ELC Expansion in UCs

This year, seniors applying to the University of California sites will experience a change in their application process, specifically their ELC rank, or “Eligibility in Local Context”. A student’s ELC rank is calculated by high schools and the University of California system the summer before an applicant’s senior year. It can guarantee a student admission into the UC system if he or she qualifies.

In recent years, a student’s ELC rank was determined by a student’s high school administrators. The summer before senior year, high school counselors would select the top 15 percent of the class by GPA and send that information to the UC system, which would then go through the list and select the top 4 percent of that high school. Several weeks ago, this system changed so that UC-selected ELC would expand from the top 4 percent to the top 9 percent of a high school class.

“We were told to send the top 15 percent [this year]… we sent the names and addresses, and [the top 9 percent] will be mailed a letter with access to a website. This website will tell them if they are ELC,” said Laurie Tezak, Aragon college and career adviser.

Once students are confirmed as ELC, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA, take and submit two SAT subject tests if they have not already done so, and complete all UC required coursework through the senior year in order to keep their admission into a UC.

In previous years, ELC students were guaranteed a place at several of the UC campuses in the UC system (UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC Riverside were previously included), though not necessarily their top choice. Now, the only UC that will automatically accept ELC students is the University of California at Merced.

“I think [ELC] is more of an attempt by the UC system to get more interest in [Merced] rather than to encourage students to attend the UCs as a whole,” said senior Jamie Moore. “UC Merced may be a good university, [but] I think that the top 9 percent of students would probably be looking at one of the more established schools.”

“With the [current] economy, college can be very expensive,” says Tezak. Because they are more affordable than private colleges, UCs are receiving more applications than in previous years. This has caused the other eight UC campuses to face impacted enrollment. With more students attending the UCs, class sizes have increased and certain majors have become impacted. “The UCs have the right to set policies however they want, but transition years are always hard,” said teacher Cristina Trujillo.

This ELC change will also affect the way a senior applies. “Absolutely no D’s or F’s. If you do have one, it should be made up. If you have one or are getting one, you need to report it to the UC system,” says Tezak. Because more students are applying to UC schools than ever before, admissions officers will be accepting a smaller percentage of students. Being marked as an ELC student could be extremely beneficial because it shows that you are in the top 9% of your graduating class.

This advantage comes into play during the review performed on applications. “The UCs do a fourteen point comprehensive review. One point on there is whether or not you are the first person in your family to go to college,” said Tezak. As in previous years, the fourteen point comprehensive review takes several other factors into account, including extra-curricular activities, SAT scores, and ELC status.

As of now, the change in the ELC process should not have any major impact on students after they start college next year, Tezak said. Although it has generated questions about the impact of more ELCs being admitted next year, UC admissions officers say that this should not have a great effect on class size. While graduation time has been extended to five years for many UC students due to overcrowding, many of the UC campuses stated that they still aim for students to graduate in four years. Many details are currently unavailable due to budgeting difficulties.

Because of the increased competition for UC admission, Tezak reminds students to not look down on community college. “UCs will take a transfer student from a community college before a high school senior if there is room,” Tezak said.

As seniors start to enter the application process, Tezak advises, “Be kind to yourself and never compare yourself to other students. Everybody takes a different road”.