GPA minimum boosted at UC

Marisa O’Neil

High school students hoping for future University of California

letters will have to hit the books a little harder.

Starting in 2007, the UC system will require a minimum grade point

average of 3.0 -- up from 2.8 -- for prospective freshmen. UC Regents

voted on the adjustment Thursday based on an earlier recommendation

by the Academic Senate of the University of California.

Individual campuses, especially popular ones like UCI, will have

their own admissions criteria above that. But because most students

know of the high standards, the change shouldn’t create too many

problems for prospective UCI students, said Marguerite

Bonous-Hammarth, director of admissions at UCI.

“Students applying to UCI are generally prepared above and beyond

the requirements,” she said.

Some local students, such as Costa Mesa High School senior and

UC-hopeful Garrett Sneen, agreed.

“We know it’s going to be competitive anyway,” Garrett, 17, said.

“Even if they raise the minimum GPA, most people I know who are

applying to UC have higher than a 3.5.”

Those who are on the borderline may have a much tougher time with

the raised standards, 17-year-old Laura Dinsdale said.

Regents raised the requirements in response to a report earlier

this year that found the number of UC-eligible students is exceeding

recommended levels by nearly 2%.

According to the state’s Master Plan for Education, which outlines

higher education in California, the UC system must set its admission

standards so that 12.5% of the state’s graduating seniors are

eligible. A report released in May by the California Postsecondary

Education Commission said that in 2003, 14.4% were eligible.

Regents delayed a vote on the matter in July, so they could

further review admissions data. They voted 14-6 on Thursday to

approve the changes.

Minor procedural changes will take effect in 2005 but should not

affect students. New SAT and ACT tests may affect the number of

eligible students, so the regents will do further review before the

higher grade point average takes effect.

Students who want to attend a UC campus shouldn’t be put off, even

by the increased standards, Bonous-Hammarth said. Academic

preparation is key, she said.

“As long as they demonstrate strong academic preparation and UC

eligibility, there is still a place for them at the University of

California,” she said.