UC Appeals: What You Need to Know If You’ve Been Rejected
- Joey Lin
- Mar 31
- 6 min read
Getting rejected from a UC school—especially one you were dreaming about—is tough. For years, you've worked hard to get strong grades and stellar AP score to earn a coveted spot at a school like UCLA, and you may even have the 4.8 GPA that surpasses their average admitted student GPA. So for many students and families, the natural next question is: Can I appeal my rejection?
The answer is yes… but with a major caveat.
First off, what is an UC Appeal?
An appeal is a formal request asking a UC campus to reconsider your rejection. For many years, this opportunity to "revisit" your application was not well known. Students expected rejection as part of the application process. But with the rise in grade inflation, social media platforms, and self-designated application influencers (who have not experience working in college admissions... ahem), we've seem a growing number of inquiries into this process.
Let's look at some of the data from previous application cycles.
In the 2024 admissions cycle, UCLA received 1,962 appeals—and admitted only 5 students. That’s a 0.25% success rate.
In the 2024 admissions cycle, at UC Irvine, 1,426 students submitted an appeal—and only 26 were admitted. That’s just 1.8%.
In the 2024 admissions cycle, at UC San Diego, 750 appeals were submitted—and 20 were admitted. That’s a 2.7% success rate.
In the 2023 admissions cycle, at UC Berkeley, 1,418 appeals were submitted—and 30 were admitted. That’s a 2.1% success rate.
In the 2023 admissions cycle, at UC Riverside, 219 appeals were submitted—and 36 were admitted. That’s a 16.4% success rate.
These odds aren’t to discourage you, but to help set realistic expectations. Appeals are available, but they are rarely successful, particularly at the most popular campuses. UC admissions offices have been very up front about this.
According to website's like the UCLA website linked above, for an appeal to even be considered, it must present new and compelling information that was not included in your original application. And even then, acceptance is not guaranteed.
From UC Irvine's website: "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."
Thinking of appealing your UC Rejection?
Let's be clear: an appeal is not a redo. You don’t get to rewrite your essays or resubmit your resume. This is not an opportunity to say, “I worked really hard and deserve a spot.” That’s how every applicant feels. Appeals must go beyond emotion—they need evidence. You must offer new and compelling information that could change how admissions officers view your application.
Common Reasons Students Think They Can Appeal (But Probably Shouldn’t)
Here are a few examples of common reasons students often give when attempting to appeal:
“I had a tough 10th grade year because I didn't know how to study.”
“I got a C in chemistry because I had a bad teacher.”
“I had an injury that affected my academic performance.”
“I had to attend my grandmother's funeral, which made my final grades dip.”
And the response from a UC admissions rep? Why didn’t you include this in your original application? Why did you wait until now?
The PIQs and additional comments section were your opportunity to share any challenges, hardships, or context. If you left that information out, it’s not considered "new and compelling" just because you’re bringing it up now.
If you did explain the situation already, then the admissions team already reviewed it, considered, and still decided you were not admissible.
Let’s be real: at this point, rejected students suddenly want to bust out the sob stories and the waterworks after they’ve been rejected. But these emotional details would’ve been more compelling had they been included in the original application. Bringing up past circumstances now? It can come off as suspicious or insincere. Remember—your PIQs and additional comments section existed for a reason. That was the place to have been real about your challenges and put your whole story forward.
Bottom line: an appeal isn't a chance to tell your story better—it's a chance to add information that wasn't available before.
Examples of Compelling Appeal Reasons That Have Worked
While most appeals are unsuccessful, here are some examples of rare cases that have had merit in past UC admissions cycles:
“My mother has stage 4 cancer, and I need to live closer to home to take care of my younger siblings while attending college.”
“My home burned down in a recent wildfire, and I need to be near my family on weekends to help them rebuild.”
“I have a life-threatening illness that requires ongoing medical treatment, and I must stay near UC XXX to be near my healthcare providers.”
“My transcript inaccurately reported that I received Cs and Ds in 11th grade—but in fact, I earned straight As."
These reasons involve either significant life changes or corrected errors that were not known or available at the time of application. They are not just emotional—they’re documentable, urgent, and material to a student’s ability to attend a specific campus.
Who Should Consider Appealing?
Appeals are worth considering only if:
You have new academic information, such as a grade change, major award, or competition win that wasn’t available at the time you submitted your application.
You discovered a major error or omission—like your transcript was submitted incorrectly, or a critical part of your application was left out.
You experienced an extenuating circumstance (like illness, loss, or hardship) that wasn’t mentioned in your original application and affected your academic performance or ability to present your best self.
Importantly, new information must be both material and unknown at the time of your original submission. Winning something after you submitted doesn’t automatically qualify unless it’s exceptional and extremely relevant.
What If I Got Really Good Grades or Did Something Impressive My Senior Year?
Let’s say you’ve had a glow-up during senior year—your GPA jumped, you aced a bunch of APs, or you won a huge competition. Can you use that in an appeal?
Probably not.
If the achievement happened after your application was submitted and is truly significant (we’re talking national awards, winning a gold medal at the Olympics, or something else equally game-changing updates), then it might be considered new and compelling.
But here's the catch: UCs don’t usually weigh senior grades or achievements unless:
They dramatically change your academic profile OR
They correct a misrepresentation (like a grading error)
Also: if it’s something you could have included but didn’t (like a competition you already knew about), it’s unlikely to move the needle now.
Appeals are not for “here’s some bonus info I forgot to mention.” They’re for, “this changes the way you see my whole application.”
What NOT to Do in a UC Appeal
Here’s what will not help your appeal:
❌ Don’t beg – Admissions decisions aren’t made based on how badly you want it.
❌ Don’t blame – Complaining about the process or about your teachers won’t work in your favor.
❌ Don’t send additional letters – Unsolicited documents disappear into the either
❌ Don’t have mommy, daddy, or your school counselor contact admissions – Students should lead the process and follow directions.
How to Submit an UC Appeal
Each UC campus has its own instructions and deadlines—usually within two to three weeks after decisions are released - usually April 15. You must:
Go to the admissions website or admissions portal of the specific UC whose decision you are appealing.
Follow appeal instructions exactly as listed.
Upload documentation that provides evidence of the new and compelling evidence your'e talking about - doctor's letters, medical bills, pictures of your national or international awards.
Upload your transcript that shows any corrections to misreported grades
made in your original application.
Most UC campuses will not respond to appeals until after the May 1 commitment deadline, so be sure to secure a spot elsewhere while waiting.
Be Realistic: Appeals Are Rarely Granted
Let’s be honest. UC appeals are long shots. Most campuses admit fewer than 2% of appeal applicants. UC Berkeley, for example, receives thousands of appeals and accepts only a tiny fraction.
As someone who’s worked with students on UC appeals before, I always remind families: This is not a second application—it’s a request for reconsideration under very specific circumstances.
If you submit an appeal, do it with the mindset that it’s unlikely to change the outcome—but at least you tried.
So What Should You Do Instead of Appeal your UC Rejection?
✅ Celebrate the schools that accepted you – Many offer incredible programs, resources, and communities. Explore them with an open mind.
✅ Consider transferring later – The UC system has a well-established transfer pathway that is often more favorable than freshman admission.
✅ Stay positive and keep growing – The school name doesn’t define you. What you do there does.
Key Takeaways
Appeals are only for new, material, and compelling information.
The more popular the UC, the less likely the appeal.
Follow each campus’s instructions exactly—no exceptions.
Most appeals are denied, so have a solid backup plan.
Your college journey can still be amazing—no matter where it begins.
Got questions about UC appeals or transfer options? Drop them in the comments or reach out—we’re here to help you navigate every step of the journey.