Starting in Fall 2021, without required standardized test scores, University of California (UC) admissions evaluations will likely be more subjective, as the interpretation of an applicant’s qualifications may not be balanced by a more objective test score.
As the suspension of test score requirements will extend through Fall 2025, which includes current seventh graders, potential applicants can prepare for admissions by understanding the 14 Comprehensive Review points from which students will be evaluated.
To continue the series deconstructing 14 Comprehensive Review criteria, the seventh is:
Quality of their academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in their high school.
In reference to “quality of their academic performance”, UC admissions evaluators seek understanding of an applicants’ intellectual potential. For example, they may interpret academic performance in the same subject year after year as the complexity of the concepts increased. Or, they may assess how a student performed in multiple Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses during the same year.
Then, in stating, “…the educational opportunities available in their high school”, UC admissions officers will contextualize a student’s achievements within the specific circumstances of their high school. In other words, an applicant won’t be disadvantaged in their evaluation if lacking a particular achievement, since their school may not have offered a particular class. Thus, applicants should choose classes judiciously from the range of courses offered at their high school to showcase their academic potential.
Preparing for college and college admissions requires time, so the sooner applicants understand how they’ll be evaluated, then they can strategically choose opportunities to showcase their talents and intellectual acumen when they apply.
A University of California San Diego and Harvard graduate, Jill Yoshikawa, EdM is meticulous in helping clients navigate all aspects of the educational experience, especially in the COVID-disrupted educational environment. Contact her at jill@creativemarbles.com.
