UCI appeals process

Each year, many applicants are not offered admission. If you either have been denied admission to UCI or need an extension on a deadline to apply, you can request an appeal.

Find your appeal scenario

There are several different grounds to appeal an admissions decision. Explore your options to understand what approach best applies to your situation.

Appeal to Late Application

Letter of appeal clearly stating new or compelling reason for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
Recent transcript
Other additional documentation (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)
Upload your appeal

Once our office receives your appeal, you should receive written/electronic notification regarding your status within four to six weeks.

Appeal to Selection Decision

Applicants who are denied admission and applicants who are offered but decline a spot on the waitlist are eligible to submit this appeal. If you want the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to reevaluate its decision of your application, you need to submit new and compelling evidence not previously included on your initial application. Applicants who accept their waitlist offer by submitting a Statement of Intent to Participate (SIP) will not be considered for an appeal. Submission of this appeal does not mean admission will be granted. For a first-year or transfer appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new academic and personal information, as well as information pertaining to extenuating circumstances that had not been present in the application, and that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced. Please note: high grades received in the senior year, recently acquired awards, or an increase in activities are not a basis for the reversal of a decision. Due to the amount of paperwork received by the office and also the ongoing appeal review process, any paperwork submitted separately WILL NOT be accepted or reviewed. All appeals must be submitted through your UCI Applicant Portal. Letters of recommendation will not be considered.

First-Year Selection Appeal

Letter of appeal clearly stating new and compelling information for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
High school transcript from most recent term; please note the transcript must have course information and grades from fall semester of your senior year and any additional semesters available at the time of appeal
Other additional documentation (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)

Please upload all documents for review at one time in the UCI Applicant Portal.

Transfer Selection Appeal

Upload the following items by May 15 and include student name and Application ID number on each sheet of materials submitted:

Letter of appeal clearly stating new and compelling information for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
College transcript through most recent term for college(s) currently attending; updated list of courses in progress for the current term, if applicable
Applicable documentation: please note that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions may request additional documentation from an applicant, as needed (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)

Please upload all documents for review at one time in the UCI Applicant Portal.

Applicants will receive an email communication to check the Applicant Portal for admissions status when an appeal decision has been made. Appeal decisions will be released by June 1 for first-year applicants and July 1 for transfer applicants.

Please be advised that if the applicant is admitted by appeal after orientation/advising programs have occurred, arrangements will need to be made to attend the programs at a later date. On-campus housing is no longer guaranteed for applicants accepting an admission offer after the initial SIR deadline (May 1 for first-year applicants, June 1 for transfer applicants.)

Appeal to Late Statement of Intent to Register

Applicants that did not submit their SIR by the SIR deadline are eligible to submit this appeal. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions requires new and compelling information for the reason to recommend an extended SIR deadline for applicants.

First-Year Late SIR Appeals

Letter of appeal clearly stating new and compelling information for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
Updated high school transcript and any applicable official college transcripts from appropriate terms; please note the transcript must have course information and final grades senior year and graduation date, if applicable
Applicable documentation to support case (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)
Log in to your Applicant Portal to submit appeal

Applicants will receive communication via their email to check their Applicant Portal for admissions status when an appeal decision has been made. Reviews will be completed within four to six weeks and no faxes, emails or incomplete packets will be considered.

Transfer Late SIR Appeals

Upload the following items by June 15 and include student name and Application ID number on each sheet of materials submitted:

Letter of appeal clearly stating new and compelling information for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
Updated copy of college transcript(s) for appropriate terms attended; updated list of courses in progress for the current term, if applicable
Applicable documentation to support case (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)
Log in to your Applicant Portal to submit appeal

Appeal to Admissions Offer Withdrawn

Letter of appeal clearly stating new and compelling information for appeal consideration, written and signed by the applicant
Applicable documentation – please note that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions may request additional documentation from an applicant, as needed (Letters of recommendation will not be considered as part of your appeal)
Log in to your Applicant Portal to submit appeal

Applicants will receive communication via their email to check their Applicant Portal for admissions status when an appeal decision has been made. Be aware, reviews may take up to six weeks to complete.