<p>also when you say UCSD doesn’t “read” your essays, but rather scans it…do they explicitly mention that or something? or are we assuming this?</p>
<p>spatel, I believe he means that UCSD reads the essays but they are only looking at cold-hard facts that can add to your points.</p>
<p>As long as it’s clear it’s not paid work, you should get the points. If you list “homeless shelter” in the volunteer section, then that’s clear. But sometimes applicants list things in the employment section or mention things in the essays without saying it’s unpaid, and UCSD won’t give points for that. (In a previous year, there was a student who reported in this forum that he was just shy of the cutoff score so he didn’t get in, but then he called admissions to clarify his employment was actually unpaid, and they gave him the points and admitted him.)</p>
<p>Here’s an article that describes. among other things, how UCSD handles the essays:
[SignOnSanDiego.com</a> > News > Education – UCSD student-picking not so cut and dry](<a href=“http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20051218-9999-1m18ucsd.html]SignOnSanDiego.com”>http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20051218-9999-1m18ucsd.html)</p>