Brief: Five Checks Before the UC Application Deadline

The University of California (UC) admissions page on filling out the application reminds students that the fall 2027 first-year application must be submitted by November 30, and that very few changes can be made after submission. With about two weeks remaining, Irvine seniors should review the entire application before they submit it.

Who Is Affected by the UC First-Year Application Deadline on November 30

The deadline applies to every first-year applicant seeking fall 2027 admission to UC, including seniors at the five comprehensive high schools of the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) and at Orange County private high schools. UC states that students who completed college courses during high school or in the summer after graduation still apply as first-year applicants. Only one application may be submitted per term, and duplicate applications are canceled.

What to Do Before Submitting the UC First-Year Application

1. Enter the academic history from transcripts. UC asks applicants to report every high school course and grade exactly as it appears on official transcripts, not from memory. High school-level math or language other than English taken in 7th or 8th grade, and college courses taken during high school, are also reported in this section.

2. Confirm fee waiver eligibility. The family information entered in the “About you” section determines eligibility for the UC application fee waiver, which covers application fees for up to four campuses. A non-UC fee waiver, such as one from the College Board or NACAC, or a voucher from the high school can also be indicated at submission, but fee waivers cannot be combined. Applicants who do not qualify pay by credit card, and an option to pay later is available.

3. Do not look for a place to enter SAT or ACT scores. UC does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions or scholarship awards. These scores may be reported only after submission, and they may be used only as an alternative way to meet minimum eligibility requirements or for course placement after enrollment.

4. Watch for the 20-minute automatic sign-out. Applicants should click “Save & continue” at the bottom of each page, because the application signs out automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity.

5. Keep the application ID after submitting. The confirmation page shows the UC Application ID Number, which is used to access campus student portals and, in many cases, admission decisions.

Next steps after submission are covered in After Submitting the UC Application: Which Campuses Accept Updates, and the full season timeline is in UC Applications Close November 30. Families who want a line-by-line review of the application can learn more about the EDUBUS University Admissions Planning service.

Sources

• UC Admissions: Filling out the application (first year) (accessed November 14, 2026)
• UC Admissions: Dates & deadlines (first year) (accessed November 14, 2026)
• UC Admissions: Applying as a first year (accessed November 14, 2026)