Applying to the Jacobs School
To apply for freshman admission to a UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering major, high school students should complete the UC Undergraduate Application and select an engineering major as their first choice. The annual filing period is November 1-30.
UCSD has a eight-college system and freshman applicants will need to rank the colleges in order of preference when applying for admission. The colleges help shape a student's program of study because general education requirements are determined by the college, while engineering major requirements are determined by the academic department. The Jacobs School is not affiliated with any one particular college, and engineering students are distributed amongst the eight colleges. Students admitted to UC San Diego, are assigned to a college based on their preference ranking of the colleges on the UC application and space availability. Students who accept the offer of admission should assume that they will remain in the college to which they were admitted. Changing colleges is rare and quite difficult.
Students may apply for an Inter College Transfer after:
- completing the home college's writing requirements during the first year, AND
- Satisfying the minimum GPA requirements to transfer, AND
- demonstrating that changing colleges will result in a significantly faster time to graduation.
Submitting an application to transfer colleges does not guarantee approval.
Most students find a home in their college and after a very short time become completely involved with friends and activities there. For more answers to specific questions, check out the College System FAQs.
Admission to the Jacobs School is a two-step process
Step 1 - Admission to UCSD
Students must meet the UCSD requirements for freshman admission. All applications are reviewed by the UCSD Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools according to the Comprehensive Review evaluation and selection process. The Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools determines admission to UCSD and assigns freshmen to their undergraduate college.
Step 2 - Admission to an Engineering Major
All UC San Diego admitted students who selected an engineering major as their first choice on the UC application are then reviewed by the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools for admission to the major. The major evaluation process is dependent on the type of major selected.
Open Majors: Admitted students who have applied to an open engineering major are automatically admitted to that major.
Pre-Majors: Admitted students who have applied to a pre-major (engineering physics) will automatically be placed in the pre-major. Students will need to fulfill course and GPA requirements during freshman year to be admitted to the major.
Impacted Majors: Admitted students that have applied to an impacted major will be further evaluated by the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools for admission to the major.
Remember that admission to UCSD does not guarantee acceptance to an impacted engineering major.