Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Information from Undergraduate Admissions
Frequently Asked Questions:
What impact will the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have on the admissions process for students who have already applied or intend to apply in the future?
How will this affect submitting materials for admitted students?
Will I still get a visa?
Are there any restrictions in place regarding visiting the campus?
What if I want to visit the Undergraduate Admissions Office?
How is the UC Santa Cruz campus responding to the coronavirus?
How is UC Santa Cruz currently ensuring safety for students on campus?
The information below is from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and is meant to provide current updates related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the students and families who have either already applied and/or been admitted for fall 2020, or are considering applying to UC Santa Cruz in the near future.
Our entire campus community has profound sympathy with the severity of the current situation in many regions around the globe and will work collaboratively to accommodate students impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the required deadlines and documents.
We recognize that this is a challenging time, and we hope that timely and accurate information may help ease your concerns.
What impact will the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have on the admissions process for students who have already applied or intend to apply in the future?
Please rest assured that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, in collaboration with our campus partners, will ensure students who have applied and intend to apply from high schools, colleges, and universities located in regions impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are not disadvantaged in the admissions process.
Freshman applicants to UC Santa Cruz are evaluated using a comprehensive review process. We use faculty-approved criteria to determine which transfer students will be selected for admission. Students who have been and will be offered admission are those whom our faculty believe have demonstrated the strongest achievement within the context of their opportunities, have the potential to succeed, and will contribute their skills, perspectives, and passion to our campus community. We are strongly committed to enrolling a class of students that is diverse, including those with international experiences and perspectives.
How will this affect submitting materials for admitted students?
Over the next few weeks, as students are notified of their admission status through the my.ucsc.edu portal, we will request official transcripts and standardized assessment scores from students who intend to accept the offer of admission. Typically, these documents are due in July, yet we recognize many high schools, colleges, and universities may be closed and/or counselors working remotely, so we urge students who encounter difficulties in meeting the established deadlines to contact us and notify us of expected delays. We understand the challenges and will be flexible throughout this period working with each student’s set of circumstances.
Will I still get a visa?
Visa-related processes and documentation for students who are admitted are overseen by International Student and Scholar Services within the Division of Global Engagement. We are not currently experiencing delays in processing I-20 and DS-2019 documentation, but consular appointments may be impacted. Moving forward, we strongly recommend that students complete all applications and respond to all inquiries as completely and promptly as possible. This includes making an appointment with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as you receive the required documents.
Are there any restrictions in place regarding visiting the campus?
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order on March 19 requiring residents to stay at home or at their place of residence except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job. No end date has been set at this time. Anyone who does leave their house should maintain a social distance of at least six feet.
Undergraduate Admissions has suspended any activities that will result in a gathering of 50 or more people. This includes Admitted Student Tours, Banana Slug Day, regular campus tours, and group tours. As an alternative, we recommend our Virtual Tour, hosted by our student tour guides and available in five languages.
The health and safety of our visitors and of our campus community is our top priority. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
What if I want to visit the Undergraduate Admissions Office?
