Research Opportunities
Ralph Becker
The Importance of High School Research

Many applicants to the most selective university programs share high grades, high test scores, solid recommendations and generous doses of community service and volunteer activities. Yet, if they want to set themselves apart from the pool of exceptional students, a significant research experience in STEM or the social sciences helps.

The Importance of High School Research

Biology

UC Davis, the UC System’s Pearl of the Sacramento Valley

UC Davis, the UC System’s Pearl of the Sacramento Valley

Despite the buffets of budget cuts, the UC System is more popular than ever. This year, UC applications hit over 161,000, up 13% from last year. UC Davis, located just 15 miles west of Sacramento, best known for its biology, agriculture, and engineering programs, was up 5% from a year earlier with slightly more than 62,000 applications. This in the face of the ill-conceived Davis police pepper spraying of students protesting student tuition increases. The steady rise of applications-despite the pepper spray gaff-speaks to the resources and boundless educational opportunities Davis offers.

Pepperdine in Perspective

Pepperdine in Perspective

Usually, when students consider Southern California colleges, their list includes Pomona College, USC, UCLA, and occasionally Loyola Marymount, or Pepperdine. Pepperdine, however, is a rare selection. Why? Pepperdine is a remarkably beautiful campus, and its selectivity increases each year: it now accepts only 30% of applicants. Additionally, this year it graduated seven Fulbright scholars. Pepperdine warranted a visit.