If you have recently been accepted to the university or are just browsing, welcome to Merrill. UC Santa Cruz students, while part of the larger UCSC campus (13,000+ undergraduate students) are also part of a much smaller, tightly-knit community. Upon acceptance to the university, new students are asked to select their preferred college. Students will live in their collegeÕs residence halls, participate in activities sponsored by their college, attend their college's Core Course, and seek Academic Advising from their college's advisors. For details on what Merrill has to offer, please check out our Academics and Student Life webpages. Parents and new or prospective students may also be interested in reading our Letter to Parents.
If you have recently been accepted to UCSC, you may have some questions about accepting our admissions offer. You'll find answers to your frequently asked questions below.
Important Dates and Deadlines for Admitted Students
How do I accept my offer of admission?
Login to http://my.ucsc.edu. On the left side of the screen, you will find the "Application Status" tool. Click on "View Status." Click on "Now that I'm admitted, What's Next?" At the bottom of that page you will find two buttons. One button is to decline our offer, and the other button allows you to begin the multi-step process of accepting the offer of admission.
How and when do I need to select a college? How do I get more information on the colleges?
Accepting the UCSC admission offer is multi-step process. After you do the first step (explained above), you will be asked whether you plan to live in on-campus housing, and to select your first, second and third choices for college placement. If you wish to be selected for the Merrill College Frosh Scholars program, you need to list Merrill as your first choice.
Can I use a credit card when I accept my offer of admission?
Yes. You are able to use MasterCard, Discover or American Express through our online acceptance process. You can also use an electronic check. If you are not comfortable using an electronic check, you may print the payment page and mail a paper check or money order to UC Santa Cruz. UCSC does not except Visa.
When is the deadline to accept my offer of admission?
The deadline to accept the offer of admission is May 1 for first-year students and June 1 for transfer students. In order to accept your offer of admission, all steps of the online acceptance process must be completed.
How do I get my UCSC user name and password for the portal (my.ucsc.edu)?
Your UCSC user ID and password were originally sent with your acknowledgement letter on a bright pink sheet of paper. It is important that you hang onto this sheet as you will need this information to use your portal to enroll in classes later. If you have misplaced this sheet, email the portal Help Desk at: help@ucsc.edu and request that they send you the information. In the email you will need to include your full name and your UC ID#, to expedite the process.
* It is very important that you set up a "password hint" through your portal. When you enter your portal, go to the link "Personal Info and Options" and click on "Change password" and then go to "Change or set up forgotten password help." Obtaining a password from Internet Technology Services requires time that you might not have when enrolling in classes, and the password hint can save you that trouble.
The portal says that I'm admitted but doesn't mention anything about my major. Was I accepted into my major?
In most cases, students arrive at UCSC with "proposed majors" and later petition the department to officially "declare" the major, usually after completing coursework in the discipline. Transfer students in the art and engineering majors are exceptions. Incoming Frosh have until they reach 90 credits (usually 2 years) to complete the declaration process. You can find more information on this process at the UCSC advising website.
I did the whole acceptance process, how do I know which of the ten colleges I will be going to?
Shortly after the May 1st acceptance deadline, the university reviews the requests for college placement and assigns students to a college. You will receive a welcome packet from your college in late May/early June. We will send you information about our college, enrollment information, and first year students will also receive information about the core course and a book list for that course. All incoming students will also receive information in about researching majors.
How do I let you know what kind of housing conditions I would like to have (i.e. number of roommates, if I want to live with my friend, if I prefer rooming with a "morning person," etc.)?
You will need to apply for housing online, at: studenthousing.ucsc.edu. This must be done by May 30. The Merrill Housing coordinator will receive the information you provide, and will consider your preferences when making the housing assignments.
When and how will I be notified about dorm and roommate assignments?
You will receive a packet in the mail from Merrill Residential Life containing your dorm room assignment, your roommatesÕ contact information, a move-in date and time, a parking pass for move-in and information about what to (and not to bring) to college. We send this packet out in AUGUST, and if you have not received it by the second week of August, you should contact our Merrill Housing Coordinator, Kristen Weaver, at (831) 459-5233.
I want to be in the Merrill Frosh Scholars Program, how do I apply and how do you choose students for this program?
Once college assignments have been made, we send a letter to the top percentage of new first-year students affiliated with Merrill. This invitation includes an essay topic. The student will use this topic to write an essay, send it to the Merrill Provost, and the Provost will then select the Frosh Scholars based on this essay. For more information on this program and what is expected of those selected, please see our Frosh Scholars page.
I have received my welcome packet from Merrill and I still have lots of questions! What do I do? Who do I contact?
Congratulations, you have graduated to our Frosh FAQ and Transfer FAQ webpages! If you would feel better speaking to someone in person regarding your questions, you may contact the Merrill College Office at (831) 459-2144 or via email at: merrilladvising@ucsc.edu. Because spring is such a busy time for us, we ask that you please read carefully through the Advising Handbook sent in your Merrill College packet before contacting us. This handbook is also available for download (PDF format) under the "Advising Resources" section at: http://advising.ucsc.edu/student/index.html. You will use this handbook as a guide from now through your first quarter at UCSC, and it may give your general questions a specific direction.
Important Dates and Deadlines for Admitted Students
| April 2-18 |
Experience UC Santa Cruz -- 3 weeks of campus and college tours. You can sign up on the Admissions website. |
April 15
|
All documents requested by Financial Aid must be received by this date, in order to receive an offer of admission before the admission reply date. |
| May 1 |
Frosh Statement of Intent to Register due
Frosh University Housing Advance Fee Due |
| May 11 |
Deadline to register for UCSC off-campus math placement exam |
| May 12 |
Analytical Writing Placement Exam held for all UC admitted Frosh who have not yet satisfied ELWR ( Entry Level Writing Requirement). |
| Mid-May |
Frosh college affiliation notification |
| May 30 |
Deadline for new Frosh to complete and submit the online housing application/contract. |
| June 1 |
Transfer Student Statement of Intent to Register due
Transfer University Advanced Housing Fee due |
| Mid-June |
Transfer student college affiliation notification
Transfer student Academic Advising and Enrollment information mailed
Transfer student housing packets are mailed |
| June 27 |
Deadline for reservations for Frosh and Transfer Student Summer Orientation through the student portal at my.ucsc.edu |
| July 10, 12, 14, 17, and 24 |
Frosh and Transfer Student Orientation and Enrollment |
