College Scholars Program

(From the College Scholars Program webpage, coordinated through Undergraduate Honors)

The UC Santa Cruz College Scholars Program (CSP) offers a congenial and stimulating academic home for a select group of well-prepared first-year students at UC Santa Cruz. Through this honors program, students can expect to challenge themselves academically, find other students who are similarly motivated, and explore undergraduate research. This enriched program of study includes special courses, seminars, colloquia, and other events during each quarter of the student's first academic year and fall of the student's second academic year.

CSP provides an opportunity for outstanding students to engage deeply with the best of UCSC. Early in their career, students are able to explore the full potential of the university setting, beyond the coursework that might be required in their respective disciplines.  

CSP has close ties to the college system. In 2019-2020, Fall Start scholars (see below for information about Spring Start scholars) will live at Cowell, Crown, Merrill or Porter College. Each of these colleges will have a cohort of 20-25 College Scholars Program students. College Scholars in each college will be housed together. All College Scholar students will receive priority enrollment during their time in the program.

Selection  

Fall Start—Invitation only: Entry into the Fall Start cohort of the College Scholars Program is by invitation only. A select group of UCSC applicants (who are offered admission to the university) will be invited by admissions to join the program based on a wholistic review of their application. Those students who accept the invitation when they accept their admissions offer will be housed together at either Cowell, Crown, Merrill, or Porter College.

Spring Start—By application: Students can apply to the College Scholars Program after the Fall quarter of their first year. In this case, students accepted into CSP will join the program in Spring quarter and will participate in the spring research colloquium. Spring Start students will be selected based on applications reviewed through their college. Students may apply to Spring Start from any of UCSC’s colleges.