UC Merced is opening its doors and arms for two major events this weekend (Oct. 18-19). The first, Preview Day, will give prospective students a chance to see the inner-workings of the university before applications are accepted next month. The second, Family Weekend, offers friends and relatives of current students an insider’s view of the university from the perspective of the campus community.
Fall Open House Offers a ‘Preview’ of UC Merced
Preview Day, which will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, is an event not to miss for the simple reason that this is the first time ever that UC Merced has offered such detailed information to high school and community college students before they’ve had the chance to apply.
“Aside from being our first-ever fall open house, Preview Day is important for prospective students because it allows them the opportunity to cover a lot of ground in one day,” said Alejandro Delgadillo, associate director of admissions and outreach. “Attendees will be able to tour the campus, and discuss academic programs, student services and student life with the people responsible for those areas.”
In essence, Delgadillo said, attending Preview Day is a great way for anyone who may want to apply here to maximize their time and effort.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a campus information fair in the Academic Quad will offer the opportunity to speak one-on-one with officials from various campus offices. Tours of residence halls, academic schools, the library and other parts of campus will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Academic presentations and applicant workshops will take place all afternoon.
“Our hope is that those who take advantage of Preview Day will walk away from the event with a clear picture of what UC Merced is all about and a sense of how they will fit in with our campus community,” Delgadillo said.
Registration is required for the event and can be done online at admissions.ucmerced.edu/previewday. For information: 209-228-4682.
UC Merced Opens its Doors to Students’ Family, Friends
Family Weekend is UC Merced’s annual two-day event that welcomes the family and friends of our students to campus. According to Enrique Guzman, program manager for the Office of Student Life, it’s a way for the university to show those close to students what they are doing while away from home.
“We value the family and friends of our students, because we know what a valuable source of support they are,” Guzman said. “Family Weekend helps them get tied into the UC Merced network, and helps the student share his or her college experience with those whose opinion matters most.
Registration begins Friday, but most Family Weekend events will take place Saturday and Sunday. Those who come into town early will have the opportunity to watch the Soul’d Out Poetry Jam, which takes place that evening on campus, or head downtown for Playhouse Merced’s production of “Something’s Afoot.” Admission to the Poetry Jam is free; Playhouse Merced ticket prices vary.
Saturday is when campus kicks into high gear. Chancellor Steve Kang will offer a campus update in the morning. A fun zone will be set up to entertain younger siblings while some campus presentations take place. Parents will also get the opportunity to have meet university faculty and administrators, in addition to finding out what’s available for their students to pursue academically and socially.
A concert and barbecue dinner will cap off the evening in the Academic Quad. Omar Akram, an accomplished New Age/Jazz musician, will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.
Family Weekend closes with a Sunday brunch and time allotted for attendees to explore the area around campus.
Our hope is that by seeing the environment our students live and study in, their friends and relatives will be better equipped to support their academic endeavors,” Gutierrez said. “We have an open-door policy here at UC Merced, but Family Weekend allows us to have all of our doors open at once.”
For information on the event, contact the Office of Student Life, 209-228-5433. Early registration is required.
