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The CSU and UC System

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES

To apply to any CSU, see helpful hints, find answers to FAQs, take a virtual campus tour, or explore  general information, visit the California State University system website 

For a presentation on how to complete the CSU application, click here



The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the nation. The 23 campuses and five off-campus centers extend from Arcata, located about 300 miles north of San Francisco, to San Diego. The oldest campus is San Jose State, founded in 1857, while the newest is CSU Channel Islands. The CSU produces 50% more business graduates, computer scientists, and engineers than all other California universities and colleges combined. CSU also prepares two-thirds of the state’s public school teachers educated in California.

CSU assesses the English and math skills of all entering students for placement in English and math classes using the SBAC testing done in the Tamalpais High School District.  The CSU has eliminated the ELM and EPT tests.  Some students may be required to complete the CSU Early Start Program as a condition of admission. The CSU Early Start Program requires students who do not perform well on the tests, or are not exempt by other means, to strengthen their English and/or math skills the summer before enrolling in their freshman year.  For further information regarding Early Start, contact the CSU campus that you plan on attending or visit the Early Start website

California State University, Bakersfield
California State University Channel Islands
California State University Chico
California State University Dominguez Hills
California State University Fresno
California State University Fullerton
California State University Hayward
Humboldt State University
California State University Long Beach
California State University Los Angeles
California Maritime Academy
California State University Monterey Bay
California State University Northridge
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University Sacramento
California State University San Bernardino
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California State University San Marcos
Sonoma State University
California State University Stanislaus
 
For information on the California State University system, click Here
 
For a matrix of impacted programs*  at CSU, click Here
 
 *When the number of applications received by a CSU campus from qualified applicants is greater than the number of available spaces, a campus is considered “impacted” for undergraduate degree programs or for undergraduate students who apply from outside the local admission area.
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
 
To see a list of all workshops and info sessions for UC Campuses,  click here
 
To start your UC application, click here
 
The University of California has built a reputation for academic excellence with undergraduate education as one of its highest priorities. Each campus provides a balanced program covering all basic areas of undergraduate study. UC San Francisco specializes in health sciences and is mainly a graduate school. To find individual campus information, click on the name of the desired campus listed below. Additional information can be found at the UC Office of the President website.

For admission statistics for Fall 2023 by campus, click here.  To see the current UC admission testing policy click here.

The University of California campuses

 
For information on the University of California system, click Here
 
For information on admissions policies and selection criteria by UC, click here.
 
For help with writing the UC Personal Insight Questions Click Here and  Here
 

What to include in “UC Additional comments" box on the "Additional information" page at the end of the "Academic history"*

  • If you are from a low-income and/or first-generation family, you may want to explain how the lack of financial resources and/or family support has created challenges for you in your pursuit of academic and/or extracurricular endeavors.
  • If you had issues with your grades (inconsistent performance, improving grade trend, declining grade trend, one or more C’s, one or more non-passing grades, or a string of W's - basically anything that would raise questions), you may want to explain the circumstances that prevented you from achieving your full academic potential (remember, this is not a competition for who has the best sob story or an opportunity to badmouth your instructors; be factual and aim for "presenting evidence to a judge" rather than "rallying reality TV show audience").
  • If you have a learning difference and/or medical condition that affected your academic performance and/or extracurricular participation, you may want to explain the practical impact of your condition and how you worked around that (focus on the impact, not the description, of your condition - avoid gross details because no one wants that).
  • If you had family issues, financial difficulties, and/or other challenges that affected your academic performance and/or extracurricular participation, you may want to explain the circumstances that prevented you from achieving your full academic potential (again, this is not a competition for who has the best sob story or who can win the most sympathy; be factual and aim for "presenting evidence to a judge" rather than "rallying reality TV show audience").
  • If you used other names on official records that you will need to submit (such as transcripts or test score reports) and/or if you need to clarify citizenship/visa issues, you should provide a simple explanation (don't get flowery about this, aim for practicality).
  • For freshman applicants: If you changed school since 9th grade and that affected your ability to take Honors/AP/IB courses at the new school and/or interrupted your extracurricular activities, you may want to describe the challenges and what you did to work around them.
  • For freshman applicants: If you took a gap year and didn't talk about it in a Personal Insight Question, you need to explain 1) why you took a gap year, 2) what you did during the gap year, and 3) how the gap year helped better prepare you for the UCs.

 

 

From Ask Ms Sun