Selective Major Frequently Asked Questions

Selective Major impacts all students regardless of admit year. Please review the Selective Major page to determine how this status may affect you.

If you change your major from Biology to a different major, your request to switch back to a Biology major will be treated the same as any other non-Biology major request. You will not have preferential access to return to a Biology major. Please review how Selective Major Status affects Non-Biology Students for further details.

You should apply during the term that you plan to complete the coursework. For instance, if you are completing your final screening course(s) in Fall, you should apply once the Fall application cycle opens.

No. Only coursework taken and completed with a letter grade at a UC will be factored into the screening GPA.

No. Coursework that has been completed with a C- or better (or a Pass grade for AP/IB/A-Level) cannot be repeated for credit at UC San Diego.

At this time, the School is not ranking students based on the GPA earned in the screening courses. However, all screening criteria must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better and you will need a minimum 2.5 screening GPA in order to be considered for admission.

All Selective Major Admission coursework, whether taken here at UC San Diego or elsewhere, must be recorded on your UC San Diego academic history with a final grade, no later than one week after the application close date for that application cycle, to be considered for admission into a biology major. If you have a blank/incomplete grade recorded for a Selective Major Admission course, you will be considered ineligible until these grades are resolved with an A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, or C-. Students who entered UC San Diego as freshmen that were denied admission based on missing coursework, or grades, can reapply for consideration during the next application cycle, if within their sixth quarter at UC San Diego.

We recommend completing all screening courses as soon as possible, and applying during an open application cycle, as soon as the application opens.

Each year, the School receives an average of 90 applications per quarterly cycle and has been able to offer admission to all applicants who met Selective Major admission criteria. While students can use this information to estimate chances of being admitted, meeting all eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission. Admission outcomes (e.g. the number of applicants, available seats, etc.) can change each quarterly application cycle.

Grades earned in the following Selective Major Admission courses that were taken at a UC will be included in the GPA considered for admission into a biology major: BILD 1, BILD 3, CHEM 6A, CHEM 6B, CHEM 6C, CHEM 7L, MATH 10A or 20A, and MATH 10B or 20B.

Students who started at UC San Diego as freshmen may continue to apply through the Selective Major Application process through their sixth quarter at UC San Diego. Please keep in mind that applying does not guarantee admittance. Students should consider a back-up major and time to degree if they plan to apply through the Selective Major Application process.

If you were a declared biology major when you left UC San Diego, you can list your proposed biology major on your readmission application or appeal form.

If you were in a non-biology major when you left UC San Diego, you will need to list an eligible non-biology major on your readmission application or appeal form. If you are readmitted to UC San Diego and would like to attempt a change of major to one offered in the School of Biological Sciences, you will need to reference the Non-Biology Majors section on the Selective Major page for information on consideration of admission into a biology major.

Target numbers will vary for each quarterly application cycle so an exact number is not available.