I got letter from my school saying that I may be eligible for ELC admissions…could somebody please explain what that is.
<p>ELC (eligibility in local context) means that you are in the top 4% of your graduating class. as such, the University of California system will guarantee you a spot in one of their campuses, not necessarily one of your choice though. You should receive a letter either during late summer or early fall (before the UC apps are available) from the specific UC that will fulfill the guarantee admission. In 2004, UC Irvine was the campus that had guaranteed admissions for ELC students (at least for socal residents, not sure how it was elsewhere... or if the UC is no longer UCI).</p>
<p>It is top 4% of certain high schools in CA. (Even though UCSB website says "all" high schools in CA: this is not true. Probably the limitation is due to fewer AP & Honors offerings at some schools, and/or quality of program at those schools, making the field uneven in that case, since UC weights Honors & APs with extra pts.)</p>
<p>ELC is a process by which the top 4% of each public HS is automatically eligible for UC and will be guaranteed a spot at one of the guarantee campuses (assuming you meet other minimum class requirements); think Merced, as the guarantee, but Irvine has accepted all ELC apps under is comp review program. </p>
<p>The top 4% is based on grades, and only for UC-approved a-g courses. Your HS sends a list of top ~10% or so, and the UC recalculates the school gpa list based on UC's criteria.</p>
<p>If you make the elc cutoff, UC will send a letter in mid-Sept confirming your elc status, which you can then add to your UC apps.</p>
<p>You likely received a letter requesting permission to release your transcripts to UC.</p>
<p>"It is top 4% of certain high schools in CA. (Even though UCSB website says "all" high schools in CA: this is not true. Probably the limitation is due to fewer AP & Honors offerings at some schools, and/or quality of program at those schools, making the field uneven in that case, since UC weights Honors & APs with extra pts.)"</p>
<p>the whole point of ELC was to LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, not the other way around. some schools don't have all the AP and honors offerings and other quality programs. the point of ELC was to determine those who made the best out of their situation at those disadvantaged high schools that they attended. as long as you fulfill all the other minimum UC requirements, and if you're at the top 4% of your high school, then you'll get ELC.</p>
<p>epiphany:</p>
<p>it was my understanding that every public HS is eligible to participate; but not privates nor homeschoolers.</p>
<p>kfc: according to UCOP website, Santa Barbara and Merced were the guaranteed options last year (hard to believe SB was correct). But, I know for a fact that Irvine was not -- an Irvine adcom said that consider elc as a big plus under comprehensive review, and have accepted all elc apps over the past few years. Of course, there's no guarantee that admissions practice will continue....but, since Irvine has undergrad growth plans, I expect that it will.</p>
<p>thanks bluebayou. perhaps the UCs rotate their lesser selective campuses to admit the ELC students. hmm i wonder which UC will take that task this year...</p>
<p>kfc:</p>
<p>yeah, politically, they almost have to rotate the guarantee among the mid-tier schools; of course, Merced will be one of the two guaranteed schools for a long while. Think of the possibilities: Merced or UCSC; or Merced or Riverside. :rolleyes:</p>