Edge Success Stories
Hundreds of newly admitted Freshman and Transfer students take Summer Edge to get an early start on their UCSC degrees. Here are some student stories that reflect the reasons students choose to start in summer and their experiences as brand new Banana Slugs.
Anita Taha
"I was motivated to take courses through Summer Edge because I wanted to get ahead and complete some of my major requirements. Additionally, I wanted to get accustomed with the campus. Living on campus added to my experience by helping me adjust to dorm life and allowing me to make meaningful connections."
Freshman, 2023
Ryan Ni
"Something that I would want to highlight is being able to get ahead in my math courses. Being ahead in math courses makes taking higher classes down the line way easier to qualify for. Living on campus during Summer Edge was amazing as it was my first time really away from home. It gave me freedom that I hadn't felt before and it was refreshing to be able to really feel like I could make my own decisions. The Peer Mentors and friends I made over the summer were very inviting and super helpful as well."
Freshman, 2023
Katya Haskin
"Getting accepted to UCSC was something that I hadn't anticipated. I work full-time and I've only taken classes at a Community College on and off for the past 10 years. Summer Edge gave me the opportunity to get my feet wet and see if attending UCSC would be right for me (as well as fulfilling major declaration requirements in the meantime). Taking ARTG80I was an incredible experience. In an average quarter there are upwards of 80 students enrolled in the class, but since I took it during the Summer, we had a smaller number of 17 students. This allowed us more time to get to know each other individually, which I really appreciated. The fast pace of the class also worked well for me, eliminating any possibility of procrastination. I was really astonished by how much I enjoyed the assigned readings. They were somewhat dense and philosophical at times, but it really clicked with me. After testing the waters I felt comfortable enough to decide that attending UCSC was really the right choice for me. I fully intend to take more Summer classes in the future."
Transfer, 2023
Baoligao Li
"I am an international student who is unfamiliar with the teaching methods and environment of American universities. I participated in Summer Edge, and I am really happy that I made the right choice. During the summer, I attended Advanced Academic Writing and Navigating the Research University. The first course allowed me to master good writing skills and also gave me the ability to better communicate with others and express my own opinions. The latter gave me a full understanding of UCSC, including various university resources, and the lectures interspersed with it were really interesting and helpful! This summer, I fell in love with UCSC."International Freshman, 2023
Maya Nelson
"What motivated me to join Summer Edge was the opportunity to get a head start in school. I genuinely feared for my academic performance and for a long time doubted myself. Edge showed me that I could succeed academically and truly enjoy college. I am super grateful for my experience at Merrill too and all the amazing friends I'll have now forever. Being able to wander and explore the campus environment was really helpful because I felt like a pro-navigator when fall started. I was truly surprised and excited to learn that the independence I have in college actually motivates me to succeed and I cannot wait for my next four years!" Freshman, 2023
David Wallace
"I wanted to learn about something I was super interested in and feel more prepared for starting courses in the fall. Summer edge made me feel a lot more comfortable and knowledgeable when coming onto campus. I knew about a ton of resources and got to connect with a Professor early on to get past the initial nervousness of reaching out!"
Transfer, 2023
