I was denied from San Diego. I know a lot of people with lower scores, gpas, and activities than I had (not to say I deserve it more, but it made me wonder) and I know that sometimes decisions are somewhat unpredictable. However, I applied to an impacted major. If I appeal, (I have new academic info) will I be able to switch my major within the appeal? I’ve gotten into Santa Barbara and Irvine as well if that helps anything.
If I’ve read your post right you want to appeal and at the same time change your major to one that is not impacted in hopes of higher odds of admission. You have nothing to lose by appealing, but it doesn’t seem like the change of major will make any difference (assuming they let you do it)
What kind of new academic info do you have? If it’s just somewhat higher grades I don’t think that will make a difference.
To begin, your argument re “lower scores, gpas.” etc. is worthless:
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The university never indicated that it would rank-order applicants using some magic formula and accept the top x number, did it?
Further, there are many non-qualitative factors that properly are significant evaluation criteria; to illustrate, admissions officials are paid professionals who appropriately determine the value of being the baseball team’s Captain as opposed the the school newspaper’s Editor (and MUCH more).
Even for supossedly-quantitative factors, the raw number alone isn’t necessarily compelling: student’s a’s B+ in English II may actually be less impressive than student’s b’s B in Honors English and recent-immigrant c’s slightly lower SAT I scores my suggest greater potential than d’s marginally higher results – this list is endless, but a few examples should suffice.
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Unless either important information that was not provided to the university (and who is likely at fault were that the case?) or there is some evidence of prejudice, an appeal is a waste of your time and the university’s. Your denial was not arbitrary or capricious – Admissions believed others’ matriculation would better benefit the INSTITUTION, which is precisely what they empowered and paid to decide. Never forget that Admissions’ job is to enroll the BEST CLASS for the University, not necessarily the best students. I appreciate that you may believe that’s unfair, however:
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Admissions works for the University – not for applicants – and institutional goals properly are prioritized.
Life frequently isn’t fair (It’s time to understand that immutable FACT).
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Rejection – in college admissions and throughout life – is normal; smart people learn how to deal with it, how to grow and improve from it, and how to move on.
I’d go to Santa Barbara and not look back.
One of my SAT scores was not sent in so actually it’s not my fault, thank you very much. I took all IB classes and was president of 3 clubs. I think I did clarify that I don’t believe I deserved to be in this college more than any other student, but that it was curious. I asked if I could change my major while appealing and you did not answer my question whatsoever but rather gave me a reprimand for asking.
You have nothing to lose by appealing, but be sure to use the on-line form that UCSD has. They will not accept an appeal request by any other method. If your SAT score was not sent in, then you might have a basis for appeal. I don’t believe that UCSD will consider a major change request as part of the appeal but you should check with the admissions office to be sure. It won’t make a difference as UCSD does not accept or reject based on major. If they do decide to accept you and your major is impacted you will be accepted as undeclared. Just try to find something about yourself that was not considered in the first round of reviews. Good luck.
Nothing to lose by appealing as long as you are sure you will attend. Actually missing information as opposed to new information is the reason to appeal. From what I read they will not take new information such as improved senior year grades into their calculations but if they have the wrong information for you such as the wrong scores or never got your scores that is a reason to appeal. The reasoning is that in your appeals process you should not get any advantage over any other school student that was rejected. So if the other rejected students weren’t allowed to present their senior grades why should you however if they have incorrect information or missing information on you that you should be allowed to present. There is a ms sun website that talks about this. As for changing majors, this is just a guess but it depends on whether you are really changing majors because your interests changed or that you’re just saying this to get into the school and not interested in the other major. Should mention that I have barely ever been to California and have not applied to any public schools in California but in killing time while waiting for the rest of my admissions decisions this week and next I have read so many UC threads that I feel like I’m becoming an expert
@thatonedani: Did you follow up to ensure the SAT results’ receipt and, when you discovered it had been received, take action to resolve that discrepancy? Wasn’t that YOUR responsibility?
Oh please stop being so rigid. It is all water under the bridge. The OP is into some excellent schools. As far as I can tell it does not cost him or her anything to appeal to the one school that they are interested in that they did not get into. Making him or her feel like it was their fault that they did not get in does not make the rejection any better. I have heard more than one story of a high school failing to send full transcripts or reports or whatever and it was not discovered until a later point and the student was not accepted to the school. Should everyone check every portal sure they should, do they probably not. Glitches happen
I reported all my scores, from 3 sittings, yet only two were sent in. I recieved a receipt for my scores from the college and because I sent in all three at the same time I figured they were all recieved (quite a logical thing to assume). This happens to many people with the college board sending in scores. Please stop being so condescending
Thatonedani is asking for help in how to proceed- NOT for opinions as to what has already happened. Go for the appeal Dani and good luck!
So instead of wasting time asking internet strangers, why not just go ahead and appeal with your new academic info