UC San Diego Pre-College Programs

Students trying to select a college sometimes assume they can’t afford to attend a University of California school. But in fact, nearly 70 percent of UC undergrads get some financial aid. UC Newsroom has compiled a list of 10 little-known facts about the cost of a UC education: https://bit.ly/4dHdSIy UC photo/Elena Zhukova

The public is invited to a free symposium on Oct. 11 on the construction of buildings and how it has been influenced by landscape, cultural evolution and history. Topics include the earliest stone tools, the rise of cities, architecture and the potential impacts of artificial intelligence. The event at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies is hosted by the Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny. https://go.ucsd.edu/46BZU8K

Register now to attend the 2024 Campus to Community Showcase hosted by UC San Diego Extended Studies! The free event Sept. 8 will highlight all that Extended Studies has to offer, including professional certificates and continuing education programs, as well as facilities for events, conferences and classes. https://tinyurl.com/ajnrunhv

Teens can delve into the challenging field of bioinformatics through Research Scholars at UC San Diego Extended Studies. In the synchronous online course “Introduction to Bioinformatics,” students will explore the theory of bioinformatics and its practical applications to genes and proteins. The course starts Sept. 30: https://go.ucsd.edu/3CGwqrI

The Stuart Collection at UC San Diego consists of a number of public artworks, including Niki de Saint Phalle's Sun God. You can take a virtual tour of the collection using an app developed by high school students serving as interns at the San Diego Supercomputer Center: https://go.ucsd.edu/3PuKX0Q

Robin Glefke, a physics graduate student at UC San Diego, wanted to find a way to inspire girls to pursue studies and careers. So she organized a program called STEM Girl Summer, which brings female high school students to campus for a weekend of hands-on activities, panel discussions and fellowship: https://go.ucsd.edu/4fMgVkT

High school students with an interest in ocean stewardship can apply now to get an overview of marine science through Research Scholars at UC San Diego Extended Studies. The online course “Introduction to Marine Science” starts Sept. 24. https://go.ucsd.edu/3Q1MfyO

Wireless technologies have transformed workplaces, gaming and entertainment. In 9-month online course series “Wireless Communications Technologist for High Schoolers” from Futures at UC San Diego Extended Studies, students will gain an understanding of popular wireless technologies. The course series starts Sept. 23 and scholarships are available: https://go.ucsd.edu/3EewRun

The University of California admitted its largest and most diverse class ever for fall 2024, according to preliminary data. There were jumps in admission offers to California students, transfer students from community colleges and underrepresented groups. UC offered admission to two-thirds of all applicants, with almost 167,000 students getting a spot at one of the university’s campuses. https://bit.ly/3AdH7V4 UC photo/Elena Zhukova

University of California campuses offer a wealth of attractions that are open to the public, from natural reserves and hiking trails to art exhibits and museums. Pictured is Birch Aquarium at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Check out a list from UC Newsroom of great places to visit on UC campuses. https://tinyurl.com/2far9pdr UC San Diego photo/Jordann Tomasek

Teens can prepare for advanced studies and careers in the business world by enrolling in "Business Management for High Schoolers," a 9-month online course series offered through Futures at UC San Diego Extended Studies. Students will develop a practical understanding of policy creation and resource allocation to achieve institutional objectives. The first class starts Sept. 23, and scholarships are available. https://go.ucsd.edu/3NECF6d

Engineers at UC San Diego have taught a robot to dance as part of an effort to improve human-robot interactions. In addition to simple dance moves, the humanoid robot learned to make a variety of expressive movements like waving, high-fiving and hugging while maintaining a steady gait on different terrains. Watch a video: https://go.ucsd.edu/4eV1beJ

UC San Diego has unveiled a new building across the street from the main campus that will serve as headquarters for UC San Diego Extended Studies. Sign up to attend the Extended Studies Showcase 2024 on Sept. 18 to see the building at 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive and learn about services and programs available to the community. https://go.ucsd.edu/3YgUqOn

Dr. Edward Abeyta sees a renaissance on the horizon for continuing education. Abeyta, associate dean for Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Extended Studies, has published a new book, “Reinventing Lifelong Learning," which explores how universities can elevate their role in providing continuing education and community service: https://amzn.to/3LmW8Gz

UC San Diego's Surplus Sales is a place for transforming trash into treasure and waste into value. As one of the university's largest sustainability programs, it collects excess equipment, property and waste from around campus and refurbishes and resells it to students, staff and the broader community. https://go.ucsd.edu/3W4XOdI

Kids can make zombies, princesses and flying carpets come to life while developing their own online games in the Sally Ride Science workshop "Animation and Video Games Using Scratch." The workshop is offered for grades 3-5 on July 31 at Carmel Mountain Ranch Library through , a partnership of San Diego Central Library and UC San Diego Extended Studies. https://www.sandiego.gov/librarynext

As our planet warms, heat waves pose a growing threat. Tarik Benmarhnia, an environmental epidemiologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, studies how climate affects our health. In a Q&A, he explains what happens to our bodies when we get too hot and what steps we can take to stay safe: https://bit.ly/3Sk0zG7

UC San Diego Park & Market in downtown San Diego is hosting special programs for all ages during the week of -Con. From July 25-28, there are events for gamers, comics fans and those who just want to get into the spirit. There's even a Sunday family day. Check out the schedule: https://go.ucsd.edu/3xIJVZE

UC San Diego has risen two places to the No. 6 public university in Princeton Review’s 2024 ranking of Best Value Colleges. The list recognizes universities that provide excellent academics and career outcomes at an affordable price. https://go.ucsd.edu/4eThbOD UC San Diego photo/Erik Jepsen

Summer break can be a good time to re-calibrate family rules around screen use. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals who studies the effects of screen time, offers tips on balancing screens with sleep, exercise and socialization: https://tinyurl.com/3sb7kvze

Throughout July, Birch Aquarium at Scripps is hosting its first Shark Summer! Guests of all ages will learn about the key role sharks play in ecosystems and about the research and conservation work being done to protect them. Advance reservations are recommended: https://go.ucsd.edu/3LgTDFr

UC San Diego Pre-College Programs wishes you a happy and safe Fourth of July! This shot of fireworks over the San Diego skyline was taken by UC San Diego photographer Erik Jepsen.

UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are among the top schools in the nation in US News & World Report's 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings in Engineering and in Pharmacy. Jacobs School of Engineering ranked 11th overall in the nation and Skaggs ranked No. 12. https://go.ucsd.edu/3KXriDW

Pre-register now to attend the 2024 Campus to Community Showcase hosted by UC San Diego Extended Studies! The free event Sept. 8 will highlight all that Extended Studies has to offer, including professional certificates and continuing education programs, as well as facilities for events, conferences and classes. https://tinyurl.com/ajnrunhv

The University of California once again is the leader in a nationwide ranking of schools with the most utility patents. The second annual list, published by the National Academy of Inventors, shows that UC inventors received 546 utility patents in 2023. MIT was second on the list. https://bit.ly/4cb7BnS Photo/Elena Zhukova

Brandon Som, winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, in an associate professor of literature at UC San Diego. His latest work, “Tripas: Poems,” reflects on the paths of his Chicano and Chinese American family members, including the intersecting languages and the wisdom they have transmitted across generations: https://go.ucsd.edu/4aYOj3W

A team at UC San Diego has received a $50,000 Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Sustainability (CA CARES) grant to develop "The Climate Games," an educational video game about climate change. The game will look at areas where climate change is already having demonstrable effects: https://go.ucsd.edu/3WTuOGK

Who doesn't love to pet a puppy? Watch a video about how UC San Diego's De-Stress with Pups program helps students relax during tense times. In the video, a UC San Diego Health nurse talks about the science behind the effectiveness of pet therapy. https://go.ucsd.edu/3wYlbMn

UC San Diego recently celebrated the opening of its new Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve Field Station and Community Learning Center on the northern shore of Mission Bay. The facility includes room for researchers conducting multi-day projects and community teaching spaces to engage with the general public, school groups and university classes. https://go.ucsd.edu/450TyyY UC San Diego photo/Erik Jepsen

The UC San Diego Black Staff Association will mark the Juneteenth holiday by hosting a panel discussion, "We've Come This Far by Faith: The Black Church - Past, Present & Future" on June 17. Panelists will explore the shift in perspectives across generations and the potential identity crisis facing the Black Church. https://go.ucsd.edu/3VBjSws