Coronavirus Information From Undergraduate Admissions

UC Davis is closely monitoring the situation on our campus and around the world. We are acting to keep our students safe and offering support within our community to all students during this time.

We understand that many of our prospective and admitted students have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in different parts of the United States and the world. We hope you and your families are safe and healthy.


Connecting with Undergraduate Admissions

Ways to connect with us

Here are some of the ways students and their families can connect with UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions:

To protect the health and safety of our guests and campus community, we have suspended all student-led campus tours until further notice. Please take a virtual tour to learn about campus! See our website for the latest information on the status of tours and our Welcome Center.

Communications

As we continue to collectively navigate an evolving situation, communication to our current and admitted students and families is critical. 

The university regularly communicates with our admitted students as they make their college decisions and move toward enrollment. Admitted students can access information through the MyAdmissions portal. The campus website highlights our coronavirus web pages which include regular messages from the chancellor to the campus community, as well as a welcome email from the chancellor to our admitted students highlighting ways to get started as an Aggie. We also highlight ways to be in touch with academic advisors, student housing and financial aid departments.

Undergraduate Admissions will update this page with any key updates as needed. Please continue to check this page as well as our main coronavirus information page for the latest updates regarding UC Davis.

Fall 2021 Admitted Students

Registration

  • Will UC Davis extend the deadline for accepting admission offers?
  • The deadline to accept an offer of admission, known as the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), remains May 1 for freshmen and June 1 for transfers. Students who need additional time should communicate through the MyAdmissions portal. Requests will be considered individually.
  • How do I send transcripts?
  •  UC Davis now accepts electronic transcripts and all official final transcripts should be submitted by July 1. Learn how to submit your official final transcripts.

  • Are international students still required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score?
  • Yes. If an applicant for freshman or transfer admission completed secondary school/high school in a country where English was not the language of instruction, they must demonstrate English proficiency.
  • Where can I find out about student visas?
  • International students need visas to study in the United States, and we understand that travel restrictions, embassy closures or other concerns may impact visa preparation or travel plans. Admitted students should proceed with visa requests as possible. UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) handles any questions about the visa process. Please visit the SISS website for more information.
  • Can I defer my admission?
  • The deferred enrollment program allows newly admitted undergraduate students to postpone their initial enrollment at UC Davis for up to one year. During this time, students can pursue non-academic activities and opportunities that will assist them in clarifying their educational goals (e.g., travel, job opportunities, non-collegiate experience, resolution of personal, financial or medical concerns). Students are not allowed to enroll in any coursework at another accredited college or university during this time.

    Please visit the MyAdmissions portal for further information and instructions on deferred enrollment.
  • Will the fall term be held online?
  • The University of California, Davis, is preparing to welcome students back to campus this fall if county and state health guidelines permit, and plans to offer a mix of in-person and remote instruction. The university is committed to reducing health risks as the safety and well-being of the campus community are its priorities.

    UC Davis will continue to provide updates here and on the following websites:

    Campus Coronavirus Information
    Chancellor’s Weekly Messages
    Financial Aid and Scholarships
    Student Affairs
    Student Housing and Dining Services 

Orientation

  • How will Orientation be held?
  • To help our newest Aggies prepare for a great first year, we have planned a comprehensive UC Davis Orientation experience in three parts: Aggie 101 (online exploration of our resources and community), Aggie Advising (online preparation for course schedule planning and registration) and Aggie Orientation. To access Aggie 101, the first step in the UC Davis Orientation experience, admitted students must first submit their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) via MyAdmissions. The online Aggie 101 experience will be available via the Myadmissions tasklist, for those who have submitted their SIR, after May 5 for freshmen and after June 9 for transfers. Please see our Orientation website for dates, deadlines and more information.

Housing

  • Is housing still guaranteed for freshman and transfer students entering UC Davis in fall quarter 2021?
  • UC Davis guarantees on-campus housing to all incoming first-year freshman, transfer students, and second-year returning students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis may withdraw or amend this guarantee in the case of public health guidance or other extenuating circumstances.

    Please see our housing website for more information regarding our plans for on-campus housing in the fall.

Financial Aid

  • My family’s financial situation has changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Can I be considered for financial aid?
  • UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships will consider revisions to financial aid for families directly affected by COVID-19, including eligibility for federal financial aid programs for any domestic student and state or university aid for California students. For more information, see their FAQs page. You may contact financial aid using their contact an expert portal.

Fall 2021 Admitted Freshman Students

  • How will Pass/No Pass (Credit/No Credit) grading in 2020-2021  affect my admission to the University of California (UC)?
  • UC has temporarily suspended the letter grade requirement for A-G courses completed through summer 2021 for all students, including UC’s most recently admitted freshmen. A-G courses completed through summer 2021 with Pass (P) or Credit (CR) grades will satisfy appropriate A-G requirements.

Fall 2021 Admitted Transfer Students

  • I had to take Pass/No Pass (Credit/No Credit) this term. Will it affect my ability to enroll?
  • The University of California has temporarily suspended its cap on Pass (Credit) units required to enroll at a UC campus as a junior. Any courses taken with Pass or Credit grading in the winter, spring and summer terms of 2020 will not count toward UC’s limit of 14 semester/21 quarter transferable units.
  • Will UC Davis accept Pass/No Pass (Credit/No Credit) grading in courses required for my major?
  • UC Davis has agreed to accept Pass (Credit) grades in major preparation courses completed in spring 2020. However, if grades are an option, you are encouraged to take courses for a letter grade.
  • Can I take my remaining UC-E, UC-M, or IGETC requirements for Pass/No Pass (Credit/No Credit) this term?
  • All courses for the 7-course pattern and for IGETC must be completed with at least a C (2.0) grade or the equivalent. If the Pass or Credit grade at your college is equivalent to at least a C (2.0) grade, then it is acceptable to meet UC-E, UC-M, and IGETC requirements.

  • If my college’s Pass/No Pass grade is equivalent to a C- or higher, will it still meet the minimum requirements?
  • UC uses the college catalogs to determine whether a Pass or Credit grade is equivalent to a C (2.0) grade or better. If the catalog indicates that the Pass or Credit grade is equivalent to a C- (below 2.0), the grade will not meet minimum requirements.

Prospective High School and Transfer Students

  • If I am applying for fall 2022, am I still required to take the SAT or ACT test? What if the test was canceled? Can I take the SAT or ACT and submit scores if I would like to?
  • The University of California Board of Regents unanimously approved suspension of the standardized test requirement (ACT/SAT) for all California freshman applicants until fall 2024.

    UC Davis will be test-free for all freshman applicants for fall 2021 through fall 2024.
  • Can SAT/ACT test scores be used for university placement or subject credits?
  • Yes. Although UC Davis will not use SAT/ACT test scores in any part of our application process, any scores applicants submit can be used for placement or subject credit purposes.
  • Will UC Davis use scores from SAT subject tests, AP tests, IB tests, etc in the application review process?
  • Yes. UC Davis will continue to accept other non-required tests (SAT subject tests, AP tests, IB tests, etc.) that will be used as "added value" in the preview process. These subject tests are not required and can be submitted to demonstrate advanced proficiency in an academic subject.
  • I am a current high school student. How will Pass/No Pass (Credit/No Credit) impact my ability to be eligible and competitive for UC in the future?
  • The temporary suspension of the letter grade requirement for A-G courses applies to all A-G coursework completed in spring and summer 2020, including coursework completed by students currently in 9th, 10th and 11th grades.

    The Pass or Credit grade in spring and summer 2020 will continue to meet A-G requirements for any student currently enrolled in high school during the 2019-20 academic year.

  • My high school is giving me the option of choosing a letter grade or Pass/No Pass for each of my classes this semester. Should I take classes for letter grades if I am able? Is it okay for me to choose letter grades for some courses and Pass/No Pass for other courses?
  • UC cannot instruct individual schools or districts on how to choose to implement their grading policy. If your high school allows different grading options for different courses, you can choose the grading option that you feel is most beneficial for each course. Keep in mind that Pass grades will not be included in the GPA calculation, nor will they receive an extra point in the GPA if they are approved honors, AP or IB courses. However, UC-approved honors courses, including AP and IB, will be included in the honors course tallies, ensuring students are considered in comprehensive review as taking a challenging curriculum.

  • How will UC Davis calculate my GPA if I receive Pass/No Pass grades in A-G courses?
  • Pass (P) or Credit (CR) grades will meet A-G subject requirements but will not be calculated in the GPA. UC will continue to calculate the GPA for admission purposes using all A-G courses passed with letter grades in grades 10 and 11, including summer terms following grades 9, 10 and 11. Extra points in honors-level coursework will continue to be capped at 8 semesters of honors points in A-G courses completed with letter grades of A, B and C in grades 10 and 11.

  • The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test introduced in response to COVID-19 test cancellations is not available in my country. How can I demonstrate English proficiency if I plan to apply for Fall 2022?
  • The TOEFL website indicates the home exam is available in every country where TOEFL iBT is typically available, except Mainland China and Iran. Despite those assurances, UC will monitor testing conditions and availability in all countries to identify any potential issues for our prospective students. Additionally, if no acceptable TOEFL testing opportunities are identified for students in Mainland China and Iran, UC will provide additional guidance for prospective applicants from those countries. In the meantime, UC also accepts scores on IELTS to demonstrate English proficiency.
     

 

For more information about the University of California’s response on admissions due to COVID-19, please visit admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/response-covid-19.html.

UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions will share more coronavirus information and updates, when available. If you have questions, please contact us.

 

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