<p>I am a junior in high school from New York and I am really interested in this college and I wanted to know a few things...</p>
<ol>
<li>What is the criteria like for admissions?</li>
<li>Do you need a lot of volunteer hours?</li>
<li>Is a 3.7 GPA unweighted, good enough?</li>
<li>What is campus like?</li>
<li>Where is the closest beach? </li>
<li>Is it a diverse community?</li>
<li>How is the swim program?</li>
<li>Is it big on school spirit?</li>
<li>What is something that makes the school unique?</li>
</ol>
<p>Campus is full of tress and fields mixed among the academic and residential buildings. There’s nary a spot that isn’t beautiful. I’d say it also has a very diverse community, in terms of cultures and religions. School spirit isn’t super huge. Most people I know are proud UCSC slugs, but we have no big sports teams to rally this spirit around.</p>
<p>We have an AMAZING swim team (its one of our few NCAA ranked teams). I’m sure at a more sports-based college you’d be able to find one that’s better, but for not focusing on our sports teams we’re pretty good too(:</p>
<p>I find it to be a very diverse community. I came from a mostly Asian high school and town, so I found it to be a great change (for the better) to come here. </p>
<p>I think Sammy our banana slug really makes us unique. Students voted to keep the banana slug as our mascot, and he is known as one of the most unique mascots across the country.</p>
<p>1.) What is admissions looking for?
Hard to say. The UC system is a poorly funded public institution that receives more applications than they can really handle. They are pretty much looking at your stats. If you are above their range of acceptable GPA and SAT scores. You are in. More or less. </p>
<p>2) Is it important to have a lot of volunteer hours?
Yes, it’s important to volunteer. I’m not sure it matters all that much how many hours you put into it. It would probably “look better” if you volunteered for several years and only worked an hour a month than if you volunteered 20 hours a week for two months. Your long term commitment and “staying with it” is important. </p>
<p>3.) Is a 3.7 GPA good enough?
I think so! Especially if you have strong SAT scores. Some of my friends had horrible GPAs and great SAT scores and got in. I had a 3.8 GPA and a average (1730) SAT score and got in. But that was 4 years ago. </p>
<p>4) What is life on campus like?
The campus is not very integrated at all. The different colleges (residential communities) are spread out all over campus and each college has a very different vibe. The colleges are pretty strongly stereotyped and where you choose to live pretty much determines what kind of people you will be surrounded by for the first year (at least).
There are some clubs and some sororities. The people I know who are in them, seem to like them. It’s kind of nice because they are not that competitive to get into. And it is relatively easy to get involved and run for office within organizations on campus. </p>
<p>5) How far is the closest beach?
Freshman are not allowed to park their car on campus. So, to get downtown most everyone takes the bus. The bus ride from campus to downtown is about 10 minutes (unless you miss the bus because it is too crowded and have to wait for another one…lots of bus drama). From downtown, the nearest beach is about a five minute walk. If you get on a 20 or 19 bus it will drop you off right at the Boardwalk. </p>
<p>6) Is it a diverse community?
Yes. I think UCSC prides itself on its diversity and acceptance of others. Sometimes I feel like we are even too politically correct. Going to school here will really open you up to social justice issues and thinking about how social structures function to marginalize some individuals/groups more than others. </p>
<p>7) What is the swim program like?
I have no idea. I’ve seen the pool quite a few times but I’ve never actually been in it. Budget cuts are really hurting our sports department. They threatened to cut rec classes and p.e. courses. But, I am not sure how it has effecting the swim program specifically.</p>