Applying for college is an exciting time for high school students as they consider the next steps in their educational journey. Keeping all available options open is a simple process. The key to the university application process is to be prepared. There are a lot of details to consider, but there are also many resources to help applicants maximize their time and efforts.
At the University of California, Merced, a team is devoted to making the process of applying to the university as painless as possible. UC Merced’s priority filing period is open right now; Nov. 30 is the deadline for fall 2010 applications to receive priority consideration.
The first step, of course, is to apply. That can be done online by visiting admissions.ucmerced.edu and following the appropriate links. The UC system allows students to apply to multiple campuses with a single application. This means less work for the student and the ability to choose among a variety of campuses.
To ensure timely processing of university applications, it’s important to know what is required of prospective students. A complete list is available at admissions.ucmerced.edu; however, here are some important tasks to keep in mind:
- Take your SAT Reasoning and/or ACT Assessment plus Writing exams. You also need to take two SAT Subject exams in two different areas. Visit the Apply page on the Admissions Web site for more information about which tests to take. It is important to register early. If you’re not sure when the exams are offered, check out the Web sites for the SAT and ACT. Those sites will give you the information you need to prepare for and take the exams
- Get a copy of your high school transcript. Remember, an unofficial copy is OK. You’ll also need a list of courses in progress and courses planned to complete your application.
- 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. Make your personal statement a long-term project; plan to go through several drafts to get it just right.
- There is a $60 application fee. If you need financial assistance for the application, fill in your family income information where it’s indicated, and you will be considered for a fee waiver at the time of application.
- Verify that all the information you entered is correct
You should also:
- Review the list of majors and minors available at the campuses that interest you.
- Visit UC Merced. Students throughout the state are coming to see the campus and finding out about the opportunities that abound here. Weekday tours are offered throughout the year. Check out our tour page for more information.
- Circle Nov. 30 on the calendar; that is when the UC application priority filing period ends.
- Apply for financial aid, even if you don’t think you’ll need or want it. 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. It’s better to turn down an unneeded offer than to self-select yourself out of being considered.
For information on the admissions process at UC Merced or for assistance, call 209-228-4682 or e-mail admissions@ucmerced.edu. For more information on the UC Merced experience, check out our page on Facebook.
