function calculateUCIChance() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var gpaInput = document.getElementById('uci_gpa').value;
var residency = document.getElementById('uci_residency').value;
var majorTier = document.getElementById('uci_major').value;
var honorsInput = document.getElementById('uci_honors').value;
var ecScore = parseInt(document.getElementById('uci_ec').value);
// 2. Validation
if (gpaInput === "" || honorsInput === "") {
alert("Please fill in your GPA and Honors course count.");
return;
}
var gpa = parseFloat(gpaInput);
var honors = parseInt(honorsInput);
if (gpa 5.0) {
alert("Please enter a valid GPA between 0.0 and 5.0");
return;
}
// 3. Algorithm Configuration
// Base Acceptance Rate (Approximate average for 2023-2024 cycles)
// Note: UCI admit rate is roughly 25% overall, but varies by residency.
var baseScore = 25;
// Residency Adjustment (Recent trends show higher admit rates for OOS/Intl due to tuition, though standards are high)
if (residency === 'ca') {
baseScore = 21; // CA residents face high volume competition
} else if (residency === 'oos') {
baseScore = 32; // Often higher statistical admit rate
} else {
baseScore = 30; // International
}
// GPA Logic (The most critical factor for UCs)
// Average admitted Weighted GPA is around 4.10 – 4.20
var avgGPA = 4.15;
var gpaDiff = gpa – avgGPA;
// Weighting the GPA difference: Significant impact
// If GPA is 4.35 (+0.2), add ~15%. If GPA is 3.8 (-0.35), subtract ~25%
var gpaFactor = gpaDiff * 60;
// Major Impact
// Impacted majors are significantly harder to get into
var majorFactor = 0;
if (majorTier === 'impacted') {
majorFactor = -25; // Massive penalty for CS/Engineering
} else if (majorTier === 'moderate') {
majorFactor = -10; // Biology/Psych
} else {
majorFactor = 5; // Humanities/Undeclared slight boost
}
// Course Rigor (Honors/AP count)
// UCs cap the GPA boost at 8 semesters, but they look at total rigor qualitatively.
// Assume avg admit has ~8-12 semesters.
var rigorFactor = 0;
if (honors > 8) {
rigorFactor = (honors – 8) * 0.5; // Small bonus for going beyond cap
} else {
rigorFactor = (honors – 8) * 1.5; // Penalty for low rigor
}
// Cap rigor boost
if (rigorFactor > 10) rigorFactor = 10;
// Extracurriculars & PIQs (Subjective)
// Scale 1-10. Average is 5.
var ecFactor = (ecScore – 5) * 4;
// 4. Calculate Total Probability
var totalChance = baseScore + gpaFactor + majorFactor + rigorFactor + ecFactor;
// 5. Clamping and Edge Cases
// Ensure realistic bounds. Even perfect applicants get rejected (yield protection or randomness),
// and low stats usually have a non-zero but tiny chance.
if (totalChance > 96) totalChance = 96;
if (totalChance < 1) totalChance = 1;
// Special Hard Cap for low GPAs regardless of other factors
if (gpa < 3.0 && residency === 'ca') totalChance = Math.min(totalChance, 2);
if (gpa = 70) {
category = "Likely";
catClass = "likely";
feedback = "Your profile is very strong for UCI. While no UC is a guarantee, you are well above the average admitted student profile.";
} else if (totalChance >= 35) {
category = "Target";
catClass = "target";
feedback = "You are a competitive applicant. Your stats align with UCI averages, but admission will depend heavily on your essays (PIQs) and major selection.";
} else {
category = "Reach";
catClass = "reach";
feedback = "Based on these stats, admission to UCI would be difficult. This may be due to the competitiveness of your major or GPA relative to the applicant pool. Focus on writing stellar PIQs.";
}
// 7. Output Results
document.getElementById('uci-percentage').innerText = Math.round(totalChance) + "%";
document.getElementById('uci-category').innerText = category;
document.getElementById('uci-category').className = "result-category " + catClass;
document.getElementById('uci-feedback').innerText = feedback;
var resultContainer = document.getElementById('uci-result-container');
resultContainer.style.display = "block";
resultContainer.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
}
Understanding Your Admission Chances at UC Irvine
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has become one of the most selective public universities in the nation. With over 120,000 applicants annually, understanding where you stand is crucial for building a balanced college list. This calculator uses data trends regarding GPA, course rigor, and major selectivity to estimate your probability of acceptance.
The Role of the "UC GPA"
Unlike many other universities, the UC system calculates its own specific Grade Point Average. They focus primarily on grades earned in "A-G" courses during your 10th and 11th grades. When inputting your data into the calculator, ensure you are using your Weighted UC GPA.
Unweighted GPA: Max is 4.0.
Weighted Capped GPA: Includes extra points for AP/IB/Honors, but capped at 8 semesters. Max is roughly 4.4.
Weighted Uncapped GPA: Includes all extra points. Can go as high as 5.0.
UCI typically looks for a weighted GPA above 4.0 for competitive majors. In recent admission cycles, the middle 50% of admitted students had a GPA between 4.08 and 4.29.
Note on Standardized Tests: The University of California system is Test Blind. This means SAT or ACT scores are NOT considered for admission decisions or scholarship awarding. This calculator does not ask for test scores for this reason.
Major Impaction: Why It Matters
Your choice of major significantly influences your admission chances at UCI. The university admits by major, and certain programs are far more competitive than others due to capacity limits.
Highly Impacted Majors
Applicants to the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences or the School of Engineering face much lower acceptance rates (often sub-10% to 15%) compared to the campus average. Nursing Science is also extremely competitive.
Less Impacted Majors
Majors in the Humanities, Social Ecology, or applying as "Undeclared" generally have acceptance rates closer to or slightly above the campus average. If your primary goal is simply attending UCI, being flexible with your major choice can improve your odds.
The 13-Point Comprehensive Review
UCI uses a "Comprehensive Review" process. While numbers (GPA) are important, they also look at:
Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses.
Number of, content of, and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum A-G requirements.
Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, AP, IB, and transferable college courses.
Quality of your senior-year program as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned.
Quality of your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school.
Outstanding performance in one or more specific subject areas.
Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
Recent, marked improvement in academic performance.
Special talents, achievements, and awards in a particular field.
Completion of special projects.
Academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and special circumstances.
Location of your secondary school and residence.
Tips for Improving Your Chances
If the calculator shows a "Reach" result, do not be discouraged. You can improve your application by:
Maximizing Course Rigor: Take challenging courses senior year.
Writing Stellar PIQs: The Personal Insight Questions are your chance to speak directly to admissions officers. Be authentic, specific, and demonstrate your value to the campus community.
Extracurricular Depth: Focus on leadership and sustained commitment in a few activities rather than superficial participation in many.