University of California – Merced (UC Merced)

9999 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX

About
University of California - Merced, located in Merced, California, was founded in 2005, and has the distinction of being the first American research institution built in the 21st century. The school is the most recent of the 10 schools that comprise the University of California System. The school was built in California's San Joaquin Valley, which was the state's most populous region without a UC campus. The school technically falls outside of the boundaries of any city, community or county, the school is addressed as Merced, CA. The schools recent construction and expansion is continuing, most recently resulting in new student housing.The school currently enrolls nearly 11,000 students annually.


Academics
UC Merced offers a variety of degrees that allow students to pursue the education and career that best reflects their desires and goals. bachelor degree programs take approximately four years to complete and require a combination of upper and lower division major courses, general education courses, and electives that allow for study outside of one's major. Additionally students may pursue a secondary area of study through a minor degree that requires additional courses, though less so than those of one's major. Graduate level studies are also available, requiring a separate criterion for admission, including GRE scores, a undergraduate degree, and a strong academic record.


Currently UC merced has a smaller number of undergraduate and graduate programs due to the recent establishment of the campus and facilities. Though with anticipated increased enrollment and the expansion of the campus, the addition of new programs are inevitable.


Programs offered include:

• Anthropology
• Economics
• History
• Psychology
• Sociology

Admissions and Financial Aid
Students may apply to UC Merced through the UC application, which allows student to apply to one or more campuses within the UC system. Students applying to UC Merced must supply an application, test scores, transcripts, recommendations and any other information requested by the school. The received information will be reviewed and notification given regarding the students admissions status. If admitted additional information will be provided to prepare the student for life on campus. Priority for admission is given to California residents.


Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which is used by the school's financial aid office to determine a student's needs and aid program eligibility when constructing an aid packet. California residents may also be eligible for state issued CalGrants which are offered for academic excellence and need. Aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year, and students may be asked to supply additional information in order to determine the accuracy of the FAFSA prior to disbursement of funds.