A new partnership between UC Merced and Porterville Unified School District (PUSD) will guarantee admissions for qualifying incoming students.
Through the Merced Automatic Admissions Program (MAAP), Porterville students can be assured that they will be accepted to UC Merced if they meet the university's eligibility requirements. UC Merced Director of Admissions Dustin Noji and PUSD Superintendent Nate Nelson made the agreement official during a signing ceremony May 9 in the PUSD Board Room.
"It reduces the anxiety when students apply — knowing that they will have a place at UC Merced," said Noji. "We know that there is so much talent here in the Valley — especially in the Porterville area."
PUSD students who complete the A-G courses for first-year UC admission with a weighted GPA of 3.5, with no grade lower than a C, qualify for MAAP. The program allows students to select any major of their choice when applying to UC Merced.
"We know that there are so many obstacles for our students and families who sometimes think that a higher education isn't possible for them. This removes those barriers," said Nelson.
High school junior students will submit their applications to participate in the guaranteed admissions program by June 1, the summer before their senior years. Students will be notified of their admissions decision in late September before submitting their UC application.
Other automatic admission partners include:
Central Unified High School District
Bear Valley USD
Central UHSD
Chowchilla Union High School
District Colton USD
Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified
Dinuba USD
Dos Palos-Oro Loma JUSD
Golden Plains High School
Hesperia USD
Kings Canyon USD
Downtown Magnets High School
Le Grand Union High School
Los Banos USD
Riverbank USD
Madera USD
Mariposa County USD
Merced UHSD
Modesto City Schools
Morongo USD
Mountain View Los Altos UHSD
Oakdale USD
Parlier USD
Rialto USD
Sacramento City USD
San Ramon USD
Sanger USD
Snowline USD
Tulare USD
Turlock USD
Visalia USD
Admitted students may also qualify for UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that students will not have to pay UC's systemwide tuition and fees out-of-pocket if they are California residents whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year and they qualify for financial aid.
To learn more about MAAP, visit the program's website.
