Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: University of California, Merced Written by Elyse Krantzon November 4th, 2019 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: University of California, Merced Merced, CA There are so many well-known and highly regarded universities within the University of California system. Of course UCLA and Berkeley come immediately to mind, but have you ever considered the incredible opportunities at the UC’s newest campus, UC Merced? Located one hour from Fresno and 90 minutes from Yosemite National Park, the University of California, Merced opened in 2005 and has many of the same hands-on research opportunities as its older siblings but with a more personalized feel. With under 9,000 students (and only 8% of UC Merced students are grad students), both the academic and social offerings here are geared to the undergraduate experience. The student body is incredibly diverse. In addition to being designated a Hispanic-serving institution, the University also provides tremendous support for its large populations of low-income and first generation students. The vibe at UC Merced is decidedly green. All of the buildings on campus are environmentally certified, and conservation efforts can be seen everywhere across campus, from ubiquitous recycling and compost bins to tips and reminders to save water and energy. Academically, students can choose from a growing array of majors including many unique interdisciplinary options like Critical Race & Ethnic Studies (new as of 2017), Global Arts Studies, and Public Health. Good to know: students interested in UC Merced apply using the UC application, which must be submitted between 11/1 and 11/30. Image Credit: Top, University of California, Merced Related Resources Read | Posted on March 26th, 2024 California Colleges and Universities: A Treasure Trove of Opportunities Read | Posted on March 5th, 2024 The Top 3 Campus Safety Myths Read | Posted on March 1st, 2024 Celebrating International Women’s Day: Is a Women’s College Right for You?
