Anyone out there willing to offer a junior some insight on UC Davis's accepted students? I'm trying to pinpoint what they’re looking for in terms of academics or extracurricular activities, so any information or statistics on this would be incredibly soothing right about now.
Hi there! It's great that you're planning ahead for your college applications. UC Davis, like many universities, looks for a mix of strong academics and meaningful extracurricular activities (ECs). Academically, aim for a GPA that's within or above the middle 50% range of accepted students—which, for UC Davis, typically means a weighted GPA above 4.0, due to the UC system calculating GPA with honors courses from 10th and 11th grade.
Regarding standardized test scores, UC schools have gone test-blind through 2024, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions. However, as a result other aspects of your academic record such as the difficulty of your coursework, and your performance in honors or AP courses, gain even more prominence. As for ECs, look for quality over quantity: Davis will be more interested in seeing 2-3 activities where you've demonstrated leadership, commitment, or made a significant impact than seeing a list of 10 things you've only been tangentially involved in.
For example, if you've been part of a community service organization, they'd be keen to know how your involvement contributed to the community or helped you grow. Have you taken on leadership roles, or initiated projects? Those details will make your application stand out. It's all about showing how you'll bring value to the UC Davis community with your unique experiences and achievements.
Hope this all helps, and good luck with your application!
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