California First-Year Students

2016 / 2017

admission guide

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WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION• 1st worldwide for research

influence, tied with MIT (2014, Times Higher Education World University Rankings)

• 1st worldwide for research impact in molecular biology and genetics (2008, Science Watch)

• 1st nationally for research impact in physics (2007, Science Watch)

• 2nd nationally and eighth overall for universities under 50 years old (2015, Times Higher Education)

• 2nd highest-ranked best-value public university in the U.S. (2015, U.S. News and World Report)

LEADER IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH In 2013, President Barack Obama presented UC Santa Cruz astronomer Sandra Faber with the National Medal of Science for her pioneering research on the formation and evolution of galaxies (see photo at right).

ucsc.edu/about/achievements

A Global Leader in Education & Research

Part of the renowned University

of California system that includes

UC Berkeley and UCLA, UC Santa Cruz

is known for the worldwide impact

of its research and teaching and

its commitment to undergraduate

education.

ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES• Intensive Programs of Study

• Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Cutting-Edge Fields in the Arts, Engineering, Humanities, Physical and Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences ugr.ue.ucsc.edu (Dolphin Research at UCSC’s Long Marine Lab Pictured Above)

• Field Study and Internships in Nearby Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

• International and National Honors Societies Such as Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key International Honour Society

• First-Year Honors Program honors.ucsc.edu

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Lick Observatory

UC Santa CruzCampus

San Jose

SantaClara

Watsonville

Marina Salinas

Gilroy

Monterey

Carmel

SanFrancisco

Oakland

OaklandInternationalAirport

San FranciscoInternationalAirport

Santa Cruz

San Jose International Airport

Monterey Regional Airport

miles

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Monterey BayAquarium

UCSC University-Affiliated Research

Center at NASA Ames

UCSC Extension Silicon Valley

UCSCMontereyBay Education, Science, and Technology Center

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San Francisco

Santa Cruz

Los Angeles

YOSEMITENATIONAL

PARK

MOJAVEDESERT

REDWOODNATIONAL

PARK

San JoseSILICONVALLEY

Sacramento

Monterey

• A spectacular campus featuring redwood forests, panoramic views of the Monterey Bay, and open meadows

• The nearest UC campus to Silicon Valley, a worldwide center of technological innovation (less than 1 hour by car)

• 1.5 hours by car from San Francisco

• Next to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with unique opportunities to study marine life in diverse ecosystems such as kelp forests

• Over 300 sunny days a year • Outdoor recreational

opportunities: beaches, state forests, hiking trails

• Convenient to downtown Santa Cruz, with shops, restaurants, and movie theaters, and to the ocean (about 1 mile away from campus)

STUDY ON THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL COAST

Rarely will you find a location as inspiring as Santa Cruz, where opportunities and convenience are combined with magnificent natural beauty. For a virtual tour of UCSC with panoramic photos, see admissions.ucsc.edu/#virtualtour

A Location Like No Other

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Anthropology*Applied PhysicsArtArt and Design: Games and

Playable MediaAstrophysics (minor only)*Biochemistry and Molecular

BiologyBiology* BioeducationBusiness Management

EconomicsChemistry* Biochemistry Environmental ChemistryClassical Studies*Cognitive ScienceCommunity StudiesCritical Race and Ethnic

StudiesDance (minor only)*Earth Sciences* Environmental Geology Ocean Sciences Planetary Sciences Science EducationEarth Sciences/

AnthropologyEast Asian Studies (minor

only)*Ecology and EvolutionEconomics*Economics/MathematicsEducation (minor only for

undergraduates)*Electronic Music (minor

only)*

Language Studies* Chinese

French German Italian Japanese SpanishLatin American and Latino

Studies*Latin American and Latino

Studies/PoliticsLatin American and Latino

Studies/SociologyLegal Studies*Linguistics* Theoretical LinguisticsLiterature* Creative Writing English-language

Literatures French Literature German Literature Greek and Latin

Literatures Italian Literature Modern Literary Studies Pre- and Early Modern

Studies Spanish/Latin American/

Latino Literatures World Literature and

Cultural StudiesMarine BiologyMathematics* Computational

Mathematics Mathematics Education Pure Mathematics

Environmental Studies Agroecology and

Sustainable Food Systems

Environmental Studies/Biology

Environmental Studies/ Earth Sciences

Environmental Studies/Economics

Feminist Studies Culture, Power, and

Representation Law, Politics, and

Social Change Science, Technology,

and Medicine Sexuality StudiesFilm and Digital Media* Critical Studies Integrated Critical

Practice ProductionGerman StudiesGlobal EconomicsGlobal Information and

Social Enterprise Studies (minor only)*

History* Americas and Africa Asia and the Islamic World EuropeHistory of Art and Visual

Culture* Religion and Visual CultureHuman BiologyItalian Studies*Jazz (minor only)*Jewish Studies*

Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

MusicNeurosciencePhilosophy*Physics*Physics (Astrophysics)Physics EducationPlant SciencesPolitics*PsychologyScience, Technology, Engineering,

and Mathematics (STEM) Education (minor only)*

Sociology*Spanish Studies Languages and Linguistics Literature and CultureSustainability Studies

(minor only)*Theater Arts* Dance Design and Technology Drama

Jack Baskin School of Engineering

Applied Mathematics (minor only)*

Bioengineering Assistive Technology:

Cognitive/Perceptual Assistive Technology:

Motor Bioelectronics BiomolecularBioinformatics*Computer Engineering* Computer Systems Digital Hardware Networks Robotics and Control Systems Programming

Computer Science*Computer Science:

Computer Game DesignElectrical Engineering* Communications,

Signals, Systems, and Controls

Electronics/OpticsNetwork and Digital

TechnologyRobotics EngineeringStatistics (minor only)*Technology and

Information Management*

Undergraduate Programs: admissions.ucsc.edu/majors

Graduate Programs: graddiv.ucsc.edu/prospective-students/Programs.html

*Minor offered

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS (IN BOLD) & MINORS (INDICATED WITH AN ASTERISK) (academic concentrations listed below the major)

Academic Life at UCSCStudents can choose from 65 majors, 38 minors, and 52

academic concentrations in the Arts, Humanities, Engineering,

Physical and Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. First-

year students can apply as “undeclared” and determine their

major later as UCSC students.

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UC SANTA CRUZ ADMISSIONS INFORMATION FOR CALIFORNIA FROSH

11 finished prior to the beginning of your senior year. To view your school’s a-g course list, visit ucop.edu/agguide.

The 15 courses are: a. History/social science, 2 years b. English, 4 years c. Mathematics, 3 years d. Laboratory science, 2 years e. Language other than English,

2 years f. Visual and performing arts,

1 year

The admission and selection process for freshmen to UC Santa Cruz reflects the academic rigor and preparation needed for admission to a major research institution.

Qualifying for the University of California

• Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (“a-g” courses), with at least

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• Grade-Point Average (GPA)• Test Scores• Courses Completed/Planned• Honors Courses• Eligibility in the Local Context• Quality of Senior-Year Program

of Study• Educational Opportunities in

California High Schools• Performance in Academic

Subject Areas• Achievements in Special

Projects• Improvement in Academic

Performance• Special Talents, Achievements,

and Awards

g. College-preparatory elective, 1 year (chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university)

• Earn a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better in these courses with no grade lower than a C.

• Meet the examination requirement by taking the ACT Plus Writing or the SAT no later than December of the senior year.

California students who meet these qualifications may be “qualified in the statewide context,” or “qualified in the local context” (also referred to as ELC).

For more information, visit: admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman and admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman.html.

Selection by UC Santa Cruz

As a selective campus, UC Santa Cruz is unable to offer admission to all UC-qualified applicants. UCSC offers admission to freshman applicants according to the selection policy described on admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman.html. Professionally-trained Admissions readers conduct an in-depth review of your academic and personal achievements. The 14 factors we consider are:

• Participation in Educational Preparation Programs

• Academic Accomplishment within Life Experiences

• Geographic LocationAdmission and Selection

Transferring from a California Community College

About 25 percent of UCSC students do not begin their career as freshmen, but choose to enter the university by transferring from a community college. When making their transfer admission decisions, UCSC gives top priority to qualified junior transfers from California community colleges.

admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/ transfer-students

Applying for Admissionuniversityofcalifornia.edu/apply

Application available: August 1, 2015

Application filing period: November 1-30, 2015

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Student Life at UCSC

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FROSHHousing & Campus Life• A residential-college affiliation at

one of 10 UCSC colleges, providing smaller communities of living and learning, advising, and a writing-intensive core seminar

• A two-year campus housing guarantee• Free access to campus shuttles and

buses to get around campus and town

Health & Safety• A commitment to campus safety,

with police and fire stations right on campus

• The Student Health Center on campus, providing medical, counseling, and psychological services

Sports & Recreation• Intercollegiate athletics and a world-

famous recreation program• NCAA Division III teams in men’s/

women’s basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball; women’s golf and track. goslugs.com

Student Support Services• Opportunities for academic support,

such as advising, tutoring, and Modified Supplemental Instruction

African American Theater Arts Troupe

African/Black Student AllianceAsian/Pacific Islander Student

AllianceCosplay ClubEducation for Sustainable Living

Program (ESLP)Everett Program (formerly

Global Information Internship Program)

Filipino Student AssociationGreek Life (26 Fraternities and

Sororities)

Come live and learn

with us in a rigorous,

yet caring academic

environment that

supports your success!

GET INVOLVED! SOME OF OUR 150+ STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Mock Trial at UCSCModel United Nations at UCSCMovimiento Estudiantil

Chicano/a de Aztlan (MEChA)Queer Student Union and AlliesSports ClubsStudent Alliance of North

American Indians (SANAI)Student Environmental CenterUniversity Economics

Association (UEA)

admissions.ucsc.edu/why-ucsc/organizations.html

AUTUMN JOHNSON

Major: LiteratureHometown: Culver City, CaliforniaHigh School: Culver City High School

JUSTIN McCLENDONMajor: Legal studies and politics double majorHometown: Acton, CaliforniaHigh School: Vasquez High School

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STUDENT PROFILES

“The natural beauty of UCSC, the UCSC community, and the proximity to San Francisco are why I chose UCSC. The natural beauty of UCSC and the Santa Cruz area compares to no other. Living in the forest and having the beach on the cliffs of Santa Cruz is amazing. The community of students, staff, and faculty were beyond nice and welcoming.”

admissions.sa.ucsc.edu/studentprofile

“UCSC is a wonderful campus because there are a lot of resources inside and outside of the classroom. The faculty and staff are really helpful in helping students succeed in their courses as well as extracurricular endeavors.”

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ENROLLMENT FACTS• Total enrollment for

fall 2014: 17,866 16,277 undergraduates 1,589 graduate students

• Undergraduates: 52.8% women; 46.8% men; 0.4% unknown

ADMISSION FACTS

Number of countries represented by fall 2015 applicants: 96

U.S. states represented by fall 2015 applicants: all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands

2015 admission rate for frosh: 51.4%

New frosh hometowns, fall 2014

Los Angeles Area/South Coast 27.4%

San Francisco Bay Area 26.8%

Central Valley Area 12.4%

Monterey Bay Area/ Santa Clara Valley 11.6%

San Diego Area 10.0%

International 5.3%

Out of State 5.0%

Other Northern California 1.5%

Undergraduate Ethnicities

UC Santa Cruz seeks to enroll and graduate a student body of diverse cultural, racial, geographical, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In fall 2014, the ethnic composition of undergraduates was African American, 4.0%; Native American, 1.1%; Asian American/Pacific Islander, 25.7%; Chicano/Latino, 30.8%; Euro-American, 34.6%; international, 2.2%; not stated, 1.6%.

Class size:

• 64% of undergraduate courses have fewer than 30 students; 76% have fewer than 50.

Student/faculty ratio: 20 to 1

Undergraduate research: over 70% of undergraduates conduct research during their UCSC careers.

4.0 or higher GPA: 40.7%3.49 or lower GPA: 8.2%

*mean

Admitted frosh fall 2015 profile(percentages of all admits whose scores fell in the ranges below)

3.5 to 3.99 GPA: 51.1%Mean GPA: 3.88

UC Santa Cruz Facts & Figures

ACT Scores SAT Scores

27 or higher: 62.0% 1800 or higher: 55.6%

22-26: 29.6% 1500-1799: 36.5%

21 or lower: 8.4% 1499 or lower: 7.9%

Comp.*: 27.6 Total*: 1846.8

Engl. w/Writing*: 26.5 Crit. Reading*: 599.0

Reading*: 28.0 Math*: 639.1

Math*: 27.8 Writing*: 608.6

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Paying for a UCSC EducationESTIMATED UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSES 2015-2016* ON CAMPUS OFF CAMPUS

Tuition and Fees* $13,482 $13,482

Food and Housing 15,123 9,891

Books and Supplies 1,449 1,449

Transportation 576 1,272

Personal Expenses 1,818 1,899

Campus Health Insurance** 2,634 2,634

Resident Totals $35,082 $30,627

Non-Resident Tuition* 24,705 24,705

Non-Resident Totals $59,787 $55,332

*Tuition and fees are subject to change. For updated information, see financialaid.ucsc.edu/cost.shtml

**Campus health insurance is mandatory. The campus medical health insurance charge will be waived for students who provide proof of insurance.

FINANCIAL AIDIn 2014-15, more than $260 million in student aid was distributed to UC Santa Cruz undergraduates. For more information, please see financialaid.ucsc.edu

Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan pays for educational and student services fees for California resident students with family incomes less than $80,000 a year. universityofcalifornia.edu/blueandgold

Middle Class Scholarship This scholarship is for California resident students with total family income under $150,000. The scholarship amount is based on a sliding scale. admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary

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SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTSAB540 Students and Dreamers• Assembly Bill 540 allows eligible undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public universities in California.

• The California Dream Acts (Assembly Bill 130 and 131) extend eligibility for certain types of institutional and state aid to undocumented students. Instead of the FAFSA, undocumented students fill out the California Dream Act Application.

Resources for Further Support• UCSC’s Educational Opportunity Programs• El Centro/Chicano Latino Resource Center• Financial Aid and Scholarships Office

financialaid.ucsc.edu/get-started/Dreamers/Index.html

After GraduationRECENT ALUMNI & THEIR CURRENT ACTIVITIES

SOME WELL-KNOWN ALUMNI

Brittany Alba (neuroscience, ’15), two-year fellowship at UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps, in preparation to become a teacher.

Kristoffer Hellén (history, ’13), winner of the UCSC Steck Award for the best senior thesis of 2013, graduate student at the University of Indiana, studying Russian History.

Maya Rudolph (art,’95), actress and comedian, former cast member of Saturday Night Live whose recent film credits include Bridesmaids (2011) and Grown Ups 2 (2013).

Dr. M. Sanjayan (biology Ph.D.,’97), executive vice president and senior scientist for Conservation International, host of the new ground-breaking PBS nature series EARTH A New Wild. admissions.ucsc.edu

THE SLUG CONNECTIONSign up for the Slug Connection, your personalized online connection to UC Santa Cruz Admissions! admissions.ucsc.edu/prospect

KEEP IN TOUCH!Facebook: facebook.com/UCSCAdmissionsTwitter: twitter.com/ucsc_admissionInstagram: instagram.com/ucscadmissions

Admissions Representatives admissions.ucsc.edu/contact

E-mail admissions@ucsc.edu

Campus Tours admissions.ucsc.edu/ campustours

Campus Address1156 High Street Santa Cruz, California 95064

LEARN MORE

Produced by: UCSC Office of Admissions

7/15 (80M)

Virtual Tour

admissions.ucsc.edu/ #virtualtour