Join Us for Transfer Day!
At UC Santa Cruz, we love our transfer students! Transfer Day 2026 – our biggest on-campus event for admitted transfer students and their families – will take place on May 9, 2026. Come celebrate with us on our beautiful campus! Look out for more information coming soon to this page.
Transfer Day
Saturday, May 9, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Admitted transfer students, join us for a special preview day designed just for you! This will be a chance for you and your family to celebrate your admission, tour our beautiful campus, and connect with our extraordinary community. Events will include campus tours led by a S.L.U.G. (Student Life and University Guide), next steps presentations, information on Orientation, Financial Aid, Housing, and Career Success, and majors and resources tables. Come experience Banana Slug life – we can’t wait to meet you!
Divisional Welcomes
Find out more about your intended major! Representatives from the academic divisions and the Jack Baskin School of Engineering will welcome you to campus and help you learn more about our vibrant academic life.
International Student Session
We welcome students from around the globe! Staff from International Student Services will share what programming and resources are available to support international students.
Learning Support Services
Peer tutoring services are available and free of charge on our campus. Learn more about how to connect and participate in a community of learning where your success matters. Catch up, keep up, and excel with support.
Orientation Session
Get into the Banana Slug spirit by joining the staff of Orientation! Learn what happens next after you accept your admissions offer at UCSC, and how this team supports students in transitioning to the university.
STARRS Welcome & Student Panel
Join the staff of our Services for Transfer Re-Entry and Resilient Scholars to kick-off your Transfer Day experience! These folks are dedicated to supporting and advancing the social mobility of the students they serve by providing transformative higher education experiences. Learn more about how they can support you, and from their transition student mentors.
Transfer Student Panel
Meet your Transfer Peer Mentors! Join us for an informal panel featuring some of our current students who started out as Banana Slug transfers. In this frank discussion, you will learn from the experiences of students who came before you. Our Peer Mentors love helping transfer students on their journey, so come to them with your questions!
Financial Aid Sessions
Bring your questions! Find out more about next steps with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO) and how we can help make college affordable for you and your family. FASO distributes over $295 million every year in need-based and merit-based awards. If you haven’t filled out your FAFSA or Dream App, do it now!
Career Success
Our Career Success team is ready to help you succeed! Find out more about our many services, including jobs and internships (both before and after graduation), job fairs where recruiters come to campus to find you, career coaching, preparation for medical school, law school, and graduate school, and much more!
Campus Tour
Join our friendly, knowledgeable student tour guides as they lead you on a walking tour of the beautiful UC Santa Cruz campus! Get to know the environment where you may be spending your time for the next few years. Explore the residential colleges, dining halls, classrooms, libraries, and favorite student hangout spots, all in our lovely campus between the sea and the trees! Can’t wait? Take a virtual tour now!
Student Resources & Majors Fair
Is there tutoring available on campus? What about mental health services? How can you build community with your fellow Banana Slugs? This is a chance to begin connecting with some current students, faculty, and staff members! Explore your major, meet the members of a club or activity you’re interested in, and get connected with support services such as Financial Aid and Housing.
Summer Session
Hit the ground running in the fall after beginning coursework this summer! Learn more about flexible in-person and online options, and how your financial aid can support you.
Dining Options
A variety of food and drink options will be available throughout campus. Specialty food trucks will be located on the outdoor basketball courts, and Cafe Ivéta, located in Quarry Plaza, will be open that day. Want to try a dining hall experience? Inexpensive, all-you-care-to-eat lunches will also be available at the five campus dining halls. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Bring a reusable water bottle with you – we’ll have refill stations at the event!
Next Steps Presentation
Ready to make UC Santa Cruz your college home? Drop by for personalized guidance on your admissions offer, the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), housing, financial aid, and key deadlines. Our admissions advisers will be available to walk you through the enrollment process, answer your questions, and help you take your next big step toward becoming a Banana Slug.
Whether you’re ready to commit or just want to learn more about the path ahead, we’re here to support you. A Presentation and Q&A will run every 30 minutes.
Housing Info Sessions
Where will you live for the next few years? Find out about the variety of on-campus housing opportunities for transfer students, 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!
Check out a model dorm room on the 2nd floor of the Baytree Campus Store in Quarry Plaza!
