<p>Which system does UCSD use more in its admissions process? I remember UCSD publicized their 2009 point system. People could add up the points themselves to see whether or not they got in. But how does the essay factor into that?</p>
<p>well for the essay, what they used to do is just scan through it to see if you can get any other points. so if you mentioned a traumatic event in your life, that really really hurt you (poor performance in school, etc) then they will give you 500 points.</p>
<p>[that’s all the essay was for them… a point checker]</p>
<p>now since the Fall 2011 applicants, they are going both holistic and point.
what i have read is that they will admit anyone who exceeds beyond the point limit they set, and then switch to the holistic view for other students who are on the edge.</p>
<p>but who knows?</p>
<p>Hopefully they do that… I believe i’m a well rounded student and that the holistic review will bost my chances because of my ECs and awards rather than put a point limit on my ECs</p>
<p>It is illegal to admit students based on race, right?</p>
<p>Yes, but they get around it.</p>
<p>That really makes me wonder why they ask you about"the world you come from" in one of the prompts…ahah</p>
<p>According to <a href=“http://campusclimate.ucsd.edu/commitments.php[/url]”>http://campusclimate.ucsd.edu/commitments.php</a> (item 2a) the UCSD admissions director met with minority student leaders as far back as last May to discuss holistic review. We now know the point system is going away, but for the current year only they decided to evaluate all applicants using both methods. (The Regents just voted in January to move the entire UC system to holistic review.)</p>
<p>The point systems in use at SD and Davis were specifically crafted to give extra weight to students from underperforming high schools, first-generation college attendees, and those who’ve overcome significant personal hardships. I read the meeting minutes from the Davis Senate many years ago when they debated admissions policy, and officials stated bluntly their goal was to increase minority enrollment (because educating a student body that reflects the state’s diversity is also a UC mandate under state law, unrelated to Proposition 209). Awarding extra points for low income alone was unsatisfactory because it would admit too many white students, so they added those other proxies.</p>
<p>Holistic review gives even more latitude to use subjective means to meet such campus goals. Berkeley once had a point system too, which was quite rigorous. Half the available spots in each freshman class were filled using GPA and SAT scores alone. After complaints that this gave White and Asian students an unfair advantage, they first tried tweaking the formula to make the SAT math score worth less than the verbal score, but eventually they scrapped everything and went holistic. As a result they were able to admit, for example, a student who had a B+ average and SAT math+verbal of just 800 but who was the breadwinner for his large family after his father died…something that could never have happened under the old system even with generous points for hardship.</p>
<p>@fl1p1npr1d3: I see whatever methodology UCSD adopted turned out to be not quite holistic enough for you, but in the end you snagged a bigger prize closer to home after all. =] Congrats and best wishes.</p>
<p>@fl1p1npr1d3</p>
<p>That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re wondering about your race in that instance. People of all races are raised in all sorts of different places.</p>