With threatened state budget cuts, the California public universities are being forced to reduce the available spots for incoming students despite record numbers of applications. 504,832 applications were sent to California State Universities, an increase of 11 percent. This year University of California applications increased 9 percent. And the competition is not just at the high profile campuses–Cal State Monterey Bay had a 38% hike in applications received this year.
Historically, the UC system has accepted “eligible” students to at least one campus, but Executive Vice President Wyatt Humes said that given the grim budget situation, administrators can’t promise the tradition will continue.
For this year’s seniors all there is to do is wait and begin to explore alternatives for next year “just in case”. Now is the time to complete all financial aid applications. The right aid package might make the private school on your list more of a possible than a dream. Community Colleges are much more affordable, but are suffering from the same state budget cuts making it harder and harder to get the required classes to qualify to apply to four year universities.