University of California, Merced | Alexa Flash Briefing

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, including this week’s School Spotlight, University of California, Merced. 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.