How to get into UC Davis—General Information
The University of California-Davis is a top-ranked public university in northern California. Its 5,300 acres of sprawling greens make UC Davis the largest of nine UC campuses. The undergraduate UC Davis enrollment is about 30,000. With over 100 majors and 6 professional schools, UC Davis attracts students from all over the nation and the world.
What we’ll cover in this “How to Get Into UC Davis” guide:
- Information about the UC Davis enrollment
- Details about the UC Davis application and UC application deadline
- The UC Davis admissions process
- UC Davis acceptance rate tips
- Guidance on the UC Davis GPA requirements
- Advice on the UC Personal Insight Questions, and more.
Wondering how to get into UC Davis? Given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, you should make sure that every part of your UC Davis application shines. To impress UC Davis admissions, you must meet the UC Davis GPA requirements. You should also start preparing long before the UC application deadline. This “How to Get into UC Davis” guide will give you the advice you need to succeed.
Figuring out how to get into UC Davis takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UC Davis graduates. Want to maximize your UC Davis admissions odds? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.
How do I get into UC Davis?
Figuring out how to get into UC Davis will take strategy. It may seem obvious, but make sure you collect all of your UC Davis application materials carefully. This includes the UC Personal Insight Questions. And, of course, make sure you apply by the UC application deadline.
UC Davis is a competitive school—you’ll have to meet the UC Davis GPA requirements to even apply. However, given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, it will take more than grades to impress UC Davis admissions. Strong UC Personal Insight Questions will also be key to your “how to get into UC Davis” strategy.
Want to know how to stand out in the college admissions process? Read these tips to get ahead of the competition!
What is the acceptance rate at UC Davis?
The undergraduate UC Davis enrollment is about 30,000. As a top-ranked school, UC Davis admissions receives a high number of applicants. The UC Davis acceptance rate is 38.87%, making it a competitive school.
Given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, you must do more than meet the UC application deadline and UC Davis GPA requirements. So, focus on crafting a strong UC Davis application. Also, use the UC Personal Insight Questions to show why you’re a perfect fit.
Read this article to learn more about college acceptance rates.
How hard is it to get into UC Davis?
Want to impress UC Davis admissions and join the undergraduate UC Davis enrollment? You’re not alone—UC Davis is a popular school, hence the low UC Davis acceptance rate. UC Davis ranked #38 on U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges list. The university also ranked #20 on Forbes Top Colleges 2021 list.
UC Davis is a large school, with the undergraduate UC Davis enrollment at about 30,000. However, this doesn’t mean that UC Davis admissions are a breeze.
The UC Davis acceptance rate is 38.87%, so you’ll have to do more than just meet the UC Davis GPA requirements to impress UC Davis admissions. To increase your UC Davis admissions odds, start your UC Davis application early, especially the UC Personal Insight Questions.
So, if you want to know how to get into UC Davis, you should prepare yourself for a competitive application process. With the low UC Davis acceptance rate in mind, try to craft the strongest UC Davis application possible.
What GPA do I need for UC Davis?
As you think about how to get into UC Davis, make sure to account for the UC Davis GPA requirements. For California students, UC Davis admissions requires that you have at least a 3.0. For out-of-state students, the UC Davis GPA requirements mean that you need at least a 3.4. You must also fulfill certain high school course requirements.
In 2019, the mid-fifty GPA of admitted students was 3.95-4.25 weighted and 3.72-4.0 unweighted. However, UC Davis admissions stresses that there is much more to the UC Davis application than your GPA.
If you’re worried about barely meeting the UC Davis GPA requirements, use other parts of your UC Davis application to shine. For instance, submit strong UC Personal Insight Questions to highlight what makes you unique.
What does the University of California application require?
UC Davis uses the same application as all nine UC schools. You will fill out the UC Davis application through the UC portal, which you can also access through the UC site. You may apply to as many UC schools as you wish.
To maximize your “how to get into UC Davis” strategy, start the UC Davis application early. The UC application deadline is November 30th. You can access the UC Davis application starting August 1st and may submit it as soon as October 1st. However, given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, you should start preparing well before August. Keep the UC Davis GPA requirements in mind throughout high school so that you have the best chance of success.
UC Davis admissions neither requires nor accepts standardized test scores or letters of recommendation. You will only submit your UC Davis application and your official grades. So, a strong UC Davis application is key.
You should do all you can to impress UC Davis admissions. Try to highlight your academic achievement and show how you’re a perfect fit for UC Davis. The UC Davis admissions office will also assess your UC Personal Insight Questions, so complete them with care.
Want more tips? Check out our webinar about the UC application process.
What extracurriculars does University of California-Davis like?
If you’ve met the UC Davis GPA requirements, you’ve accomplished the first step. However, standing out to UC Davis admissions will take more than meeting the minimum requirements by the UC application deadline.
Extracurriculars are a great way to grow your interests and passions. They are also a key part of the college process. However, there are no right or wrong extracurriculars to choose. Instead, the UC Davis admissions team wants to see how you’ve engaged with your interests—whatever they are.
UC Davis admissions looks for extracurriculars that show your skills and leadership. So, look for activities that show what you’d bring to the UC Davis campus.
However, you shouldn’t choose extracurriculars solely based on your “how to get into UC Davis” plan. Don’t join clubs that don’t interest you just to boost your resume. Instead, engage in activities that excite you. Consistency and passion are the key when it comes to your extracurriculars.
Tips on writing the UC Personal Insight Questions
As you plan how to get into UC Davis, you must do more than meet the UC Davis GPA requirements. If you want to stand out, focus on crafting strong responses to the UC Personal Insight Questions.
In the UC Davis application, you’ll find eight prompts, and you must choose four to complete. Each prompt has a maximum word count of 350. Take the time to carefully select prompts that best showcase your identity and achievements.
Tips for the UC Personal Insight Questions:
1. Be detailed and specific
Don’t give generic answers. This is your chance to show what unique qualities you would bring to UC Davis, so use it.
2. Show intellectual curiosity
UC Davis admissions receives thousands of applications. If you want to join the UC Davis enrollment, show off your intellectual chops and display how you’d enrich campus life.
3. Show potential for leadership or growth
If you can show how you led an organization or overcame a challenge, it will impress UC Davis admissions.
Be sure to read all the details about how to answer each of the UC Personal Insight Questions. Well-crafted essays are imperative as you build your “how to get into UC Davis” plan.
What does UC Davis use to determine acceptance?
So, how to get into UC Davis through the eyes of UC Davis admissions?
The UC Davis enrollment is about 30,000. Each year, after the UC Davis application deadline, the UC Davis admissions team reads thousands of applications. Given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, if you want your UC Davis application to succeed, you need to do all you can to stand out.
Let’s break down the criteria that the UC Davis admissions team uses to evaluate students:
Academic achievement
The UC Davis admissions team takes academics seriously, so you should exceed the UC Davis GPA requirements. Ideally, you should be in the top 9% of your class.
Challenging course load
You’ll want to show that you won’t back down from an academic challenge. Plan to take IB, AP, and honors courses to show UC Davis admissions your motivation.
Special talents or skills
Use your extracurriculars and responses to the UC Personal Insight Questions to show what you would bring to the UC Davis campus.
Check out this specific list for more details about how UC Davis admissions reviews applications.
Will the University of California Davis consider my social media?
UC Davis admissions does not have an official social media policy. However, with so many applicants, the UC Davis admissions team likely won’t check your social media after that UC application deadline has passed.
However, if you think your social media accounts could undermine your “how to get into UC Davis” plan, you may want to rethink your online presence. It’s important to use social media with care. While it may not be a deciding factor in college admissions, it could affect other opportunities.
Is the University of California Davis a good school for me?
When building your “how to get into UC Davis” plan, it’s important to understand the UC Davis application and UC application deadline. You should also ensure you meet the UC Davis GPA requirements and thoughtfully answer the UC Personal Insight Questions.
However, the UC Davis admissions process is a two-way street. When thinking about how to get into UC Davis, reflect on why you want to attend. Does the large undergraduate UC Davis enrollment excite or overwhelm you? Can you picture yourself on campus?
When building your school list, you want to consider your goals and interests. Make a list of what you want from your college experience. Think about the ideal size, campus life, location, and more. Keep that list on hand when researching schools. It may change as you learn more about schools and yourself, and that’s okay. Talk out the process with counselors, advisors, friends, and family to make sure you choose the best school for you.
Learn more about UC Davis campus life to help determine if it’s a good fit for you. It’s no use to figure out how to get into UC Davis if it isn’t the right school.
More tips to get into the University of California Davis
The question of “how to get into UC Davis” doesn’t come down to one thing. Impressing the UC Davis admissions team takes more than just meeting the UC Davis GPA requirements. Given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, you should refine all aspects of your UC Davis application for the best chance of success.
Additional tips include:
Start early
While you can access the application as soon as August, you should start planning long before then. Keep UC Davis GPA requirements in mind throughout your high school career.
Get academically motivated
The UC Davis admissions team looks for academic achievement and course rigor. So, take challenging high school courses and strive to go above and beyond.
Lead passionately
Use your extracurriculars and your UC Personal Insight Questions to show how you would enrich the UC community.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the low UC Davis acceptance rate. Instead, just complete all aspects of your UC Davis application with care—this is the key to a successful “how to get into UC Davis” strategy. Good luck!
This guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. If you want to know how to get into UC Davis, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UC Davis graduates. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.
