GPA Questions about UC Irvine

Hi, I've been eyeing UC Irvine, but I'm a bit unsure of what GPA they typically look for. Could anyone kick me some insights?

Sure, happy to shed some light on this. UC Irvine, like all UCs, considers your GPA in the context of your school and the courses you've taken. This means they take into account both your weighted and unweighted GPA.

For freshman applicants, they look at the GPA you earned in a-g courses in 10th and 11th grade. Remember, this does not include PE or remedial courses. They also don't use plus or minus signs when evaluating GPA — a B+ and a B- are both considered a B, for instance.

As for the numbers, the middle 50% GPA for admitted students tends to be between about 4.07 and 4.28. This is a weighted GPA, meaning that it takes into account the extra points from AP or IB courses.

That being said, UC Irvine operates on a holistic review process, meaning that while your GPA is important, it's only one aspect of your entire application. They will also focus on other factors such as your extracurricular activities, essays, leadership roles, and so on. The best way to become a competitive applicant is to shine in multiple areas, not just academics.

Remember though, these numbers shouldn't discourage you. UC schools have been known to accept students with a broad range of GPAs. Your personal context might also impact your chances. For instance, if you attended a particularly challenging high school or had other challenging circumstances, UCI might take that into account when evaluating your academics.

Keep it up and good luck with your application!