UC Merced Class of 2029 Official Thread

Colleges & Universities University of California - Merced
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Welcome prospective Bobcats. It’s that time of year again as the UC application has now opened and submission starts October 1 through December 2. I am @Gumbymom one of the two UC Forum Champions/Moderators. My Co-Forum Champion is @lkg4answers and we are knowledgeable on the increasingly complicated UC admissions process and hopefully we can help any prospective UC applicants with their questions.

UC Merced like all the UC’s are test blind this admission cycle and will use 13 areas of criteria to review Freshman applicants. Each campus will weight the various areas of criteria differently so one size does not fit all. The UC application website has plenty of information that can help determine if UC Merced is a good option when applying. Below is some admit information specific to the school.

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/how-applications-are-reviewed.html

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses-majors/merced/freshman-admit-data.html

https://admissions.ucmerced.edu/first-year/requirements

Medical Collaborative

2024 Freshman (First year) profile 25th-75th percentile:
Unweighted UC GPA: 3.18-3.73
Capped weighted: 3.41-4.04

Top 5 majors by applications:
Biological Sciences
Management and Business Economics
Computer Science and Engineering
Psychology
Public Health

Freshman admission information:

Major is not a factor in the admissions process but applicants are admitted by major. Alternate majors are considered if the applicant does not meet their primary choice admission standards.

Selective majors include majors in the College of Engineering and the School of Natural Sciences.

New Majors:
Engineering- Aerospace, Biochemical and Bimolecular Engineering, Sustainability and Technology.
Natural Sciences- Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
Social Science/Humanities- Communication and Media, Neuroscience, Science, Technology and Ethnics.

UC Merced tours

Best of luck to all applicants.

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I was in a UC merced seminar and they said UC merced admits by major, but their website says what you have stated above - Selection as a Freshman applicant is not based on your major.

So I understand this means, they admit to a college and then major is used to just assign. thanks

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Interesting. Where was the seminar and who was the person (what was their role at UCM) that made the statement?

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Merced just released admission status!

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Did they say why they were posting decisions this early? Usually they do rolling admissions in March.

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No. I am really surprised, too.

Did anyone else hear back from Merced today? Son was accepted to Anthropology major.

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They do not state the reason in the admission letter, maybe in a press release.

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I lurk on Reddit and 2 other admits posted today.

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Son admitted to CSE.

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UC Merced was sending out admit notices to around 19K applicants today. I have a very reliable source there. Thanks!

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I wonder out of how many total applicants…

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btw, my son just got his acceptance letter too. Biological sciences. Plus 3 of his close friends. We are local and all these kids were assured a spot at UCM as part of their MAAP program anyways.

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Kid got his acceptance email as well. Happy, right before the holidays!

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Here is the link to the MAAP program for guaranteed admission to UC Merced for local HS students. Some of the early admits are part of this program.

UC Merced MAAP program

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S25 also admitted today - undeclared - not ELC so he applied directly. Of all the UC’s I have to say they have some pretty great e-communications.

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S25 also got admitted yesterday! What a pleasant surprise! Mechanical Engineering, no ELC or MAAP.

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In-state, Accepted on 12/18
Biological Science Major

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Son was accepted in CSE yesterday

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For all admitted students, can you please fill out the Decision template to help prospective students still waiting for their decision and also future applicants. Thank you.

Decision:

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major (and division if applicable) applied to:

ACADEMIC STATS::

Calculate your GPAs with GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub

UC Unweighted GPA:

UC Capped Weighted GPA:

UC Fully Weighted GPA:

ELC (top 9% CA HS):

Comments about course load (including senior year):

Number of a-g courses:

Number of UC Approved Honors courses:

Number of AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses):

Number of IB courses/exams (score in parentheses):

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

SUBJECTIVE::

Extracurriculars:

Job/Work Experience:

Volunteer/Community service:

Summer Activities:

Personal Insight essays (details):

Supplemental/Augmented Review: Yes or No

DEMOGRAPHICS::

State/location of HS (if domestic applicant):

Country (if international applicant):

Applied for need-based financial aid?

First Generation?

REFLECTION::

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/denied:

GENERAL COMMENTS: