State funding for the UC system may be decreasing, but student demand for admission has not.
Applicant data for fall 2010 were released last Thursday and indicated a steady increase of students applying to UC schools. A total of 100,320 applications were received, a 2.4 percent increase from last fall. Continuing a trend from recent years, UCLA received more applications than any UC, with a total of 76,313 applications this year.
Despite fee increases, 20,334 of UCLA applicants came from low-income households, families with an annual income below $45,000, said Susan Wilbur, UC’s director of undergraduate admissions.
“We’re really pleased with the growth in applications,” Wilbur said. “We have not noticed a decline in low-income student demand. There is no clear evidence of negative impact.”
Like the other eight UC campuses, UCLA experienced a dramatic increase in transfer student applications, with a total of 18,743 transfer applicants this fall, compared to 13,137 in 2006. The UC seeks to provide admission to students from community colleges in particular, Wilbur said.
“Both the President and the Regents have stated the importance of admitting transfers; last year, we decided to increase the enrollment of transfers by 500 students,” Wilbur said. “Seven of the nine UC campuses have transfer guarantee programs to ensure community college students.”
Statistics have also shown an increase in applications from minorities, especially Native American, African American, Chicano and Latino students. The number of white student applicants, however, has slightly decreased this fall.
As a result of budget cuts, admission for California residents may be limited. However, more non-residents may be admitted, as their attendance will not be subsidized by UC, Wilbur said.
“Because the state is not paying for over 15,000 students, all campuses will reduce enrollment of California students, and some will increase non-resident students. We do not guarantee a spot for non-residents, and they are not eligible for student aid or Cal Grants.”
UCLA plans to admit anywhere between 12,000 and 12,500 students, but the number may vary depending on the amount of state funding, said Vu Tran, director of undergraduate admissions and relations with schools at UCLA.
“Every year, we continue to enroll more students than the state provides funds for, and we’ve been carrying an over-enrollment of 1,750,” Tran said. “If the state does not increase support for the UC system, we may have to decrease admission.”
Students will be admitted based on several criteria, ranked in no particular order. Called the holistic review process, applications will be read with attention to each applicant’s academic capabilities, personal qualities, test scores and ability to pursue opportunities and face challenges, Tran said.
“Academic achievement is not all that we look for.” Tran said. “We read all the applications completely, and we look for the achievers, the students that maximize the opportunities available to them.”
Admitted students should not worry about fee hikes, however, said Ina Sotomayor, associate director of the Financial Aid Office. As of last fall, all students from families with an annual income below $70,000 will be provided full coverage of their education and registration fees through the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.
“The fee hikes will increase the number of students who are eligible,” Sotomayor said. “Students who meet the criteria will receive a combination of grants, loans and work study, which will cover the major fees that students have to pay.”
Freshman applicants will be informed of their acceptances late March, and transfer students will be notified beginning late April.