You do understand what the ELC means?
“The ELC program ensures that academically talented and deserving California resident students from all over the state have the opportunity to join us at UC.”
It identifies a student in the top 9% of his/her high school class.
It does not ensure that wherever the student applies (UC), admission will be guaranteed at that school. If your child is rejected from his desired UC choices, the ELC does provide an option to attend a UC school that has room; and right now, that school is Merced.
At our children’s high school, the majority of their classmates, in all of their AP classes, received an ELC letter. It’s really not that “exclusive”, but it does let you know that Merced will be an option if your child applies to the UC’s and doesn’t receive an offer from any of the other UC’s.