deutsch

I finally got accepted!! They don't notify by email at all. I didn't even know until I randomly checked MyUCMerced today.

88888888

yea they didnt send me email notification either, i found out a few weeks ago though and a representative from merced called me yesterday.

Aznxkaiser

You guys are all lucky..Im still Pending -.-

Alright so I actually DROVE 5 Hours there and 5 hours back today!
Schedule:
4AM Woke up - Left house by 4:45AM
Drove about 5 Hours and arrived at UC Merced...
Talked with the few people left and a counselor for a short period
Ate breakfast at Ihop
Drove to Hollywood/Beverly Hills area and ate
Drove home and arrived awhile ago

Lets just say I am REALLLLLLLLY tired driving from OC to Merced!
Ok so the overall feeling....A bit underwhelmed yet excited?
So while driving through the fields and fields of endless farms I realized how rural the area is. I was raised in a suburb/city, always felt the need to be around people and loud crowds. Also, I enjoy having so many entertaining things nearby... I was a bit disappointed as I went through it but I decided to ignore it and judge the campus.

The city of Merced....a bit on the dirty side? I got off on "G" Street and wow...it was a mess! All I saw were a bunch of 20++ year old buildings and restaurants. I took a breather and drove the 6 or 7 miles to UCM. Things got better though, the city started to look a bit better a more renovated, albeit there were still a lot of empty plots of farmland around it. The school appeared from afar and I was totally shocked! Although I knew the campus was NEW, it looked really really fresh and new to me! Everything was neat and tidy with great dorm rooms and a big library. I met a lot of friendly people and a friendly counselor (Didnt get his name..).

Although the campus isn't Pepperdine status...it was a lot better than most of the schools I have seen. I also liked the lake! I was very very confused at that spot though (I still am now that I think about it..). UC Merced has a great campus and very small class size...but the city around it, the distance from my house (5HOURS!!) and the overall feel made me feel torn.

I need more input about it! Would I be able to drive 5 hours again!?!>?!3ij23ru8h3

deutsch

thanks for the input azn. did you by any chance catch the exact or roundabout number of the "small" class size?? was it around 20 students?

TerpDad

My D. is attending her Freshman Year. She had the same first impression as you AZN. But she loves the small class sizes. The town of Merced has its charms but will continue to grow as the school grows. Not exactly what college kids want to hear but my D and her friends go to Fresno or Modesto for fun Even take day trips to S.F. and Yosemite She is happy with her choice The opportunities the school provides I can honestly say you would not get at the other U.C.'s

Aznxkaiser

The classes seemed small because the counselor I talked to explained most "major" specific classes are ranged from 15-20. But of course like all private schools, the GE classes (General) have many students in them because everyone takes them!
Terpdad, where do you live? In OC or So.Cali by any chance? If I were to attend there I detest the thought of driving 5 hours at night or in the break of dawn to get home for a day.. Although I doubt I will drive home much. Isn't San Jose nearby? I haven't been to SF so that would be a good road trip hehe

Overall I am just speculating still, I am leaning towards attending it obviously (Since I took that trip..) but my mom is trying to bribe me to attend a nearer UC.

TerpDad

Tell your mom not to worry, many Socal kids carpool during the breaks. My daughter's roommate is from O.C. We live north county S.D. San Jose is in that same radius from Merced My W tried to do the same with our D, bribe that is ,but D wanted distance from mom and dad. I wanted the same thing at her age.

Aznxkaiser

Ok thanks haha
Carpool? Sounds nice! I would hate to drive alone that far!
Man....The city of Merced needs to step it up! It feels so rural I cant believe a UC campus is there haha