community, so think about what unique aspects of your character, experiences, or perspective you can highlight in your essays and application. Best of luck with your application!