Fall Open House 2024 Has Passed
Thank you to the hundreds of guests who joined us on Saturday, November 2 for Fall Open House! You helped make the day a special experience.
Please check this page in late summer 2025 for information about Fall Open House 2025.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Fall Open House 2024 will have an open-format, choose-your-own-adventure programming. Tailor your experience to your own and your family’s information needs!
Programming offered each hour, on the hour:
- Faculty Panels
- Student Panels
- Housing Information Sessions
- Financial Aid Information Sessions
- UC Application & PIQ (Personal Insight Question) Workshops
Ongoing activities offered throughout the day:
- Campus Tours
- Student Resource Fair
- Food Truck Vendors
- Student Performances
Faculty Panel
Location: Baskin Engineering Auditorium 101-207
10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. sessions
Manel Camps, Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology
Phil Hammack, Psychology
Adam Smith, Computational Media
Dimitris Papadopoulos, History of Consciousness
12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. sessions
Gregory Gilbert, Environmental Studies
Leilani Gilpin, Computer Science & Engineering
Amanda Smith, Literature
Learn about our innovative research projects and programs, and find out how professors and students work together to create knowledge on our special campus.
Student Panel
Location: Baskin Engineering, Room 152
First Year 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. sessions
Finn Westley, Education, Democracy & Justice and Applied Linguistics
Kelly Leighton, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Leslie Hernandez-Nava, Art and Education
Nolan Jensen, Computer Science Game Design
First Year 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. sessions
Holden Nix, Astrophysics
Logan Montgomery, Psychology
Pieter Wielenga, Environmental Studies and Economics
Sophia Contreas, Applied Mathematics
======================================
Location: Engineering 2, Room 180
Transfer 12:00 p.m. session
Julian Cayanan, Computer Science
Elaine Lee, Math
Emily Cuya, Intensive & Cognitive Psychology
Transfer 1:00 p.m. session
Iliana Pride, Intensive Psychology
Ismael Perez, Global & Community Health
Ryder Roman-Yannello, Business Management Economics and Legal Studies
Meet some Banana Slugs! In this frank and open discussion, student-to-student, a panel of 15 current students will share their UC Santa Cruz experience with you.
Campus Tour
Choose your own tour experience! Campus tours offered:
90-minute tour
60-minute tour
30-minute tour
Spanish-language tour available! ¡Se habla español!
Tours depart from Baskin Engineering Courtyard,
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
These tours will be a great chance for you to ask questions of our friendly, knowledgeable student tour guides. Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers – our campus is spectacular but hilly, and our coastal climate can be unpredictable. Tours depart rain or shine. We look forward to showing you our beautiful campus!
ADA Tours - We offer a tour for our guests needing mobility accommodations as outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please email visits@ucsc.edu or call 831-459-4118 to discuss our modified options, including ADA parking.
Financial Aid
Location: Baskin Engineering, Room 165
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. sessions
Bring your questions! Find out how UC Santa Cruz can help make college affordable for you and your family. Our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships distributes over $295 million every year in need-based and merit-based awards. Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity! Plan to fill out the FAFSA or Dream App this fall.
Housing
Location: Engineering 2, Room 180
10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. sessions
Find out about the wide variety of on-campus housing opportunities, including residence hall or apartment living, themed housing, and our unique residential college system. You will also learn about how students receive assistance finding off-campus housing, as well as dates and deadlines and other important information. Meet with the Housing experts and get your questions answered!
Additional Tours
Sesnon Art Gallery
Departs 1:00 p.m., Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery, Porter College
Meet Arts Division staff for an interactive tour of the Sesnon Art Gallery! The gallery is open from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and admission is free and open to the public.
Athletics & Recreation Fitness Center Tour
Drop-in tours available, Hagar Drive
View the home of Banana Slugs Athletics & Recreation! This will be your chance to explore our exciting facilities, including our 10,500-square-foot gym with dance and martial arts studios and our Wellness Center, all with views of the East Field and Monterey Bay.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center (off-campus)
Behind-the-Scenes Research Tour departing at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
Located less than five miles from the main campus, the Seymour Center is a community-supported marine science education center operated by UCSC. Join their docents on a 30-minute tour around the Seymour Center and parts of the Long Marine Lab. Daily tours are included with admission.
Dining Options
We have lots of dining options for you! Food trucks will be present with vegetarian and vegan options throughout the day. You are also welcome to enjoy a low-cost meal at any of the dining halls on campus!
Parking
Free parking is available at the Core West Parking Structure during Fall Open House. We recommend using Google Maps or Apple Maps to find the most convenient route for you. Simply search for "Core West Parking Structure" in your preferred app.
ADA Parking
ADA parking is available at the School of Jack Baskin Engineering located in two locations: Baskin Circle (Lot 139B) and behind the Engineering 2 Building (Lot 139A). (Please refer to the map).
Lot 139A and 139B Driving Directions: From McLaughlin Drive, turn into Baskin Circle and find 4 spaces nestled near the back of the loop (Lot 139B). Should spaces be full, an attendant will direct you to additional ADA parking spaces in 139A.
Directional signage will be present during the day of the event.
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