First-Year Student
Application Timeline

August 1

Application Opens

The University of California Application opens for the academic term beginning next Fall.

October 1 - December 2

Submit Your Fall 2025 Application

Submit the University of California Application by the December 2 deadline.

December

Applicant Portal

Upon receipt of their application, applicants will receive an email invitation to the Applicant Portal with login instructions. Make sure you check all email folders to ensure you are receiving emails from us and they are not being marked as spam.

FAFSA and California Dream Act Open

FAFSA and California Dream Act applications open. Only complete one.

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents: Complete FAFSA, use IRS data retrieval for tax information.
• Non-U.S. citizens: Complete California Dream Act Application if you are a California resident not eligible for FAFSA who attended a CA High School for 3 years or more and will or have already graduated (AB540 eligible).

By Mid-March

First-Year Admission Decisions Posted

First-Year admission decisions will be posted on the Applicant Portal before the end of March.

By March 29

Appeals for Applicants Not Admitted

Every application to UC San Diego is reviewed thoroughly by at least two readers. Admission decisions are made carefully to meet the enrollment goals of the university. Therefore, successful appeals are very rare.

Applicants who have new and compelling academic information that was not presented in their original application, may submit an appeal through their Applicant Portal by March 29. No appeals will be accepted after the deadline.

April 15

Applicants invited to join the Waitlist

Select applicants will be invited to opt in to our waitlist through their Applicant Portal.

First-year applicants must opt in to the waitlist by 11:59pm on April 15.

Being on the waitlist does not guarantee an offer of admission. We strongly urge students to accept another university's admission offer before the appropriate deadline to ensure they have secured a spot at an institution.

UC San Diego will release final decisions to first-year applicants who opted into the waitlist mid to late summer.

By May 2

File Your FAFSA or California Dream Act Application

• To receive priority funding, file your FAFSA or California Dream Act application no later than May 2.
• List UC San Diego school code 001317 on your application.
• Apply for a Cal Grant.

May 15

Deadline for First-Year Admits to Accept UC San Diego's Offer of Admission

Accept your offer through the Applicant Portal.

July 1

Deadline to Submit Your Final Transcripts

• Submit final, official transcripts: high school(s) plus any college/university transcripts.
• Refer to Required Documents from Schools Outside the United States if any of your coursework was taken outside the U.S.

July 15

AP and IB Exam Results Due

AP and IB exam results are due no later than July 15.

• Please request results be sent to UC San Diego, school code: 004836.
• For more information, please refer to the Advanced Placement FAQs.