<p>Part of the reason that I chose to attend UC Merced over UC Berkeley and UC Davis (both accepted me) was that there was an overarching theme of a ‘small school’ feel to UCM. Granted, the school is a public school, so I would not expect a small school experience to actually occur. MANY (most) of the people at orientation and in the catalog/news stories indicate that ucm is such a small school which leads to opportunities in research. My main problem here is that people go out of their way to say how ucm gives so many opportunities for research positions with such a small student to faculty ratio (I think its 30 students: 1 prof) which allows for chances that other schools would not give. I have to say that I think most of the statements about research opportunity are just plain PR crap. I think the school uses it mostly as a recruiting tool and heres how I know. I just finished a very tough semester: Biochemistry, Organic Spectroscopy, Physics II, and Virology. I went to all of my professor’s office hours, which took up most of my time, not to just gain a greater understanding of the course material; I wanted to land a research position. Nearing the end of the semester, I thought I would probably be at a better advantage to get a position than those people who solicit their want for a position by sending mass emails to professors. NO. Not only were there no positions available, two of my profs. put me on a 1.5 year waiting list to even BE CONSIDERED for a spot. I am not whining that I was asking for a research position at the wrong place and time, I simply want to disprove the public notion that ucm grants any old research opportunity to some student walking down scholars lane. Additionally, I want to say that those two professors that did not put me on a waiting list, did do their best to avoid me. One prof. (will go unnamed) decided it was in his best interest to, without notice, cancel a meeting I had set up with hm to talk about a position so that he could go ‘on leave’. Yes they are busy, but -_- . So I conclude with a thanks. Thank you UC Merced for tricking me into enrolling into you with false hopes and aspirations.</p>
<p>I think you had some unrealistic expectations when you opted to attend UC Merced. At this point in time it is not very likely UC Merced has any significant sources of research funding. First of all, the companies, foundations and government agencies that fund research at universities probably have policies that prohibit them from making research grants to colleges and universities that are not fully accredited. UC Merced will not be accredited until 2012 at the earliest.</p>
<p>Second, sources of research funding prefer to give their money to universities with proven histories of successful completion of significant research projects that yielded valuable results. Just because a school is a UC and therefore should be considered a research institution does not make it so in the eyes of those entities that fund research. UC Merced has no record of successful research and acquiring a reputation as a research institution is something that can not simply be conferred, it has to be earned over a period of many years.</p>
<p>Third, being in the Central Valley it is not located near concentrations of high technology companies that are most likely to invest in research. I would not be surprised if San Jose State, a CSU, receives more in research grants from private industry for engineering than UC Merced does due to SJSU’s location in the heart of Silicon Valley and the strong relationships it has built up with the high technology companies there over the years. </p>
<p>I do not know what the future holds for UC Merced but I think it will be a long time before it can provide significant research opportunities for its students.</p>
<p>Plus, you are paying about twice as much in tuition. No offense to the low-tier UCs (SC,M, R), but I think the top CSUs are just a better deal. Namely Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, and San Diego State. I hope things turn around and you get what you deserve.</p>