Introduction to American College Admissions

1. Introduction to American College Admissions

2. Freshman Applicants(Freshmen have never enrolled as full-time students at another university) • Application Form • Application Fee • Academic Credentials • Test Score Reporting • Personal Statement • Recommendations • Interviews • Financial Statement-Schools usually need to know that you have at least the first year's expenses covered.

3. Testing • You should confirm with each college whether you need to take the ACT, the SAT I, or the SAT II Subject Tests. • If English is not your native language, register to take the TOEFL. If you feel that you qualify for a TOEFL waiver, contact the universities directly and explain your circumstances.

4. Transfer Applicants(In general, transfer students have completed at least 60 semester (90 quarter units of college credit) • Students transfer every year from other countries into U.S. degree programs and successfully go on to complete their degrees. • The transfer institution considers a number of factors when granting credit for the courses you have taken at a non-U.S. institution.

5. Questions to Consider • Is your university or college recognized by the ministry of education in your country? • How similar is the nature or character of the courses you have taken to those offered at the transfer institution? • How applicable are your courses toward the degree, and in particular the major, that you wish to pursue?

6. Tips to Consider: • Make sure all academic records provided are official and bear the original stamp or seal of the issuing institution. • Submit course descriptions in English for all post-secondary courses taken. • Provide information on the total number of courses, credits, or units required for the diploma or degree program from which you are transferring.

7. The University of California System Davis Berkeley San Francisco Merced Riverside Santa Cruz Santa Barbara San Diego Los Angeles Irvine

9. First year students can establish eligibility to the University of California by one of two methods:

10. Subject, Scholarship, and Examination Subject Requirement a. History/Social Science, two years b. Korean, four years c. Math, three years, four years recommended d. Laboratory Science, two years, three recommended e. Language Other than Korean, two years in one language Other than Korean f. Visual &Performing Arts (VPA) one year g. College Preparatory Elective, one year

11. Subject, Scholarship, and Examination Scholarship Requirement Convert Scores using Translation Table. Find UC Score Total in the Eligibility Index. Total UC Score= Highest (from ACT or SAT) + Highest SAT II + 2nd Highest SAT II If your UC score is greater than or equal to the minimum UC score for your GPA, you are eligible for admission.

15. 1. Eligibility in the Statewide Context a-g Course Pattern a. History/Social Science, two years b. English, four years c. Math, three years, four years recommended d. Laboratory Science, two years, three recommended e. Language Other than English, two years in one language Other than English f. Visual &Performing Arts (VPA) one year g. College Preparatory Elective, one year California residents can view the a-g requirements for your school www.ucop.edu/doorways

16. Establishing an Acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) • California residents need a minimum GPA of 3.00 • Nonresidents of California need a minimum GPA of 3.40 • The GPA is calculated only on courses meeting the “a-g” requirements in the 10th, 11th and if completed, 12th grade

18. First year students can establish eligibility to the University of California by one of two methods:

19. Examination Requirements • SAT Reasoning Test and/or • ACT Assessment plus Writing • Two SAT II Subject Tests • English • History & Social Studies • Math (Level 2 Only) • Science • Language other than English Did You Know? • You can take the tests as many times as you want. • We take only the Highest Scores. • Practice with the PSAT’s and Begin SAT’s Junior year.

20. 2. Eligibility by Examination Alone • Must satisfy the same examination requirements as described in “Eligibility in the Statewide Context” and meet a specific threshold • Achieve a minimum UC Score Total –calculated according to the Eligibility Index instructions, of 410 (425 for non residents) • In addition you must earn a UC Score of 63 on each component of the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject to meet these requirements • SAT subject Test may not be used if you have completed a college course in the same subject

21. Eligibility for Transfer Admission

22. UC Transfer Admission Requirements • 60 Transferable Semester Units • (multiply 1.5 for quarter units) • B. 7-Course pattern • 2 English Courses • 1 Transferable Math Course • 4 Courses in two different subject areas (Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, or Physical Sciences • C. 2.4 GPA (minimum)

23. General Education • Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) • Fulfills the GE requirements for all three schools at UC Merced: • Natural Science and Engineering students are not • required to complete the LOTE requirement. • Not always required to transfer.

24. Major Preparation • Complete as much as possible! • General Rules: • Natural Science Majors • 1 year of Calculus and 1 year of Chemistry • Engineering Students • 1 year of Calculus and 1 semester of Chemistry • Bioengineering, Environmental

25. Passports and Visas • You will need both a passport from your government and a visa from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate to enter and study in the United States. • The visa most frequently granted to applicants is a Student Visa (F1) • For additional information please contact: • Sheryl Wyan • International Students and Scholars Office • (209) 228-4025 • swyan@ucmerced.edu

26. INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

28. Financing Your Education • Before the U.S. consul will grant a visa, you must prove that you will have sufficient money to meet all of your expenses while studying in the United States. • Scholarships– Private • www.fastweb.com • www.scholarships.com • Funding from your own country

29. Questions ?