Applying for college is an exciting time for students. There are many opportunities and details to consider. Staying on top of “things to do” is an important part of the process. The University of California, Merced is here to help students progress from the application for admission through the enrollment process.
The Students First Center and Office of Admissions have helpful points for people considering attending the newest UC campus.
The first step, of course, is to apply. That can be done online by visiting the Admissions Web site and following the appropriate links. The UC system makes the process easier on students by allowing them to apply to multiple campuses with a single application. This means less work for the student and a greater range of admission opportunities.
The University of California priority filing period for Fall 2009 admission ends Nov. 30, so there is no time to waste. For information, contacts and assistance, the Admissions site is the place to go.
- Take the required examinations:
- SAT Reasoning and/or ACT Assessment plus writing along with the SAT II Subject Examinations
- Check out the Web sites for the SAT and ACT test dates, and plan to complete them by December.
- You may self-report your SAT and/or ACT results in the application; however, you are also required to submit official test scores. Please order score reports from the testing agency no later than December 2008 for fall 2009 admission.
- Please note: “Rush Scores” are not required.
- Get an unofficial copy of your high school transcript to help in filling out your application. You’ll also need a list of courses in progress and courses planned to complete your application.
- Prepare a list of your extracurricular activities along with dates of participation.
- Familiarize yourself with the personal statement prompts.
- Draft your personal statement on a computer so you can easily copy and paste the text into the online application.
- There is a $60 application fee. If you need financial assistance for the application, just fill in your family income information where it’s indicated, and you will be considered for a fee waiver.
- Verify that all the information you entered is correct.
- For additional help, tour the online application.
- Bookmark the Students First Center Web site and refer to it as your one-stop online resource for information about UC Merced and its services.
You should also:
- Review the list of majors and minors available at UC Merced.
- Visit UC Merced. Come see our campus for yourself. We offer weekday tours throughout the year. Check out our tour page for more information.
- Remember that the priority filing period ends Nov. 30.
- Apply for financial aid. To be considered for financial assistance, all students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will be available online starting Jan. 1.
- Remember that by completing the UC Undergraduate Application for Admission and Scholarships, you are also applying for scholarships.
- Find more tips on how to apply at the University of California Web site.
- Contact UC Merced directly by calling (866) 270-7301 (toll-free in California), or you can send an e-mail to studentsfirst@ucmerced.edu. For more information on the UC Merced experience, check out our pages on Facebook and MySpace.
