UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal will address hundreds of students at Pajaro Valley High School to deliver the message that an education at the University of California is attainable as part of an annual ‘Achieve UC’ outreach effort.
"I want every student in Santa Cruz County and our state to know that a UC education is within their reach," Blumenthal said. "The University California is committed to making an education affordable and attainable for all students in our state."
Blumenthal will speak to approximately 300 Pajaro Valley High School students at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Achieve UC will feature a welcome reception, college/resource fair, and a panel session for students to pose questions directly to the chancellor and alumni of UC Santa Cruz. College representatives will also be on hand to talk to students about applying to college, the availability of scholarships, and financial aid.
The University of California has one of the most comprehensive financial aid programs in the nation with 57 percent of California students receiving enough aid to completely cover their tuition and fees, and 75 percent paying less than the standard sticker price.
Students often are unaware of the range of resources available to make college affordable for all Californians. UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, for instance, covers the full cost of tuition for students whose families earn $80,000 a year or less. More than half of UC undergraduates who are California residents pay no tuition thanks to the Blue and Gold Plan and other grants and scholarships.
Blumenthal will promote the community college transfer pathways to UC Santa Cruz and the campus commitment to admit any transfer student who meets the terms of the academic contract and applies to UC Santa Cruz while applications are being accepted. By taking advantage of the campus’s Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), students also receive an early review of academic records, early admission notification, and specific guidance about major preparation and general education coursework. Transfer agreements like TAG have helped ensure that 93 percent of transfer admits are from local California Community Colleges.
Students are often surprised to learn how many from their school who apply to UC get in—3 out of every 5 students that apply to UC are admitted.
Initiatives like Achieve UC are helping to broadcast this message statewide, with the aim of encouraging more students to pursue their postsecondary dreams, goals, and aspirations.
