University of California-Merced

Average Rating

Will I get in to University of California-Merced?

How We Get These Numbers

We use over 200 data points about you and your target college. Our unique algorithm takes many factors into account, including your grades and test scores, the academic rigor of your high school curriculum, your extracurricular activities, personal details, and just about everything else in your profile. We also consider numerous factors about the college, including the grades and scores of students who have been admitted in the past, the school's selectivity, the gender and ethnic makeup of the school, and others. We use data from multiple government and private sources, plus information provided by the schools themselves.

Don't ignore the width of the orange bar! For best results, make sure you fill out your Cappex profile accurately and completely. A very wide orange bar means that we don't have enough information to give you an accurate rating. (Make sure your entire profile is filled out, especially your test scores and GPA.) A very narrow orange bar means that the calculator has enough information, and our estimate of your chances of getting in is extremely reliable for the vast majority of cases. Of course there are always exceptions - the odds are never 100%, and we don't guarantee you will get into any college. You might look good on paper but be a jerk in real life! As well, your individual circumstances and qualifications may qualify you for admission in situations where someone of comparable standing will be rejected.

Use the Cappex calculator like you would any other source - as a tool to help you plan and prioritize your college search. College is an important decision, and you'd be nuts to rely solely on what a computer says. Always get advice from high school counselors, admissions representatives, parents and others in your college search - people who know you better than any computer can.

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You may still not get in!

Even though your chances look good you may still get rejected from this college. Please keep the following in mind:

• The program for which you're applying may require a tryout, audition or portfolio review during the admissions decision. If your tryout, audition or portfolio doesn't impress them you might get rejected.
• Your intended area of study may be extremely competitive for this college. Even top students get rejected from colleges when lots of students are applying to a specific major.
• Some highly selective colleges take a very holistic approach to admissions and you may not be the type of student they want to attract even if your grades and test scores are top notch.
• Your application is incomplete or doesn't effectively communicate your qualifications. Everything from poorly written essays to sketchy recommendations can hurt your chances.
• Some schools impose additional minimum entrance requirements, which are not considered by the calculator. For example: In addition to composite test scores, some schools impose mandatory minimums on sub scores as well. Although the calculator does consider sub scores in its analysis, it does not consider any mandatory minimums that might exist. Check the college's website for more details.
• Economic factors during the 2008/2009 admissions season may have an impact. Many state-funded and other more-affordable schools are reporting a sharp increase in the number of applicants, which may result in rejections for some students who would have been easily admitted in past years. The calculator does not consider these economic factors.

Bottom line, no calculator can tell you definitively whether you'll get in - you'll only know if you actually apply. Always talk to others such as high school counselors, parents and admissions representatives before deciding whether to apply to a certain college.

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You may still get in!

Even if your chances look slim, don't give up hope! There are a number of factors that can work in your favor:

• The program for which you're applying may require a tryout, audition or portfolio review during the admissions decision. Good performance here can really make the difference.
• You may be a member of an underrepresented group that the college is trying to attract that may have a different academic standard for admission. Many colleges go out of their way to increase diversity; if you add to the diversity on their campus they may reach out to you. For example, this college may be looking for students who can increase ethnic, geographic or academic diversity.
• If you've done something truly remarkable that makes you stand out above the rest. Schools look beyond academics every day for students who stand out from their peers.
• If this college is "test optional" they may not take your test scores into consideration. The "What Are My Chances?" Calculator™ does take your test scores into consideration. So, if your test scores are bad, it may have given you a lower chance.
• If one or both of your parents went to that school. Colleges sometimes give preference to so-called "legacy" students.

Bottom line, no calculator can tell you definitively whether you'll get in - you'll only know if you actually apply. Always talk to others such as high school counselors, parents and admissions representatives before deciding whether to apply to a certain college.

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Who's getting in to University of California-Merced?

The chart provides up-to-the-moment University of California-Merced admission statistics from students who applied this year.

• Gabriel from Hercules, CA

  This section all depends on the person and what your preferences are. Obviously, as mentioned earlier, if you simply want to learn, then there's no problem at all.
  
  However, UC Merced has some perks..some that can be good and some bad. I… more read full review

  This section all depends on the person and what your preferences are. Obviously, as mentioned earlier, if you simply want to learn, then there's no problem at all.
  
  However, UC Merced has some perks..some that can be good and some bad. I don't want to spoil everything for you and chase you away/convince you--I want you to form your own opinions based on facts.
  
  - UC Merced is in the middle of NOWHERE. There's really nothing to do here. Sure, there are clubs and stuff, parties here and there, the typical (if this is what you were concerned about don't worry haha). The university is about an 8 minute drive to downtown Merced, which is where all the fun is.
  
  There are a lot of places to eat in downtown Merced. From In N Out, Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box, and Sonic to Jamba Juice, Apple Bee's, Hometown Buffet, Chinese Buffets, great Indian food places, Steak Houses, BBQ places, and other Merced exclusive food places.
  
  The most popular non-partying/drinking thing to do here is go to the movies. There are 2 theaters here, one significantly bigger than the other. The bigger theater has In N Out a 5 minute walk away, while the smaller theater has the Merced Mall a 5 minute walk away and Carl's Jr a 10 minute walk away.
  
  Merced Mall is disappointing. It's not your Great Mall or Sunvalley Mall in Concord, or any other big mall. It's more like a medium sized strip with the main shopping stores. I've only been there 2 or 3 times so I can't really remember what they have, but they have some good stuff, and a food court.
  
  One troublesome thing is the transportation between UC Merced and downtown Merced. Merced has what are called CatTracks which is basically the free bus system provided for UCM students. (btw if you didn't know already, the UCM mascot is the bobcat) The problem is, it takes approximately 45 minutes to get from UCM to downtown Merced and vice-versa, when a car ride takes about 8 minutes. I've ridden the CatTracks at least 10 times this semester to get downtown and back. It was okay at first, but then I started picking up motion sickness easily, and it was really horrible. Thankfully one of my roommates was able to bring his car after Thanksgiving break.
  
  Also, another thing to note is that Freshman that are staying at the Residence Halls (aka dorms) aren't allowed to park their car at the school (aren't allowed to have a parking permit). You're only allowed to have a permit to park at the community college, which is about a 10 minute bike-ride away.
  
  The campus itself is nice. It's still fairly new, having been opened since 2005 I believe? The school is also famous for having Michelle Obama at the 08-09' Commencement Ceremony. Whenever I mentioned UC Merced to my friends in high school when I first got accepted, the majority never even heard of it. The school has a lot of opportunities for you, and a lot to offer.
  
  I almost forgot--the food. The dining center/commons (aka DC) is a non-profit organization and isn't directly connected to the UC itself (most people don't know this). Thus, a lot of people typically complain about the food here, saying common phrases such as The DC food..ugh.. or DC food again? I want some REAL food. The food here, is better than people exclaim. There is a wide variety of items to choose from. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just be very brief about the food. There's the grill where you can order your hot dogs, burgers, fries, and other items. The Asian section has rice/noodle bowls. The Mexican section has nachos, quesadillas, burritos, and other items. There's a salad bar, a section to make your own sandwich, and a dessert section. There's the pizza section, hot sandwich and smoothie section, refrigerated section (with standard refrigerated foods like microwaveable burritos, string cheese, eggs, milk, yogurt, etc.). There's the Blue Plate section, which is supposedly the healthiest section and has foods that are served at a typical buffet like Hometown Buffet. Finally, there's a fruit section along with a breakfast section that has cereal, a Quiznos-style mini-oven, and your basic breakfast essentials (except for pancakes). Some of the food really is just terrible, but there's a lot of good food here that overpowers the terribleness.
  
  Overall, if you're going to school and want to get something out of it, this is the place for you. But if you're the party every weekend type of person, you might be a bit disappointed...might be. read full review

• krysta mae from Merced, CA

  Although UC Merced may be a young, small school, the class sizes are not so large for one to be so bored and fall asleep. The teachers are so passionate about the classes that they teach and they really do care about their students. Although UC… more read full review

  Although UC Merced may be a young, small school, the class sizes are not so large for one to be so bored and fall asleep. The teachers are so passionate about the classes that they teach and they really do care about their students. Although UC Merced does not have a lot majors compared to the other UC campuses, this gives an opportunity for other students to create these majors which will also give later students more possibilities when choosing a major. read full review

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University of California-Merced Scholarships