<p>I am intending to apply to UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, and Berkeley. However, I am very confused on how each of these schools expects one to apply. From what I understand, Berkeley and UCLA want me to mail something (but I thought I was supposed to apply online..)</p>
<p>Primarily I am confused about teacher recommendations and transcripts. Do these UCs want them? If so, am I supposed to mail it to them? I have spent a while looking at websites and I think that UCSB and UCSD don't want recs or transcripts though I am not sure about the other two. Can anyone answer these questions or confirm my suppositions?</p>
<p>All UCs use the same application – kinda like a UC common app! That application is online only. You pay an app fee to each campus that you are applying to.</p>
<p>No recs are accepted. Unless a campus asks for them (which is extremely rare), transcripts are only submitted after you are accepted and decide to matriculate.</p>
<p>and I think I should add that the primary reason I am applying to these schools is because my mother went to Berkeley and UCLA and had a great time there. Realistically, I would only attend if I received a scholarship because it is a ridiculous amount of money to go to these schools (my brother was accepted to Berkeley last year and was informed about a scholarship waving out of state tuition fees, so I’m sort of hoping for something similar).</p>
<p>Merit scholarships at UC require Ivy-level stats. There is no preference for legacy. If you don’t have Ivy-level numbers, and are unhooked, you have zero chance at a Regent’s Scholarship at the big two campuses.</p>
<p>re: UCSD…without big time sports, it has a much, much different feel than Cal or UCLA. Many SoCal students I know of do not like the atmosphere and go home on weekends. (Just anecdotes, to be sure…)</p>
<p>Apply if you want, but just know that odds are extremely long for free money and that California has a lot of test-happy applicants; thus, a LOT of high testers.</p>
<p>Understand that Ivy-like stats are required, but SATs are 2270 and GPA is 4.3 weighted and my rank is #1, so a girl can dream, can’t she? My brother, with worse stats, was invited to apply for a scholarship that would have waived the out-of-state part of the tuition. </p>
<p>Worse comes to worse, I am probably going to my instate schools, UVA or William and Mary, which aren’t half bad. Also trying for Pomona & Stanford (very reachy), because the California itch is pretty strong–just like the idea of college on the other coast. Also, most of my extended family lives out there in the OC…so I have somewhere to go for short holidays, etc.</p>
<p>UCs are hurting for money and are now accepting more out-of-staters who don’t need financial aid (over CA residents with higher stats). This is based on what I saw from last year and may not apply to all UCs, but sad nevertheless.</p>
<p>@katface - Go for it ! I dont think this forum should encourage/discourage college applicants about tuition. It is a decision OP needs to take with her own parents and I am sure they have discussed financial safeties as well. Like they say, a shot not taken is a shot lost. Most students will continue to apply at financial safeties and otherwise and then sit down with parents in May to do the Math. Good luck with your application, please apply else you will always wonder, right?</p>
<p>Perhaps, but this forum should also be realistic, particularly for 17-year-olds. Every spring there are dozens of cc kids who have fallen in love with OOS public only to their be jarred back to reality when the financial aid office says, ‘nada’. </p>
<p>UCs want money from OOS students; they don’t want to give money to OOS students.</p>
<p>“Perhaps, but this forum should also be realistic, particularly for 17-year-olds. Every spring there are dozens of cc kids who have fallen in love with OOS public only”</p>
<p>But this is typical of a lot of students applying to private schools. How many middle-class applicants can realistically get need based FA? Most parents take out second mortgages, loans or have realistically saved up for college. Or they have told their kids- you can apply but my contribution will only be OOS tuition and rest is student loans.</p>
<p>At the top schools, most…and that is the difference. </p>
<p>Unlike UVa (where the OP is also applying), UC does not meet full financial need for OOS students. (Heck, UC doesn’t even meet full financial need for instate students.) OTOH, top privates do meet full financial need. And they also offer merit dollars. At USC, for example, every NMSF earns a scholarship. 'SC also has a generous need-based package, which provides $$ to the “middle class.” It is much more likely that the OP would find USC cheaper to attend than a UC. Another example: The OP would likely be assured of a $20k discount (err ‘scholarship’) to George Washington in DC, and perhaps a full ride to American.</p>
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<p>Not relevant. The OP states that she will attend if s/he receives a ‘scholarship’. While the odds of admission are very good, the odds of a Regents Scholarship at Cal, UCLA or SD for an unhooked candidate are very long.</p>
<p>Actually, most students and most parents don’t even think of the issue of having a financial safety. What’s important is for the family to sit down and do the math (calculating EFC, figuring out a budget, running net price calculators, estimating chances of merit aid) as early as possible. Freshman or sophomore year of high school is great, junior year acceptable but not ideal. Doing the math at the start of senior year is barely coming in under the wire. Waiting until April (not May) is flirting with disaster. Year after year here on CC there are students whose parents have told them that they’ll make it work financially if their child gets in…and then the parents see just how much they’re being expected to pay. It’s awful to find out in April that you’ve been accepted to the school of your dreams, only to have your parents say it’s unaffordable. </p>
<p>I agree that the OP should apply to the UCs, but it’s very much a financial longshot. Being invited to apply for a scholarship is a long way from actually receiving one. Much, much better to know that upfront than in the spring of senior year.</p>
<p>And OP, I agree that you should apply to USC because their merit aid is so generous. If the California itch is really really really strong, then look at some other private schools that offer merit aid such as Chapman, University of San Diego, Santa Clara University, and Pitzer (one of the Claremonts).</p>