Media Contact: Winifred Cox (858) 534-0363 

The University of California, San Diego posted a record 45,018 undergraduate applications for Fall 2001, including 38,082 freshman applications and 6,936 transfer applications.

The total number of applications to UCSD is up 8.3 percent from 2000's record count. Freshman applications are up 7.6 percent and transfer applications are up 12.3 percent. This marks the second year that transfer applications have been exceptionally strong. (In 2000, transfer applications were up 15.4 percent over the previous year.)

The academic quality of UCSD’s freshman applicants remains strong, with the average high school grade point average at 3.72 (it was 3.73 in 2000); the average SAT composite score rose two points over last year, to 1213.

"For two years we have had a remarkable and welcome increase in our transfer and freshmen applications, as well as applications from African Americans, Mexican Americans and Native Americans. It is reassuring to see that such well qualified students are responding to our intensive recruitment efforts, such as our partnerships with high schools and community colleges," said Dr. Joseph W. Watson, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Comparisons of the Fall 2000/2001 UCSD application pools’ gender and racial/ethnic breakdown show that freshmen applications from women rose 9.3 percent, compared to 5.7 percent for men. However, transfer applications record a 15.5 percent increase for men, compared to a 9.6 percent increase for women.

At the freshman level, applications from African-American students increased by 117 to 1,192, a rise of 10.9 percent. Mexican American applications increased by 552 to 3,537, a rise of 18.5 percent. Native American applications increased 12.9 percent over last year’s 186 to 210. Latino applications increased by 101 to 1,155, a rise of 9.6 percent. Asian-American applications increased by 760 to 11,121, a rise of 7.3 percent. Filipino-American applications increased by 258 to 1,831, a rise of 16.4 percent. Caucasian applications increased by 559 to 14,095, a rise of 4.1 percent.

The three most popular declared majors continue to be Social Sciences (20.9percent), Engineering (18.1percent), and Science/Math (17.2 percent). Of the three, Engineering had the largest increase (14.7 percent) over the Fall 2000 applicant pool.

Note to editors: The Fall 2001 applications data in this release were compiled through January 29, 2001 at the UCSD campus, and they are compared with the Fall 2000 data compiled through January 10, 2000 at UCSD.

To view charts click links below.
freshman applicants  
transfer applicants