A World-Class UC San Diego Education is Within Reach

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Leaders from the University of California San Diego will be joining administrators throughout the UC system on Nov. 19 for the Achieve UC outreach initiative, designed to urge thousands of high school students and their families to aim for a UC education.

For UC San Diego’s Achieve UC event, the university has invited students from socio-economically disadvantaged high schools throughout San Diego and Imperial counties to campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 19 to share the message that a UC San Diego education is attainable and affordable. Hundreds of students and guests are expected to attend a series of workshops and panels where they will receive information about admissions, UC application personal insight questions and financial aid. In addition, they can participate in a campus tour and hear from UC counselors and advisors who will be available to discuss university eligibility requirements.

“We are pleased to welcome high school students throughout our community to our campus and we want them to see themselves at UC San Diego,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Achieve UC is an important event to let students and their families know we are committed to remaining accessible and affordable to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.”

Achieve UC was established five years ago and is part of UC President Janet Napolitano’s effort to increase the number and diversity of California students enrolled at UC’s nine undergraduate campuses.

According to Juan González, UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for student affairs, by spreading the message of affordability and access, campus officials hope to encourage more California students to reach for a UC education.

“As a first-generation college graduate, I am committed to expanding college access, opportunity and success for students from diverse backgrounds,” González said. “This year, UC San Diego enjoyed tremendous success admitting and enrolling a record number of low-income and first-generation students, as well as students from historically underrepresented groups, California Community College and under-resourced high schools.”

In fall 2016, UC San Diego welcomed its most diverse incoming class. Of the 5,750 incoming freshmen, 24 percent come from historically underrepresented groups including black, Native American and Mexican American/Latino students. Underrepresented students make up about 20 percent of the campus’s 2,950 incoming transfer students. In addition, approximately 29 percent of new freshmen and 38 percent of incoming transfers are the first in their family to attend college.

In all, University of California representatives will hold events with 100 schools and community groups this fall to provide students with practical information and resources to help them prepare for and apply to UC.

One of the key objectives is to ensure that students and their families know that a UC education is affordable, regardless of family income. The university has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the nation. More than half of California undergraduates pay no tuition, and three-quarters pay less than full tuition. 

“When students see the ample financial aid that is available and compare out-of-pocket costs, many are surprised to learn that an education at the best public university in the world is also one of the most affordable options available,” Napolitano said.

Along with an inspirational message, UC San Diego’s Achieve UC event will offer students and their families practical tools, from workshops on aspects of the college-application process, to taking the SAT test, as well as budgeting and applying for financial aid.

“A UC education is a game-changer that will continue to open doors for the rest of your life,” Napolitano added. “You do your part: work hard, take advantage of leadership opportunities and push yourself to take challenging classes. And no matter who you are, where you come from or how much money you and your family have, we’ll do our part to help you get here.”