Almost 39,050 high-school seniors and prospective transfer students applied in November 2003 to study at the University of California, Davis -- virtually the same number as applied in fall 2002. However, this fall's total reflects a 3.4 percent decline in freshman applicants, a 13.4 percent increase in students seeking to transfer from another college or university, and the implementation of the new Dual Admissions Program (DAP).

Among California freshman applicants, there were gains in all but one academic measure.

Students from traditionally underrepresented groups -- African American, American Indian, Latino and Chicano -- increased slightly among California high-school applicants and decreased among transfer applicants.

Of the total 39,046 applicants this fall, 31,164 were applying for freshman status and 7,689 were seeking to transfer from another college or university. A year earlier, 32,260 high-school seniors and 6,779 transfer students applied, for a total of 39,039 applicants.

This application season, an additional 193 high-school seniors applied for admission in what is the first year of the Dual Admission Program. The program, targeted for elimination in the state budget proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, offers admission to high-performing students upon fulfillment of UC- and campus-specific requirements as well as lower division work at a community college.

Leslie Campbell, interim director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services, says a struggling economy and last spring's fee increases may be responsible for declines in freshman applications. Especially sharp were decreases of 19.1 percent in out-of-state U.S. residents and 17.1 percent in international students applying for freshman status at UC Davis.

Academic measures

Among California freshman applicants, there were gains in all academic measures, except the mean number of A-G courses or subject requirements applicants have reported.

This year's mean high-school grade point average is 3.66, compared to 3.63 last year. And the mean number of A-G courses they have is 45.1 this year, compared to 45.4 last year.

This year, applicants' mean scores on the Scholastic Assessment Tests were: SAT I Composite 1,183, SAT II Writing 587, and SAT II Math 605. Scores for last year's applicants were: SAT I Composite 1,172, SAT II Writing 575, and SAT II Math 601.

About 15.3 percent of this year's applicants are in the top 4 percent of students at their high school and will be considered under the Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) pathway. Last year, 14.5 percent were ELC eligible.

Freshman applicants by ethnicity

A total of 29,607 California domestic high-school students applied this year for freshman status at UC Davis, compared to 30,345 last year. Those from traditionally underrepresented groups increased slightly. For fall 2004, they account for 16.54 percent or 4,897 of all California high-school applicants, compared to 16.53 percent for students applying to study at UC Davis for fall 2003.

Those ethnic groups with increases this year were: American Indian, from 183 last year to 200 this year, or 9.3 percent; Asian American, from 9,124 to 9,673, or 6 percent; and Latino, from 950 to 1,005, or 5.8 percent.

Those groups with declines were: African American, from 1,132 last year to 1,032 this year, or 8.8 percent; Chicano, from 2,751 to 2,660, or 3.3 percent; Filipino American, from 1,368 to 1,322, or 3.4 percent; Caucasian, from 12,168 to 11,650, or 4.3 percent. Students who didn't identify an ethnicity decreased from 2,669 to 2,065, or 22.6 percent.

Socioeconomic measures

Among California applicants for freshman status in 2004, the percentage of those from families with parental incomes of less than $30,000 is 21.9 percent; last year, it was 20.6 percent. Those in the first generation of their family to attend college declined from 31.8 percent last year to 31.3 percent this year. Applicants from families with parental incomes of less than $30,000 and in the first generation of their family to attend college account for 14.5 percent this year, compared to 13.6 percent last year. Those from high schools scoring low on the Academic Performance Index decreased from 18.5 percent last year to 17.5 this year.

Geographic blend

The urban-rural mix of California freshman applicants is 8.8 percent rural, 50.1 urban and 41 percent suburban. Last year, the mix was 9.1 percent rural, 50.4 percent urban and 40.6 percent suburban.

Transfer applicants

A total of 6,022 domestic applicants are seeking to transfer from a California community college this year, compared to 5,232 last year. Those from traditionally underrepresented groups decreased slightly. For fall 2004, they account for 16.87 percent or 1,016 of all California community college applicants, compared to 17.18 percent for students applying to study at UC Davis for fall 2003.

Offers of admission

The governor's budget proposal to cut the entering freshman class for UC by 10 percent has introduced some uncertainty about admission and enrollment targets for all UC campuses, including UC Davis. While budget discussions and negotiations continue, UC Davis is planning to notify applicants of offers of admission in mid-March.

Applicants who supplied e-mail addresses will receive an electronic notice directing them to the UC Davis online application check site, http://myadmissions.ucdavis.edu, for further information. Admitted students will also be mailed a letter sending them to the Web site, which will guide them through the admissions process. Beginning Feb. 9, any applicant can review the status of his or her application online at http://myadmissions.ucdavis.edu.