Our elder son is in Bay area, so we first considered applying to UCSC for younger son. But after a campus visit, younger son said “no way”. He thought UCSC campus is worse than his elementary school 10 years ago. Probably many other kids have similar feelings. He feels that US News got it right, Merced over Riverside and SC.
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Decision: Accepted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Economics
ACADEMIC STATS::
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.3
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.5
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 3.5
ELC (top 9% CA HS): School doesn’t do percentages
Comments about course load (including senior year): took AP gov/AP macro also won the California state championship for a social studies related course
Number of a-g courses: 24
Number of UC Approved Honors courses: 2
AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses): AP Language (5) AP Art (5) AP Psychology (4) AP Gov/Macro (senior year)
IB courses/exams (score in parentheses):
DE courses:
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None
SUBJECTIVE::
Extracurriculars: Model UN
Job/Work Experience: Selling my art online for 5+ years
Volunteer/Community service: 20 (helping my teachers) (Didnt include in my extracurriculars)
Summer Activities: none
Personal Insight essays (general details/topics): About my interest in helping others/ art and overcoming academic barriers
Supplemental/Augmented Review: No
DEMOGRAPHICS::
State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): California Bay Area
Country (if international applicant):
Applied for need-based financial aid? No
First Generation? No but I am A first gen immigrant
CONGRATS EVERYONE!
Congratulations!
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It’s really cool that current students think highly of their school, congrats! As for campus, mine isn’t crazy about either SC or Merced but gave me the equivalent of nfw when she saw Merced. I don’t think she’ll select SC or Merced, but I have hopes that she’ll at least consider one of them to save dear old dad some cash. Have a great night!
My daughter got accepted into UC Merced for proposed Chemistry major earlier today. She also got Early Acceptance from UCSC yesterday for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. And she also got accepted into UCR today for Biochemistry major, 3 out of 3!
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My son was admitted to the school of engineering.
S24
Decision: Accepted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: CS
ACADEMIC STATS:: (I believe these were his stats)
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.9
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.3
ELC (top 9% CA HS): Yes
AP Calc AB (5), AP Comp Sci (5)
Currently taking: AP Calc BC, AP Psychology, AP Lit
SUBJECTIVE::
Extracurricular: Varsity Water Polo/Swim all 4 years, Band, Developed PC game
Volunteer/Community service: STEM non profit (200+ hours)
DEMOGRAPHICS::
State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): California Bay Area
Applied for need-based financial aid? No
First Generation? No
son accepted to Political Science yesterday. middling GPA, strong PIQs, A’s in all social science classes, including APs, track team the only extracurricular. i think Merced is a gem, but it’s a hard sell to a kid from SoCal.
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This goes to show why everyone should visit campuses if they have the opportunity, because opinions are very personal. I’ve actually never heard of someone thinking that the Merced campus is more desirable than UCSC, which I’ve seen show up on “most beautiful campus in the world” lists before. Everybody’s different.
Decision: Accepted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any): not yet, not expected
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Computer Science and Engineering
ACADEMIC STATS::
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.84
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.16
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.40
ELC (top 9% CA HS): Yes
Comments about course load (including senior year):
Number of a-g courses: all but required PE
Number of UC Approved Honors courses: 10
AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses): 9, all 5’s of 4 exams
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none
SUBJECTIVE::
Extracurriculars: lots of music/band
Job/Work Experience: none
Volunteer/Community service: lots of music related service
DEMOGRAPHICS::
State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): CA/central valley
Applied for need-based financial aid? Not sure what this means, filled out FAFSA but don’t expect aid
First Generation? No
To me, Santa Cruz campus is great, but I love trees, ocean views, and natural beauty. Darling Daughter prefers something less hilly, smaller trees, etc. She thinks Westwood is ideal, to me its’s ok, just nothing too special. She didn’t mind SC, which did not appeal to me at all.
My son was just accepted to UC Merced! With an invite to apply to their Honor’s program. I believe to the school of engineering.
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Does the honor program invite come separately or part of the acceptance mail? Does every one honor invite?
Admitted on Friday (3/1) with a check your portal email. Received honors program invite email tonight (3/4).
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I just checked email after seeing it here, and of course, the honor program invite is there in the mailbox.
From the description, sounds like this is the first time ever that Merced is doing honor program, as they refer to it as “the founding class of the UC Merced Honors Program.”
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The only email my son saw was an email congratulating him on being admitted and that he should apply to the honors program. He then checked his portal to see which major he was admitted into (BS Computer Science and Engineering). It sounds like perhaps there was also an email a few days ago to check his portal, (but he did not see one, just the email tonight about honors college.)
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My daughter got the invite this evening.
It looks like everyone is invited. My son was invited but what is the qualifications or requirements?
Eligibility
The Fall 2024 UC Merced Honors Program application opens on March 1, 2024.
You must have been accepted to UC Merced to access the UC Merced Honors Program application.
For priority consideration, you must apply by March 15, 2024**.** Any applications received after this priority deadline will be reviewed until the program fills.
For Fall 2024, only incoming first year students may apply. First year transfer students and second year UC Merced students may apply for Fall 2025 admission – more information will be available in Spring 2025.
No minimum GPA is required for admission to the program.
More details of the program here: Application Information | Honors (ucmerced.edu)