<p>Check cost when doing reach/match/safety evaluations. Go to each school’s web site and put “cost of attendance” and “financial aid estimator” in the search box.</p>
<p>Cost safety: You can certainly afford it.
Cost match: You can probably afford it.
Cost reach: You may be able to afford it, but not that likely (e.g. contingent on a reach-level merit scholarship or unusually generous need aid).
Cost out-of-reach: You cannot afford it under any circumstances. It is not worth applying to such a school.</p>
<p>A safety must be both an admissions safety and a cost safety. Being admitted without sufficient financial aid is like a rejection.</p>
<p>For UCSC:</p>
<p>Have you calculated your UC admissions GPA? Calculate using the method here (for CSU, but UC is the same): [CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - GPA Calculator](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>What is your state of residency? For out-of-state, your UC admissions GPA must be at least 3.4. Also, UCs are probably out of reach for cost if you need a lot of financial aid.</p>