I heard that it’s one of the worst UCs. I have visited the campus and loved it because it’s so nice and clean compared to most popular colleges. Please share your personal experiences of UC Merced.
It is the least selective of the UCs. That does not necessarily mean that it is the worst UC for you, unless your definition of better or worse is purely based on admission selectivity. You need to see if its academic offerings, non-academic characteristics, and cost make it a good fit for you, just like with any other college.
Merced is changing so rapidly that someone who graduated last year probably won’t be able to give you a feel for what it will be like for someone enrolling in 2016. The avg freshman GPA is creeping toward 3.7, making it more selective than many would expect.
If you love campus and the school is an academic and budgetary fit, you should at least apply. If you get in, you don’t have to make up your mind until April/May.
Without understanding your qualifications, I can’t advise you further.
Thank you for the information.
I think UC Merced is a fine school–beautiful campus, great programs, and the academics are, as people have said, getting much better with time.
I think the problem with UC Merced though is its location. Merced is right in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley–one of the poorest areas in the country, and it’s littered with crime and poverty. And I believe the region leads the country in number of meth addictions or labs (there’s some meth related statistic, I can’t remember what it was but I just know that it’s not that impressive). When you compare the school with UC Davis, the programs and campus are similar (though by no means the same), but UC Davis’ location is more ideal which might be why it’s so much more popular. Do a little reading on the San Joaquin Valley and check it out if location would be something that bothers you.
Other than its location, UC Merced really is a great school (I would argue that it’s a better school than UC Riverside, but that’s subjective and up for you to decide for yourself). Good luck!
Weather. You could not pay me to live in the valley. But, I’m a fog and rain person. You could not pay me to live more than 20 miles from the ocean regardless.
Location, Location, Location. That’s why people don’t like it.
Its not easy to get to. It has smog days from the farmers’ pesticides and fog.
There is no easy-access airport. No small businesses for a quick bite, unless you go into “town”.
And in addition to that, I would generally advice against going to a school where people get stabbed…
Literally, you can forget what this Jack-ass said about Merced. If that’s the case, there are plenty of prestieged and great colleges you will be forced to avoid. So apologize for his lack of sense of humor.
If you have Bio or Mech Engi, many internships are going to be available. Just come here yourself as a tour and check it out yourself in turns of environment.
On campus housing wise, it’s bad. It’s pathetic. (Wifi will constantly go down every 5mins; no exaggeration. If you wanna call IT into your dorm, they will delay more than Comcast). DC food is just complete garbage despite how other try to protect their services on many different forum (moment i had their first pizza, i knew my year was screwed).
So overall, if you live off-campus and surround yourself with good people and work hard you will enjoy it. The city is more of suburban so don’t get surprised by how boring it could get. Avoid senseless people like Jack, that’s how you get stabbed.