Hello! I'm a high school junior interested in applying to UC Santa Cruz next year. Could someone please give me an idea of what GPAs they usually expect from incoming freshmen? I'd like to know where I stand. Thanks!
Hello! UC Santa Cruz, like other UC schools, considers an applicant's weighted and unweighted GPA using the UC GPA calculation, focusing mostly on 10th and 11th-grade coursework. The weighted GPA includes extra grade points for taking honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.
For Fall 2023, the middle 50% of admitted freshman in UC Santa Cruz had a weighted GPA ranging from 3.89 to 4.27, which means that 25% of admitted students had a weighted GPA below 3.89, 25% had a weighted GPA above 4.27, and 50% of admitted students had a weighted GPA between those numbers.
For unweighted GPA, the middle 50% ranged from 3.55 to 3.96. Keep in mind that the UC System uses a holistic review process, so your GPA is not the only factor that will be considered when evaluating your application.
To increase your chances of admission, it's a good idea to aim for a GPA within or above the middle 50% range. However, it's also important to note that UC Santa Cruz will consider other factors such as test scores (if submitted), extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation.
Best of luck with your application process, and remember to highlight your strengths and unique experiences in your application!
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