<p>When I applied (1980) you could only apply to one UC, and then you ranked the others and if you weren’t accepted to #1 your application would move on to the next one. My third kid is now applying. He applied to 5. The reason is that the results can not be predicted. My daughter (HS '08) and a classmate had very similar stats, etc… She was denied by UCSB, but admitted to UCI, and he was denied by UCI and admitted to UCSB. Many crazy things also happened in '10 when my son applied. Last year a co-worker’s daughter applied, she was denied by UCLA & UCSD, wait-listed by UCI and accepted to Cal, Riverside and Davis. Also I think kids change a lot (especially boys) from November when they are applying to April when they are deciding where to go.</p>