The University of California, Davis might not be as famous or well-regarded as UC Berkeley and UCLA, but it’s still a great public research institution. If you’re reading this, you’re likely wondering whether your child has a chance of getting into UC Davis. We’re going to get into all of that below, but first let’s learn what UC Davis has to offer. 

About UC Davis 

The University of California, Davis is perhaps best known for its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the research output of which has heavily influenced California’s farming practices. In addition to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Davis’ undergraduate schools include the College of Biological Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters and Science. 

UC Davis has around 31,000 undergraduate students. On over 5,300 acres of land, it’s one of the largest universities in the United States. 

The acceptance rate at UC Davis for the Class of 2028 (the most recently available data) was 41.63%. Let’s look at what common denominators unite the applicants who receive admission to UC Davis. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into UC Davis?

Applicants should note that California residents need a GPA of 3.00 or higher to be eligible for admission to UC Davis, and non-residents of California need a GPA of 3.40 or higher to be eligible. The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Davis’ Class of 2028 (the most recently available data): 

GPA	Percentage of UC Davis’ Class of 2028
4.0	68.53%
3.75-3.99	21.92%
3.5-3.74	7.55%
3.25-3.49	1.55%
3.0-3.24	0.41%
2.5-2.99	0.04%
2.0-2.49	0.2%
1.0-1.99	0%

While the data published above might appear to indicate that UC Davis maintains incredibly strict academic standards in which the vast majority of students who are admitted had 4.0s in high school, this is slightly misleading. Note that Davis is reporting weighted GPA here, meaning that the proportions reported above have an inflated skew towards 4.0. The reality, as per the UC Davis website, is that the middle 50% of unweighted high school GPA for UC Davis admits last year was 3.79 — 4.0. 

In other words, at least 25% of Davis admits last year applied with an unweighted GPA of 3.79 or less. Nothing to scoff at, to be sure, but not as rigorous as the weighted GPA data would lead one to believe.

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into UC Davis?

Unfortunately, UC Davis isn’t overly transparent about the standardized test scores of its student body. They haven’t shared any of the ACT and SAT scores for recent classes to the Common Data Set Initiative, a voluntary effort among colleges to help all of those involved with a student’s transition to higher education. We at Ivy Coach call upon UC Davis to practice their motto (“let there be light”) and release the numbers!

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into UC Davis?

UC Davis lists the following as their minimum course preparation for applicants:

• History or social science: two years
• English or language of instruction: four years
• Mathematics: three years (four years recommended)
• Laboratory science: two years (three years recommended)
• Language other than English or other second language: two years (three years recommended)
• Visual and performing arts: one year
• College preparatory elective: one year

Of course, we at Ivy Coach would not recommend merely three years in any core subject. Highly selective colleges like UC Davis want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does University of California, Davis Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means UC Davis is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the field hockey team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. UC Davis would much rather accept a nationally ranked debate champ than a kid who spent an hour or two on debate a week because he spent the rest forgetting Shakespeare lines and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

UC Davis Application Requirements

All University of California campuses, including UC Davis, require applicants to use the exclusive University of California application system. Additionally, UC Davis asks applicants to send two letters of recommendation and to submit four short-answer responses from eight choices. 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For UC Davis? 

UC Davis applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does UC Davis Require An Interview? 

UC Davis does not require an interview, and, in fact, they don’t even offer one!

What Are University of California, Davis’ Application Deadlines? 

Applications to UC Davis are due Dec. 1, a bit on the earlier side (most schools are in January) so make sure to plan ahead. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into UC Davis 

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into UC Davis, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into UC Davis, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.