College application season can be stressful for many, which is why this comprehensive guide to UC application will give you a preview of it all. Whether you are filling out college applications right now or in the future, this guide will cover the basic information, common struggles, frequently asked questions, and a variety of tip and tricks to help you along the way.

Step 1: Account creation/Application website

• Search online with keywords “UC system apply,” the first search result should be of University of California, “Apply now ->UC admission ->University of California”
• Click on the link
• Click on the pink button “Get started now” in the center of the screen, then click on the “Create Account” suggestion

Step 2: The “about you” section

After logging into your created account, be prepared to fill out the “about you” section.

This section will ask you information about your general background and status, here are the things people may find difficulty figuring out.

How do I find my California state student ID number (CA SSID)?

• Go to your Aeries-> Grades-> College entrance requirement -> Print UC Eligibility-> View Report 
• On the top right corner will show your State Student ID number
  • Reminder: the UC system only looks at your GPA on your UC report. For more information on the admitted GPA for each school, go to Step 4: Academic History

Should you authorize SSID release? 

• Authorized SSID can help the school import your grade automatically into the application if you have a account in CCGI system.
  • “It’s a new state initiative, the CCGI. So [the students] would have to create an account with CCGI, and then once you have that, you have to link it to the UC portal, and then that’s when your grades will automatically be imported over to the Cal State or the UC application,” Counselors said.

Why does UC ask how many years I have attended a California school?

• California residents tuition is around $40,000 whereas out of state tuition is around $80,000
• The questions you provided will help the UC determine if you are qualify as California resident. No additional action is needed

Is my demographic and sexual orientation considered and how does it affect me?

• They are not used for admission consideration, but for statistical reporting purposes.

Step 3: Campus & Major 

• After checking the terms of UC values and Term & level, you will proceed to select campuses you want to apply for.
• Specific to our school, we are considered First- year students, currently in high school and or graduated from high school, but have not enrolled in a regular session (non-summer) at a college or university.
• Then you will choose your campus by checking the tick boxes.

The application cost without a fee waiver is $80 for each UC campus ($95 for international and non-immigrant application). The total cost of applying for all 9 UC campuses is $720.

• You will then proceed to choose your majors after clicking “Save & Continue”
  • For each campus you will then select a major and an alternate major with the exception of UCLA, which only allows you to choose a major

Things to take note of in the example majors are:

• Impacted majors: majors in high demand that will be extremely difficult and selective in admissions (vary between schools)
  • Ex.
    • Computer science
    • Economic
    • Nursing 
• Some majors will require a supplemental application, which will show up as a redirection
  • After clicking on the redirection you will be taken to the list which tells you the varied deadline for supplementary application
    • Ex. weblink for UCLA supplemental application deadline is here, but each campus will have a different one

Step 4: Academic history/ Test scores

• You will be asked to select your school
• Manually input all grades from 9-12th grade as well as additional college/summer courses you have taken

Who am I being compared to? How do I know if I am competive enough for the UC campuses?

• “[Admission officers] are looking at you compared to all the students that have applied to their college from Ayala. [They look at a student’s] GPA, their classes, and then they also look at what is called ‘our school profile,’ and that tells them what classes that are offered to you, and did you take advantages of all those classes,” counselors said. “For some of the UCs, if you didn’t take Trig or Calculus, you won’t be admitted under the engineering major for example.”

• To view your UC GPA go to Aeries-> grades->College entrance requirement-> Print UC Eligibility
• UC system has state-wide guarantee policy, which means that if you are ranked in the top 9 percent of a California high school, you will be given a spot at UC campus. (This does not automatically increase your chance of getting into individual campus, but instead give you an available spot at a UC with space.)

In the AP exam score you received, there is room for the future AP exam score you prepared to take. Remember that SAT, PSAT, and ACT are not considered and will not be given a spot to be reported.

Should I input my AP score if it is bad?

• According to Ayala’s counseling team, “once you send your AP score report, [admission officers] are going to see all the scores anyway. They are self-reported in the application, but it’s not something that would negatively affect an application,” Counselors said.

Step 6: Activities and Awards

• You are given 20 slots to showcase your extracurricular and awards. Rank them by significance.
• For a specific format with inputting descriptions and what qualifies under specific categories, please refer to this published guide 

Step 7: Scholarship/ Support

• Preferably answer with family members to ensure information accuracy.
• This will tell the UCs if you qualify under specific scholarships and/ or tuition exemption

Step 8: Personal Insight

UC prompts have been quite consistent over the years, so even if you are 2025/2026 applicant, you can refer to this year’s prompts. You are given 8 prompts and expected to answer 4.

How do I get started with my essays?

• Look over admitted UC essays online to see what format they generally comply.
• Compile your academic resume to see what accomplishments you want to go into details with, or some unique qualities about you
• General tips:
  • According to the Ayala counseling team, “because the main thing a lot of the UC reps tell us is that students will go off tangent and never really answer the UC personal insight question, we recommend students start working on those between the summer of junior and senior year. Have people read them. Make sure that you have a list of activities, looking at which ones are the most important to you.”
  • “I strongly recommend you go through the writing process. Responding, editing, and finding multiple people to read your college essay, so that you get as many different point of view as possible,” 12th grade English teacher Michael Rodriguez said.
  • “I will ask my graduate friends for their former application for review,” UC applicant Lily Zhang (12) said.

• Understand that this will likely take multiple drafts and revision, so compile a word document.

Well done! After doing a full review of your information, you can now submit the UC application. Good luck and be sure to submit before the deadline for your respective school.