If a student is denied admission to a Cal State University (CSU) or University of California (UC), they can try to persuade the admissions office to reconsider their application by writing a letter of appeal.
Each of the UC and CSU campuses offer their own appeals process, and have the exact guidelines on their respective websites.
For the UCs and CSUs, students need to present “a new, serious, and compelling” reason to be considered for appeals. Of course, this definition is subjective for every committee, so it is important that there is something to share that has been truly impactful since the original application. This also means that the information disclosed should not have been previously mentioned anywhere during the application process.
A great example of what is considered “a new, serious, and compelling” reason is an extraordinary hardship/circumstance or exceptional talent previously unmentioned in the original application. It would be critical to describe, in detail, how the hardship prevented a student from performing to their full academic potential, or how the previously unrevealed talent makes them a strong candidate for admission. Key point: High grades in senior year, recent awards, or new extracurriculars are typically not sufficient reasons to write a letter of appeal, as decisions are based on academic information that was provided by the time of the application.
Examples of good reasons to write a letter of appeal:
- Personal or family struggle/tragedy (and the student’s response to said struggle)
- New caretaking responsibilities
- A skill or commitment omitted from the original application (example: experience with coding, or coaching youth athletics, etc.)
We suggest including a paragraph that vividly describes passion for the school and underscores that you would accept a spot at the institution if admitted. Be honest, but composed. Focus on communicating authentic hopes and feelings in a respectful, confident tone. After drafting the appeals letter, scan the language for anything that sounds too demanding or desperate.
Steps for most UC/CSU appeals:
- Appeal within 15 days of admissions decision (typically April 15 is the last day)
- Prepare documentation
- Fill out any Appeal forms the school might provide
- Write your letter of appeal
- Supporting documents (to support your appeal)
- Submit the appeal
- The submission process is different for each school (i.e. email, in-person, applicant portal, etc.) so be sure to double check your school when submitting the appeal
- Allow time for processing
- Receive the decision
Also, keep in mind that a letter of appeal is only one potential path, and that there are many roads to the UCs and CSUs. This year was especially tough because of the continued increase in the number of UC applicants each year.
If a university chooses to uphold its decision to deny admission, a student can apply later as a transfer student after completing credits at a community college. Nearly 1 in 3 UC students start at a California Community College (CCC) and over 75% of transfer applicants from a CCC are admitted into UC as well. In fact, for all but three UCs (Merced, Riverside, and Santa Cruz), a student transferring from a community college may have a better shot than applying as a first-year student out of high school, as indicated by the higher admission rates for transfer students compared to first-year applicants for fall 2024. Those statistics are part of a larger reality: applying as a transfer student is a practical and effective way of gaining admission to a UC or CSU.
Remember: There are many potential routes to an amazing college education in California, and no single admissions decision can prevent you from pursuing your dreams.
As always, we welcome your questions and comments, and you can contact us here.