BUSP Eligibility and Application

General Instructions and Eligibility

• We recommend that you compose your essays outside of the application system and then paste it in.
• Your application can be saved and revisited/updated until the application period closes. When you have finished the application, please check the box at the end to certify that your application is complete.
• If you have completed the required courses for the IGETC Transfer Agreement, you are not eligible for BUSP.
• Be sure to take the Math Placement Exam (instructions e-mailed to you from another department)! If your score on the Math Placement Exam is below 25, you are not eligible for BUSP.
• You do not need to have taken the Chemistry Placement Exam to be eligible for BUSP (although we do highly recommend it).

Program Information

This application is for incoming first-year students to apply for the Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program (BUSP) only. 

Completing the Application

To successfully complete the BUSP application, you will need the following information:

Academic information:

• Your UCD ID number;
• Your UCD email address;
• Your Entry Level Writing Requirement (satisfied/unsatisfied) information. You can find this information in your OASIS portal; or here. If you have not satisfied the ELWR, you can take introductory English at your local community college over the summer, receive credit for BOTH the ELWR and lower division English at UC Davis (if your community college course will transfer to UC Davis - check assist.org to make sure);
• The title and grade of the last Math class you took, and the year you took it;
• A list of your community college courses (if you have taken them) and grades;

Short statements (no more than 200 words per prompt):

• What is your main motivation for pursuing a degree in science? Please describe what career you hope to have in the future, if you have a clear career goal at this time (it’s okay if you don’t have a clear goal right now!). Why are you interested in this career, or what interests you about pursuing a degree in science? Please include any alternate choices that you may have.
• Why do you want to participate in the BUSP program? How will your participation in the program contribute to achieving your career goals?
• What are your academic strengths? What are your academic challenges?
• What are your personal strengths? What are your personal challenges?
• Do you anticipate any challenges on your academic pathway at UC Davis?
• Please describe your potential to contribute to BUSP community through your understanding of the barriers facing domestic minorities, students with disabilities, first generation students, former foster youth, and other members of groups underrepresented in higher education* as evidenced by your life experiences and educational background.

*Previous or current homelessness, low-income, former recipient of the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, former or current recipient of Federal Pell grants, former or current recipient of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or students from rural areas lacking resources, such as those designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (link downloads an excel file that includes zipcodes).

Academic Instructions 

So that you can be prepared if you are accepted into BUSP:

• Please be aware that if you are admitted to BUSP and you are registered for CHE 1V, CHE 2A, CHE 2AH, BIO 1/2/3 or BIS 2ABC that you will be required to drop these courses and add the BUSP PreChemistry Intensive; you will also add a pre or co-Math course or courses. We will assist you with adjusting your courses to reflect the BUSP curriculum. Please be assured that this will not be a problem. BUSP students take a PreChemistry intensive in the fall quarter of their first year, followed by CHE 2A in the winter (2B in spring and so on). BUSP students take BIS 11 in their first year, and begin Introductory Biology in the fall of their second year. You can find more information about the BUSP curriculum here.
• If you are accepted into BUSP, we recommend that you apply for the Education Opportunities Program (EOP) (more info and application information available here). However, if you do not receive EOP status, you will not be disqualified from BUSP.
• Another UCD department will contact you about Math and Chemistry placement exams. Please take at least the Math placement exam if you have not already done so.