UC Davis Class of 2023 - Applicant Thread

Oh man Ive been waiting to hear back from UC Davis since before high school even started fingers crossed !!!

I would actually cry if I got in

@FortniteBR Same

We are all in this together! The waiting is so hard. This has been my daughter’s number one choice since I can remember. The next week is going to creep by


Admitted Students Day - April 6th. Hoping we’ll be there!

If you can’t make Admitted Students Day on April 6, Picnic Day is April 13 https://picnicday.ucdavis.edu/

@Gumbymom my D applied under Environmental Science to UCD. It’s one of her top picks. She has a 4.1 gpa, 1390 SAT, lots of sports, EC, internship and school clubs in major. Good essays. Any idea if ES is super competitive at UCD? Wondering if she should have gone in undeclared? She declared since she’s 90% sure that’s her direction. With all the waiting she’s stressing that she should have gone with undeclared. Thoughts!

@ccrider5: UCD overall is competitive but UCD admits into the college and not by major for the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science. Her GPA is at the 50th percentile and SAT above the 50th percentile. She looks competitive for UCD and selecting ES is a better choice than Undeclared especially if she is sure about your interest. ES has many tracks and options and not difficult to switch emphasis. Many options as an Environmental Science major and UCD has a top ranked program. Best of luck and UCD decisions are all posted same day so figure around Mid-March.

My older son graduated as an Environmental Science Major from UCD in 2017 so if you or her have any specific questions, do not hesitate to PM me.

@Gumbymom thank you so much for this info. She’s waiting on UCD, Cal Poly and UCSB. Lots of waiting!!! We’ll reach out if UCD comes through. She loved the campus and college town feel. I’m worried about the heat!! Sounds silly but she’s more of an 80 degree girl!

@Gumbymom not sure if I’m posting this question in the right string but what advice can you give on AP tests and UC Davis. Seems nothing can count as GE but can count as units towards graduation? I’m not really sure what this means. Can a student really finish all their GE and Major classes and not have enough units to graduate. Any way, it’s time to sign up for AP tests and I am thinking to not spend the time and money taking them this year since they really aren’t going to count for anything - with the exception of AP Lit which seems it will help fulfill an English requirement or writing test? Any thoughts?

Anyone applied to UC Davis design? How good is the school.
Son got Cinci DAAP, RIT (Industrial Design), CCA (ID), Oregon (ID), SJSU (ID), SFSU (ID), CSU LB (ID, but wait list).

DAAP is highly ranked, so is RIT and CCA.
How does Davis design graduates fare in comparison?

@aggiemomtobe: Which AP exams have been taken, what are the scores and which are planned for Senior year?

UCD used to give higher priority registration for students based on AP credits which is no longer valid, but depending upon which AP exams have been taken, a student could get credit for some courses like a 5 on AP Chem will give credit for Chem 2A although UCD encourages student’s to take the Chem 2A class instead since the Chem series builds upon 2A knowledge.

Although a student may not get course credit for AP exams, they can get elective credit which can be used toward graduation requirements depending upon the major.

Some AP exams worth taking:
AP Chem even if not used for course credit will make Chem 2A much easier (major weed-out class)
AP English Lit or Comp which will complete the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement
AP Stats which gives credit for STA 13 if required for major
AP Art History (5) which gives credit for Art History 1A-1C
AP Calc AB/BC which gives credit for Math 12, 16, 17 or 21 (1-2 quarters depending on required series).

https://www.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/files/2018-tag-ap-chart.pdf

Each academic advisor can guide the student with the correct courses to take to maximize their AP credit and be on track for graduation.

My older son did get around 28 units of AP credit with no course opt outs, completed his degree requirements and still had room for extra electives for his 4 years at UCD.

@Gumbymom For background - animal science major pre-vet track so undergrad science will be VERY important. Plus some vet schools won’t even accept an AP high school science class as a completed pre-req. With that said:
Junior year - AP Chem (4) AP Art History (5) - took two other UC weighted honors classes but they were not AP
Senior year - AP Physics (will need to take physics for davis vet school admit), AP Environmental Science, AP government and political economies, AP Lit (planning to take this AP for sure), our school offers Calculus as a dual enrollment (it’s a college course taught at our high school so no AP test needed unless UC Davis won’t accept this private schools course). Also took Biology and lab at CC and 4th year of language at CC last summer so has both of those classes as well as the two AP tests taken during junior year.
Feeling like the other senior year APs maybe aren’t necessary other than the Lit class.

Can you explain “no course opt outs”
I had read something that if you have taken an AP class and submit it for credit that sometimes they won’t let you enroll in the equivalent college class. Is that what you mean?

@Gumbymom we also were aware that her AP Chem would not get her out of beginning Chem (without a 5) and she wants to take it over anyways, only took the exam to have a score to report for applications


@aggiemomtobe:
Duplicate Credit Allowance for Coursework/Exams:
The university does not generally award full credit for college courses that duplicate college credit already earned through AP exams, whether taken before or during enrollment at the university. We encourage students who have AP credit to speak with an academic adviser in their major department, undergraduate advising in your college dean’s office or Biology Academic Success Center to determine which courses will provide the greatest benefit.

Yes basically you get either AP credit for the course (opt out) or take the course at UCD for credit. You cannot have credit for both.

Below is a 4 year plan for Animal Science which will give your D an idea of what courses are required.

https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk446/files/inline-files/2018-2019-ans-freshmen-schedule-withoutworkload.pdf

@Aggiemomtobe:
A helpful tip is that for Animal Science Chem 2A and 2B are required during Freshman year. All Science majors and especially the Pre-Med/Pre-Vet/Pre-Dental/Engineers all have to take at least Chem 2A, 2B and sometimes 2C and they usually start the series in the Fall. Since Animal Science majors only have to take 2A and 2B, it is usually better to wait till Winter quarter to start the series to avoid the majority “weeding” that goes on 1st quarter. Chem 2 series courses are also offered during Summer session so waiting at least one quarter can help a student get acclimated to the rigors of the quarter system. Something to think about when planning her schedule for Fall.

For what it is worth, AP Lit/Lang taken senior year is too late to get out of your Entry Level Writing Requirement. The UCs require the scores by April 1. Look here: https://www.ucop.edu/elwr/

It states:
ALL STUDENTS who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing Requirement (formerly known as Subject A requirement).

Students can meet this requirement by scoring:

30 or better on the ACT, English Language Arts; or
680 or better on the SAT, Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing*; or
3 or above on either Advanced Placement Examination in English; or
5 or above on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level English A: Literature exam; or
6 or above on an International Baccalaureate Standard Level English A: Literature exam; or
5 or above on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level English A: Language and Literature exam; or
6 or above on an International Baccalaureate Standard Level English A: Language and Literature exam

  • UC is accepting a score of 680 or better on the SAT, Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement on a pilot basis, beginning with new students entering UC in Fall 2018. The pilot will remain in effect until a new policy is adopted by the Academic Senate.

The requirement can also be met by earning a grade of C or higher in an acceptable English composition course offered by a college or university.

Analytical Writing Placement Examination
All incoming California students who have not met the Entry Level Writing Requirement by April 1, must take the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination. The exam will be administered the morning of the second Saturday in May, at testing centers throughout the state.

@lkg4answers, further down on https://www.ucop.edu/elwr/, it states:

In mid-June, students can log in to their campus’s admission website to check whether or not they have passed the exam. Results of the exam will not affect a student’s admission to the University. Those who do not pass the examination can still satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement before enrolling in the university by achieving a satisfactory score on one of the tests listed above or by completing an acceptable college course in English composition with a grade of C or better.

I take this to mean that you could still take the AP Lit/Lang in senior year and get credit for it: you take the AWP exam in May, and if you don’t pass it, you can still satisfy the ELW Requirement if you scored 3 or higher on the AP test.

Wait how do we know it’s March 8th?

@lolpanda11111 Yes, that is referring to the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination offered in May. If you don’t have any of the above criteria, the UC system will send you a letter letting you know that you need to take their exam ($110) and pass it or take Entry Level Writing your freshman year. You can read more about the UC AWPE exam here https://www.awpe.org/candidate/

I suppose you could take a chance and wait until July for your AP exam results but Davis starts offering orientation (scheduling classes) in July so it might be cutting it close.