College application & essay help for UC Santa Cruz applicants
Work with advisors who have real experience with UC Santa Cruz and will help you stand out in the application process.
Find an advisor who’s helped students get accepted to UC Santa Cruz
These advisors have direct experience with UC Santa Cruz as alumni or admissions professionals and
have helped students gain acceptance to UC Santa Cruz.
Applying to UC Santa Cruz
Applying to University of California, Santa Cruz is highly competitive, and the strongest applicants go beyond grades and test scores.
They clearly demonstrate who they are, what they care about, and how they see themselves growing at UC Santa Cruz.
Although no two applications are identical, schools like UC Santa Cruz tend to look for similar things: academic strength, meaningful engagement with interests, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine connection to the school’s culture. Understanding how these come together at UC Santa Cruz can help you build a more focused and intentional application.
Although no two applications are identical, schools like UC Santa Cruz tend to look for similar things: academic strength, meaningful engagement with interests, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine connection to the school’s culture. Understanding how these come together at UC Santa Cruz can help you build a more focused and intentional application.
Advisors who know UC Santa Cruz well can help you think through how your application comes across and
where to focus your effort. At Sundial, you can work with advisors who either attended UC Santa Cruz or have helped
students get accepted to UC Santa Cruz.
How Sundial helps UC Santa Cruz applicants
I’m working on my UC Santa Cruz essay — is it good enough to get me in?
UC Santa Cruz essay review
From UC Santa Cruz supplemental essays to your personal statement, get targeted feedback from advisors who know exactly what UC Santa Cruz admissions looks for!
I have questions — I need to talk to someone that knows more about UC Santa Cruz!
1:1 advising meetings
Book UC Santa Cruz admissions advising to map deadlines, refine your essays, and prepare for interviews with someone who knows how UC Santa Cruz evaluates applicants.
FAQs about applying to UC Santa Cruz
Essays are one of the few places UC Santa Cruz can see who you are beyond grades and test scores. For competitive majors and selective programs, strong essays aren’t just helpful, they’re often what differentiate students with similar academic profiles. The best essays don’t sound generic; they show clear thinking, self-awareness, and fit with what UC Santa Cruz actually values.
Uc Santa Cruz looks for students who’ve taken their interests seriously over time, whether academically, creatively, or through leadership. Beyond raw achievement, they want to see intellectual curiosity, initiative, and evidence that you’ll contribute meaningfully to their campus community. Your application should tell a clear story about how your experiences connect to your goals.
A strong UC Santa Cruz application essay goes beyond summarizing your résumé or activities. Admissions officers want to understand your motivations, values, and fit with the school. Focus on writing with clarity and intent, and make sure your responses connect your personal experiences with why UC Santa Cruz makes sense for your goals.
Yes! Many Sundial advisors have direct experience with UC Santa Cruz, either as alumni or through years of helping students get accepted. Their insight helps you avoid generic advice and instead focus on what actually matters on your UC Santa Cruz application.
If you’re looking at this page, that’s a pretty good sign you might want to get started! Ideally, planning for UC Santa Cruz begins several months before deadlines so you’re not rushing major decisions or submitting first-draft work under pressure.
Ready to get help with your UC Santa Cruz application?
Choose an advisor who understands UC Santa Cruz and can help you with both strategy and essays.
Need help? Contact us at
support@sundialessayreview.com