UPCAT 101 [ FIN ]

UPCAT GENERAL INFORMATION

UPCAT GENERAL INFORMATION

 -  THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

The University of the Philippines has eight constituent universities -- UP Diliman (with an extension program in Pampanga), UP Baguio, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas (with campuses in Iloilo/Miagao and Tacloban), UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, and the Open University. The Diliman campus is the University’s flagship campus and offers the largest number of degree programs. Other campuses are known for specific areas of specialization. For example, UP Manila is the country’s center of excellence in the health sciences; UP Los Baños is a distinguished center of academic excellence in agriculture, forestry and related sciences in Asia; UP Visayas is noted for its program in fisheries which is recognized as one of the best in Asia; UP Baguio is noted for its Cordillera Studies program; and the UP Open University, provides educational opportunities beyond the boundaries of a conventional university (i.e., through distance learning).

 As the premier State University, UP offers a wide range of degree programs. Some degree programs are offered in only one campus (e.g., BS Nursing, BA Filipino) while others are offered in two or more campuses (e.g., B Fine Arts, BS Statistics). Most of these require qualification through the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). To maintain its high standard of education and to maximize its limited resources, UP has had to limit slots for freshman admission to each campus and to its various degree programs.

 Some programs are in much greater demand than others so that their freshman slots are often more quickly filled. Other programs may not be as much in demand so that their limits are rarely, if ever, reached. Programs where the demand surpasses the available slots are considered to be over-subscribed. One must qualify for these programs through the UPCAT. Graduates of foreign high schools may qualify for admission into programs that are not over-subscribed as beginning freshmen without having to take the UPCAT provided they meet other requirements. Details on the specific requirements may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar of the respective UP campuses.

-  ADMISSION INTO THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH UPCAT

 If you decide to take the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) on August 4 or 5, 2012, you will be one among many thousands who aspire to enter the University of the Philippines. (Last year, there were over 70,000 examinees.)

 The UPCAT consists of 4 subtests: Language Proficiency, Science, Mathematics and Reading Comprehension. Standardized scores on these subtests are combined with the weighted average of final grades in the first three years of high school to determine qualification into UP. Moreover, to implement the policy of democratization to make the UP studentry more representative of the nation’s population, socio-economic and geographic considerations are factored in the selection of campus qualifiers.

-  QUALIFYING FOR A CAMPUS

In your application, you are asked to choose two campuses from among ten (Baguio, Cebu, Diliman, Iloilo, Los Baños, Manila, Mindanao, Pampanga, Tacloban and Open University) and indicate them in order of preference. You will also indicate two degree programs per campus on your UPCAT application form and rank them in order of preference. Your application will be processed according to your campus and course choices and in the order you specified.

 All applicants are ranked based on their admission grades and then screened based on the choice of campuses. The top-ranking applicants, based on the quota and cut-off grade set by each campus, will qualify. Entry into UP Diliman or UP Manila tends to be competitive because these campuses are chosen by more applicants. If you qualify for your first choice, you will no longer be considered for your second choice of campus. But if you do not qualify for your first choice, you are automatically considered for your second choice of campus.