<p>My OOS student is missing the VPA requirement. Can he rely on Admission by examination without it affecting his chances or is that only supposed to be relied upon by home schoolers or some other special cases? </p>
<p>The cutoff seems pretty low for UCB, which leads me believe that it isn't meant for everybody (else why even have the a-g requirements).</p>
<p>TIA</p>
<p>A few years back, I asked a lady in UCB Admissions about admission by examination for my homeschooled daughter. She told us not to bother. She had been working for UCB Admissions for 7 years and had never seen a case.</p>
<p>My D’s UC score was around 480, well above the requirement 410 for CA residents. She was later admitted to UC through “normal” application process.</p>
<p>This was our experience with UCB. I don’t know about other campuses.</p>
<p>But was your D missing one of the a-g requirements?</p>
<p>She had only 1 semester of music. So in theory, she missed Visual and performing arts (“f”). In her case, I don’t think UCB cared at all. But the point of my reply post is that from what I know, there is no such thing as “admission by examination” for UCB.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks Pentaprism.</p>
<p>“Admission by exam” merely provides an alternative way to meet minimum UC eligibility requirements; it does not ensure admission (merely being UC eligible does not ensure admission).</p>
Did anybody get in this year? My UC Score was 459 and I was shitcanned everywhere.
See my reply in post #1 above, @ethellou. It’s a year and a half old, but is still good.
Too lazy, post it here.
Fantastic scores. Perfection it would seem. Of course, Berkeley was always a reach, but nothing else? No UCR OR Merced? And if 425 is too low, for the love of Pete, raise it! Sheesh!
All I know is that the website says one is eligible for consideration for out of state admission by exam only with a UC score of 425. My female 459 -35 one sitting ACT and 800 math level 2 and a decent literature score got flat out rejections at top 5 choices with no corresponding offers from Riverside or Merced. Ok, grades were meh, but don’t advertise 425 if that’s laughably low. If it’s 475, say so and stop accepting fees from those you’re tricking into thinking they might have a chance. And NO, this avenue is not only for the homeschooled.
Eligible for consideration doesn’t mean she will get in. What is her GPA ?
@ethellou:
This is my understanding about the admission by examination:
Why would she get a corresponding offer from UCR/UCM? Again, being ELC eligible means if a spot is available, it will be offered at UCM and rarely UCR but this is for in-state applicants only.
I think there is some confusion here. The confusion may very well be mine.
The link provided by @ethellou clearly shows, “If you don’t meet UC’s minimum requirements, you may be considered for admission to UC if you earn high scores on the ACT with Writing or SAT and two SAT Subject Tests.”
I take it to mean that the high test scores can be used instead of other “UC’s minimum requirements,” in particular the “subject requirement”: “To be considered for admission, you must complete 15 year long high school courses with a grade of C or better — at least 11 of them prior to your senior year.”
“Admission by exam” doesn’t mean “automatic admission.” Being “considered” is not the same as being “admitted.”
This is not different from fulfilling the “subject requirement” doesn’t guarantee admission. There are many applicants who meet “UC’s minimum requirements” but are not admitted.
Maybe instead of the phrase “admission by exam,” UC should use “eligibility by exam”?
Or am I missing something?
Then do away with it for the love of all that is good. A ploy to bilk high scorers with meh grades.
@ethellou: You have posted “meh grades” but other than posting test scores, what was the UC GPA? What were the EC’s? What was the essays submitted about? The rejections were just not based on the admission by exam criteria, but maybe on less than stellar grades, EC’s and essays. All these combine to make a competitive application package. UC’s are very GPA focused, so you will see many posters that were rejected with outstanding test scores but lower than average GPA (grades).
@ethellou - I notice that you are quite bitter.
I think if you’d like valid opinions (even then, they are only opinions), you need to set the bitterness aside, and present more data/facts. Up to now, you have been complaining that your total score was 459 and you were rejected.
It is similar to someone complaining that (s)he has fulfilled the minimum requirements but was rejected.
Frankly, I’m not even sure why I continue to post in this thread. Maybe I should fix that 
You bet I’m bitter. If they don’t offer ‘admission by examination’ they shouldn’t say they do. How many 35+ ACTs do you think were admitted to Riverside and Merced?
Again you keep posting your ACT scores. Did you apply to UCR or UCM? What are your other qualifications beside the test scores? If you want to understand why you were rejected, you have to post all pertinent data. Maybe some one can shed some light on your situation if give us all the facts. As an OOS applicant, you are not given priority as an applicant since’s are public universities. Like I stated above, check some forums to see other applicants were rejected with high test scores. No one is guaranteed admission at a UC.