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Freshman Impaction at CSU, Northridge

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Summary

California State University, Northridge will admit all CSU-eligible first-time freshman applicants who graduate from high schools in its local guarantee admissions area. First-time freshman applicants graduating from California high schools outside the local area will be admitted by achieving the higher CSU eligibility index.

Details

Tier 1 - California State University, Northridge (CSUN) will admit all first-time freshman applicants who graduate from high schools in the California State University Northridge-defined local guarantee admissions area and who are eligible according to the standard California State University criteria.

Tier 2 - First-time freshman applicants graduating from California high schools outside the defined local area who achieve the higher California State University (CSU) eligibility index will be admitted first among the pool of Tier 2 applicants. Admission offers will be made in descending order of eligibility (from higher to lower) until the freshman class is full.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is freshman impaction?
  2. Who is affected by freshman impaction?
  3. How has CSUN defined its local admission area?
  4. Who is a Tier 1 applicant?
  5. Who is a Tier 2 applicant?
  6. What is the CSU eligibility index?
  7. What are the admission eligibility requirements for Tier 2 applicants?
  8. What are the freshman admission requirements?
  9. When is the admissions application deadline?
  10. What can I do to be admitted?

1. What is freshman impaction?

Impaction means that a campus anticipates more qualified applicants than there are spots available. For Fall 2012, at least 15 of the 23 California State University (CSU) campuses have declared impaction for first-time freshmen (see CSU Accepts Fall 2012 Applications Starting October 1).

In order to manage enrollment within current budget constraints while preserving the highest quality academic experience and services to students, Cal State Northridge has declared campus wide impaction for first-time freshmen only.  This means that the University will give priority admission consideration to first-time freshman applicants who graduate from high schools located within a closely-defined geographic area.

The Cal State Northridge Local Guarantee Admissions Area, or Tier 1 school districts, are listed below in question 3.

2. Who is affected by freshman impaction?

Only first-time freshman applicants graduating from a California high school outside CSUN's Local Guarantee Admissions Area are affected by impaction. Beginning with the Fall 2009 semester, these applicants will be considered for admission if they meet additional Tier 2 admission requirements.

All other CSUN applicants must meet the standard CSU admissions criteria for their class level and academic program. For details, select the "I Want to Apply" link for your student group on the Admissions and Records home page.

3. How has CSUN defined its local admission area?

CSUN's Tier 1 Local Guarantee Admissions Area includes public and private high schools in the following Los Angeles County and Ventura County districts:

Tier 1 Local Guarantee Admissions Area

Los Angeles County (district name and map number)

Ventura County (district name and map number)

4. Who is a Tier 1 applicant?

First-time freshman applicants who graduate from high schools that are inside CSUN’s Local Guarantee Admissions Area are Tier 1 applicants. They are eligible for admission if they meet the California State University standard admission criteria described at I Want to Apply.

For Fall 2012, SAT or ACT scores are required for all first-time freshmen, including those in Tier 1. SAT or ACT test scores must be submitted no later than January 13, 2012 to be considered for admission.

5. Who is a Tier 2 applicant?

First-time freshman applicants who graduate from a California high school outside CSUN’s Local Guarantee Admissions Area are Tier 2 applicants. To be considered for admission, Tier 2 applicants must meet the additional admissions requirement of achieving the higher CSU statewide eligibility index.

Admissions requirements for all freshmen applicants, including those in Tier 2, are described at I Want to Apply.

6. What is the CSU eligibility index?

The CSU statewide eligibility index is a combination of your high school grade point average (GPA) and scores on either the ACT or the SAT. GPAs are based on grades earned in college preparatory courses ("a-g" subject requirements) taken during the final three years of high school. Included in calculating GPA are any bonus points earned for approved honors courses.

To calculate your eligibility index (EI), multiply your GPA by 800 and add your total score on the SAT mathematics and critical reading scores. If you took the ACT, multiply your GPA by 200 and add ten times the ACT composite score (do not include the writing score). In other words:

EI using SAT I Scores = (GPA) x 800 + SAT I Total

EI using ACT Scores = (GPA) x 200 + (10 x ACT composite score)

To learn more about the eligibility index including honors bonus points, see the University Catalog.

7. What are the admission eligibility requirements for Tier 2 applicants?

If you will graduate from a high school located outside CSUN's Local Guarantee Admissions Area (i.e., from a Tier 2 school district), your freshman admission will be determined by the CSU Eligibility Index based on high school GPA and ACT or SAT mathematics and critical reading scores. Tier 2 applicants who achieve the higher eligibility index will be admitted first, so do your best to improve your SAT or ACT test scores.

In general, the academic characteristics of the Tier 2 freshman applicant population will determine the Eligibility Index cut-off, which may vary from year to year.

For Fall 2012, the Tier 2 admissions criteria are:

To calculate your eligibility index, see question 6, What is the CSU eligibility index?

Please note that CSUN may be unable to admit any Tier 2 applicants for Fall 2012.

8. What are the first-time freshman admission requirements?

Please review the admission requirements for all first-time freshmen at I Want to Apply.

9. When is the admissions application deadline?

Please see the Admissions Calendar. Even when an admissions cycle is closed, some majors may still be accepting students. Open programs are listed as exceptions in the Admissions Calendar.

10. What can I do to be admitted?

You can increase your chances of being admitted as a first-time freshman to Cal State Northridge by preparing for success!  For Fall 2012 admission:

We regret that CSU, Northridge may be unable to admit all Tier 2 applicants. You may want to consider applying to another CSU campus if you haven't done so already. To view a list of campuses that remain open to freshman applications, go to the CSU Mentor website and click Filing Status Report.

A small number of first-time freshmen may be admitted based on a combination of the Eligibility Index and additional characteristics including special talents, first generation college status, socioeconomic factors, and indications of overcoming educational obstacles.

Whether you're a Tier 1 or 2 applicant, be sure that Admissions and Records receives your:

*Freshman applicants who have not yet satisfied the English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Exam requirements, and who are not exempt, must take these tests by May 5, 2012 for Fall 2012 enrollment. Because of heavy demand and limited seating, you should sign up for the tests much earlier than the May deadline. (Tests are also held in February, March and April.)

For more EPT and ELM information including test dates, online registration and exemptions, see the CSUN Testing Center website.

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