Application Tips

Click the below tips for more information.

TIP #1: PROVIDE A COMPLETE ACADEMIC HISTORY

“Academic history” – for freshmen this means all coursework beginning with year 9 through completion of secondary education. For transfer students this means ALL post-secondary (college/university) course work.

TIP #2: REPORT ALL COURSE WORK ATTEMPTED FROM EVERY INSTITUTION – attended both within and outside the United States and any degrees/diplomas earned.

• Include complete institution name, credits/hours and grades exactly as they appear on the official transcript.
• Do not work from memory; misreporting your academic record or omitting course work is considered an academic integrity issue.

TIP #3: GAPS IN YOUR EDUCATION MUST BE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL

• “GAP” – a GAP is any period of time after the completion of secondary school, when a student was not enrolled in school.
• Use the Gaps in Education section to explain what you were doing and include the beginning and end dates (month/year) for each explanation.

TIP #4: REPORT RESULTS FOR THE A-LEVEL (GCE) AND SINGAPORE A-LEVEL (HKALE) IN THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS SECTION

• The additional comments section should be used to explain any planned A-level exams or provide additional detail about any exams planned or taken.
• In addition, please see Tip #8 - how to report external exams in the academic history section.

TIP #5: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONVERT YOUR GRADES

We have experienced international admission evaluators who are knowledgeable about the different grading systems.

TIP #6: SELECTING YOUR GRADING SYSTEM

If your school uses a grading method other than, A-B-C-D-F or 0-100, you will need to select OTHER from the dropdown menu so you will be able to enter the character, word, or symbol that represents your mark. Please see the below examples from the UC Application.

TIP #7: ENTERING INTERNAL SCHOOL RESULTS IF CBSE EXAMS TAKEN

For 9th and 11th grades, enter all academic courses completed and internal (school) results. Select the subject area and enter course name, always select 'NH' (not honors). Please see the below examples from the UC Application.

TIP #8: ENTERING EXTERNAL EXAM RESULTS

• If you took external exams (e.g., GCSE, IGSCE, HKCEE, Indian Standard X exams, Indian Standard XII exams, etc.). List the grades/marks exactly as they appear on your certified exam results rather than the mark assigned by your teacher at the end of the course.
• List the title of the subject taken and select 'NH' (not honors).
• In the remaining ‘Grade/Term’ boxes, enter NC (No Course).
• Use the Additional Comments section to specify which exams you have completed or plan to complete.

For 10th grade, enter external exam subject name instead of internal school subject. This will be done for the following exams: O-level, GCSE, IGCSE, HKCEE, Indian Standard X exams, Malaysian SPM exams. Select 'NH' for all the subjects. In the remaining ‘Grade/Term’ boxes, enter NC (No Course). Please see the below examples from the UC Application.

For 12th grade, enter planned external exam subject name for the following: GCE A-Levels, HKALE, Indian Standard XII exams, Malaysian STPM exams.

• List all subjects as 'NH' non honors level.
• In the remaining ‘Grade/Term’ boxes, enter NC (No Course).
• Remember to use the Additional Comments section to specify which exams you have completed or plan to complete.

TIP #9: APPLICATION HELP FOR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES? Please contact the help desk: (800) 914-8820 (in California) (925) 808-2150 (outside California) E-mail questions to: ucpath@ucapplication.net.

TIP #10: APPLICATION HELP FOR NON-TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

DO YOU HAVE NON-TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS? Please contact the application processing service: (800) 523-2048 (in California) (925) 808-2181 (outside California) E-mail questions to: ucinfo@ucapplication.net.