University of the Pacific’s Admitted Student Day isn’t just another campus tour – it’s your chance to experience Pacific on a personal level. Get ready to step into our classrooms, meet your future professors and get an in-depth look at college life with the current Pacific Tigers. 

Mark Friday, April 12 on your calendar, for a day packed full of activities hosted by our dedicated Pacific community. Plus, if you choose to confirm your enrollment during Admitted Student Day, we’ll even throw you a special celebration! 

Here’s a quick guide to highlight must-do events so you can make the most of the day. 

Early activities 

Arriving at Admitted Student Day early will allow you to familiarize yourself with the campus. Check-in begins at 8:30 am at Burns Tower, located at the university’s Pacific Avenue entrance. 

Parking will be free all day. Parking lots can be found on the campus map.  If you check in early, make sure to grab a bite at the complimentary welcome breakfast.  

Knoles Lawn, which is right behind Burns Tower, will be the central hub of events throughout the day, including lunch, info booths and the closing reception. 

Craft the perfect tour 

One of Admitted Student Day’s many highlights are exploring Pacific’s stunning 175-acre campus throughout the day. Tours leave every 15 minutes from Burns Tower where our friendly Tiger Team will be stationed. 

“Tiger Team student ambassadors will lead campus tours and provide critical insights into the campus culture and daily life of students at Pacific,” said Andrew Merenda, director of campus visits programs and events.  

Tiger Team ambassadors will take you across campus to academic previews and separate tours for our library and residence halls. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast beforehand and dress comfortably for Pacific’s changeable spring weather. 

Get the classroom experience  

While you’re on a tour, you can also check out our academic previews which are led by passionate professors who are eager to share their expertise. These sessions include presentations from faculty members in the sciences, humanities, engineering, business and music.  

“The academic previews will give you a glimpse into how our students make the most of their time in the classroom as well as the lasting and powerful impact of a Pacific education,” Merenda said. 

Ask lots of questions 

It’ll be a jam-packed day, so we imagine you’ll have some questions. Pacific staff members will be available throughout campus to answer all your questions. Look for people in orange polo tops. 

Pacific’s Financial Aid Office, Residential Life and Housing Office and Career Services will host information sessions to answer any questions you may have about affordability, student life and how Pacific prepares you for a career.  

Counselors will also be available in Burns Tower to answer questions and assist students looking to confirm their enrollment on the spot. 

Celebrate your decision!  

When you confirm your enrollment during Admitted Student Day, you’ll get to ring the Burns Tower bells for all to hear. 

“Students who confirm their enrollment before or during Admitted Student Day will have the opportunity to ring the bell at the iconic Burns Tower to celebrate choosing Pacific,” Merenda said. “After ringing the bell, confirmed students will then step into the 360-photo booth where orange and black confetti will rain down on them as we capture the thrill and excitement of this unforgettable moment.” 

Plus, you’ll get a voucher to pick up some Pacific spirit gear at the University Bookstore, located in the DeRosa University Center.  

Don’t miss out! Register for Admitted Student Day using the link in your Pacific email. 

If you have any questions before the event, contact Andrew Merenda, Director of Campus Visit Programs and Events, at amerenda@pacific.edu or 209.932.2835. 

As Thanksgiving and winter break are approaching, you may be wondering the best way to coordinate your travel plans to come home for the holidays. Did you know that this year, Pacific is offering a new shuttle service that will transport you from campus to Sacramento International Airport?  

This Residential Life and Housing initiative is designed to simplify travel arrangements while safely getting you to the airport for just $30. Here’s how you can reserve your spot.  

How to sign up 

You can reserve your seat with this form. The Thanksgiving break deadline to reserve a seat is October 31, or until all seats are filled. The winter break deadline is November 30, or until all seats are filled. Early reservations are encouraged, as seats are limited.  

Departure times 

Thanksgiving break will have two separate shuttles. The first leaves at 3 p.m., Tuesday, November 21, and the second leaves at noon, Wednesday, November 22. 

Winter break will have one shuttle that leaves at 9 a.m., Saturday, December 16. 

If you have any questions about the shuttle service, email Residential Life and Housing at iamhome@pacific.edu 

Homecoming and Family Weekend is THIS weekend, October 13-15! We’re so excited for three days of fun festivities, epic reunions and lots of Pacific pride—and to welcome prospective families to join the fun at Fall Open House on Saturday!  

From making the most of Open House to which Homecoming events to check out, we’ve gathered everything you need to know to prepare for the big weekend.  

Fall Open House: This is your day! 

It’s Pacific’s biggest event of the fall—Open House. This is your chance to see for yourself what makes Pacific so special. You’ll get to check out our beautiful campus, meet your future professors and learn all about what it means to be a Tiger. (Still need to sign up? Register today!)

Here are some pro-tips for a fun and stress-free campus visit.  

Arrival and parking 

Looking for driving directions? Here’s a tip — to park closest to the event, put this address in your map app:

Burns Tower
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211

When you arrive, follow the signs to the parking lot and you’ll be directed where to go. And if you ever get lost of have questions, just look for a Tiger Team member in the orange polo shirts—they’ll be happy to help.  

Check-in 

You and your family will check in at Burns Tower, the tall white tower at the entrance of campus. Check-in is from 8:15 to 9 a.m. No need to stop for food on the way—we’ll have breakfast waiting for you! 

Plan your day  

You can personalize your visit by choosing the Academic Open House that best matches your academic interests. You’ll get the chance to learn about majors you’re interested in and chat with our faculty and students. 

You’ll also have the option to attend breakout financial aid and transfer admission sessions, as well as campus and housing tours.

We encourage you to take a look through the agenda and plan your day now—that way you’ll be all set for Saturday.  

Come for Open House, stay for Homecoming 

While you’re here for Open House, make sure to check out the Homecoming events as well! You and your family are welcome to catch an athletics game, learn more about Pacific’s rich history and mingle with alumni, faculty, staff and other members of our community.

For more information about events you won’t want to miss, check out the Homecoming schedule.

You can learn more about Fall Open House here. Any questions? Reach out to us at admission@pacific.edu or call 209.946.2211.  

The FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is typically available on October 1. But this year, the form won’t be available until December.  

Why the delay? Big changes are coming to the FAFSA process, including a more streamlined application process and new eligibility rules.  

Here’s what you need to know and how to prepare now.  

What is the FAFSA?  

If you’re not familiar with the FAFSA, here’s the gist. The FAFSA is a form you and your family can complete annually to determine your eligibility for financial aid to fund your college education.  

By filling out the FAFSA, you can potentially qualify for grants, work-study, federal student loans, scholarships and other forms of aid. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 85% of students receive financial aid in some form (so make sure to fill out your FAFSA so you don’t miss out).  

How is FAFSA changing?  

In addition to the 2024-2025 FAFSA form being available later, there are also changes coming to the application process itself. Here are the biggest changes you’ll see when the form becomes available at the end of the year.  

• Streamlined form – Good news: next time you fill out your FAFSA form, you’ll probably have a much easier and faster time getting it done. Instead of 108 questions, the new form only has 36.  
• Terminology changes – Prior FAFSA forms provided you with a figure called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which will now be known as the Student Aid Index (SAI).  Your SAI is used by colleges to determine your family’s financial need and eligibility for financial aid at the federal, state, and institutional levels.  

You can learn more about these changes to the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website.  

How to prepare for the FAFSA now 

If you’ve never filled out the FAFSA before: 

• Create an account on StudentAid.gov 
• Make note of your username and password so you can access the 2024-2025 FAFSA form when it becomes available (you’ll receive an email once the launch date is announced).  
• Follow Federal Student Aid on social media to stay up to date on announcements: 
  • Twitter  
  • Instagram 
  • Facebook 
  • YouTube 

If you filled out the FAFSA form for 2023-2024: 

• Log in to your StudentAid.gov account and confirm that your email address is up to date (you’ll receive an email once the launch date is announced).  
• Follow Federal Student Aid on social media to stay up to date on announcements: 
  • Twitter
  • Instagram 
  • Facebook 
  • YouTube 

If you have any questions about the FAFSA, contact Pacific’s financial aid team at 209.946.2421 or financialaid@pacific.edu.  

Admitted Student Day 2023 was a roaring success! We were thrilled to welcome hundreds of admitted students and their family members to campus last week to learn about the Pacific experience.  

It was a jam-packed day of exciting activities, including personalized campus tours, interactive classroom sessions with Pacific professors and even a chance to meet the deans.

Plus, our newest Tigers confirmed their enrollment in style by ringing the Burns Tower bells for all to hear! And to keep the party going, we even had a confetti-filled, 360-degree camera on campus to capture the moment.  

What’s next? If you haven’t already confirmed, here are three quick steps to officially join the Pacific family!  

• Say YES to Pacific by confirming your enrollment   
• Make sure you have your FAFSA submitted   
• Complete your housing preference form   

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at admission@pacific.edu or 209.946.2211. 

Pacific’s Admitted Student Day on Friday, April 14 is your ticket to a highly personalized experience of Pacific. Even if you’ve toured our beautiful campus before, we encourage you to come meet your future deans and professors, talk to current Tigers and get a sneak peek into a day in the life of Pacific students.

This jam-packed day will help you really get to know Pacific and be as confident as possible in your college choice. Plus, if you decide to confirm your enrollment during Admitted Student Day, we even have a special celebration planned!

Here are our tips for making the most of Admitted Student Day, from what questions to ask to the events and experiences you won’t want to miss.

Ring the Burns Tower bells

Committing to Pacific deserves a loud announcement. If you confirm during Admitted Student Day, you’ll get to ring the Burns Tower bells for all to hear. Plus, you’ll get a voucher to pick up some Pacific spirit gear at the University Bookstore on us.

And to top it off, we will have a photo booth set up where you can record a confetti-filled 360-degree souvenir video that you can post on social media!

Get here early 

If this is your first-time visiting Pacific, it is a good idea to arrive early so you can familiarize yourself with the campus. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. at Burns Tower at the Pacific Avenue entrance.

Parking will be free all day and you can find parking lots on the campus map and in the Admitted Student Day program. If you check in early, make sure to grab a bite at the complimentary welcome breakfast. 

Many events, such as the Presidential Welcome, lunch, info booths and the closing reception will take place on Knoles Lawn right behind Burns Tower. 

Go on a personalized tour 

One of the highlights of Admitted Student Day is the opportunity to explore Pacific’s beautiful, 175-acre campus. Tours will depart from Burns Tower every 15 minutes throughout the day. When you arrive, let us know what you want to explore, and we will match you with the best tour for you. 

All tours are led by experienced Pacific Tiger Team members, current students who will be happy to answer your questions. You will also be able to meet the deans of our schools and colleges and walk through buildings and classrooms. There will be a lot to see, so it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast the day before you arrive and wear layers and comfortable shoes. 

Take a class and meet your professors 

During our academic previews, you’ll get a sneak peek at what classes at Pacific are like. These sessions include presentations from faculty members in the sciences, humanities, engineering, business and music. Come see for yourself how our commitment to experiential learning and personalized attention make the Pacific experience so unique.

Plus, you’ll get to meet your future professors! Our faculty are known for their dedication and commitment to student success—you’ll see what we mean as soon as you step on campus. Make sure to ask them questions and talk to them about your academic and career goals so they can get to know you.

Ask lots of questions 

We know you have a lot on your mind—here’s your chance to ask away. Throughout the day, you’ll have lots of opportunities to chat with members of the Pacific community and get all your questions answered.  

We encourage you to take some time to attend special interest sessions presented by Pacific’s Financial Aid Office, Residential Life and Housing Office, and Career Services, among others. Our expert staff will be happy to meet with you and share everything you want to know about Pacific.

Most of all, we encourage you to talk with current Tigers about their Pacific experiences. If you have a chance, ask them why they chose Pacific and what they really enjoy about being a student here. 

And if you have any questions about the event schedule or where to find certain spots on campus, keep an eye out for our “Tiger Team” in the bright orange polos—they’ll be happy to help.

If you haven’t registered for Admitted Student Day yet, use the link in your Pacific email or visit our Admitted Student Day web page for more information. If you have any questions before the event, contact Andrew Merenda, Director of Campus Visit Programs and Events, at amerenda@pacific.edu or 209.932.2835.

So, you’ve made it to one of the most important steps of the application process: the personal statement. Writing your personal statement is often considered to be one of the most stressful steps in applying to college — but it doesn’t have to be!  

We spoke to Vivian Chan Rendon, Pacific’s director of first-year admission, to learn more about what admission counselors are looking for and how to write a personal statement that stands out. Follow these tips and you’ll have a glowing college essay to round out your application in no time!  

What is the purpose of a personal statement?  

In short, the purpose of writing a personal statement is to help our admissions team get to know you better. We want to know your interests, passions and life experiences to get a sense of who you are as a person, not just a collection of classes and test scores.  

But don’t stress about it too much — we’re not looking for a manifesto, just a brief glimpse into your unique personality and perspective. Vivian’s advice is to focus on one topic instead of trying to cram every detail of your life story into one page.  

“We are not looking for a very long essay,” says Vivian. “We like to see essays that are organized and to the point.”  

What do admission counselors look for in a personal statement?  

There is no correct or specific answer to what you need to include in your personal statement, but Vivian says impactful writing and authenticity is what grabs her attention.   

“A strong opening makes us curious to read further,” she says. “Sharing true feelings or thoughts and heartfelt stories will make your essay stand out.”  

However, there is a specific answer for what not to include in your essay. Your personal statement is not the place to list your extracurriculars or explain poor grades and how the pandemic affected you. 

“We can get this information on your application and transcript, so there’s no need to repeat it in your essay,” Vivian explains.  

To explain pandemic impacts and/or other circumstances or qualifications not reflected in your application, you can use the “additional information” section on the Common App and type your responses in the essay spaces provided. If you’re applying with Pacific’s Thriving Student Application, you can type “additional information” at the end of your personal statement as a separate section and upload your essay and responses together.

How to get started on a personal statement that stands out 

You have the freedom to choose what to write about in your personal statement, but if you’re looking for topic ideas or guidance, Pacific’s Thriving Student Application has a number of prompts that can help you get started. We’ve listed them here: 

• Describe your professional and educational goals in conjunction with your selected major choice. 
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to our success. Tell us about an obstacle you have overcome and what you learned in the process. 
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. Share with us the experience and your personal approach to finding growth through challenging the belief or idea. 
• Describe a problem you have solved or would like to solve. Why was it important to tackle this problem? Tell us what was unique about your solution. 
• Describe an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth. 

If you’re still stuck with writer’s block, try starting with a brainstorming session to get your ideas flowing. Using the prompts as a launching off point, jot down everything that comes to mind—stories, accomplishments, emotions, whatever you think of.  

Then, once you’ve finished your brain dump, you can go back and flesh out your stronger ideas. Ultimately, you should pick the topic that makes you the most excited and have the most to say about.  

How to structure your personal statement 

Again, there isn’t one correct answer for how to approach your essay, but here are a few guidelines to help you structure your thoughts:   

• Keep your essay short (250 – 650 words). 
• Include a strong opening or “hook” to grab readers’ attention. 
• Stay organized by making sure each paragraph brings the focus back to your theme.  
• Write a strong conclusion paragraph that reinforces your main topic and wraps up your ideas.  

A helpful way to make sure your personal statement is well-organized and to the point is starting with an outline instead of jumping right to the writing process. There are many methods to use to create an outline, but plotting out the main points of your introduction, body section and conclusion is always a good way to start.  

Final steps  

Once you’ve finished writing your statement, you might be tempted to send it in right away, but there a few final steps to take before you hit submit. Here’s a checklist that can help you through the reviewing process: 

• Get feedback. We recommend sharing your essay with a few people you trust to get helpful feedback. Your reviewers can give you suggestions you might not have considered to make your writing more polished and impactful. However, we suggest that you don’t work with more than two people, as too many conflicting opinions can get confusing.  
• Make revisions. Using the suggestions from your reviewers, make revisions and rewrite your essay until you’re happy with it. Don’t rush this process—your personal statement is your chance to stand out and let your personality shine! 
• Proofread. Make sure to review your essay a few more times to check grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling. You can also use a proofreading tool like Grammarly to help catch any mistakes you might have missed.  
• Submit. Congratulations, you’re ready to send us your personal statement! To send your essay to Pacific, make sure you are using a supported file format and size (you can find this information on the Thriving Student Application). You can submit your personal statement at the same time as your application, or send it to us later if you need more time.  

This article is part of the Before You Submit series, where we offer tips to help guide you through the application process. Check out part one to learn more about filling out your application.  

If you have any additional questions about applying to Pacific, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 209.946.2211 or admission@pacific.edu. Ready to take the next step? Apply today!  

Admitted Student Day 2022 was a success! We were thrilled to welcome over 400 admitted students and their families to our campus to learn about the Pacific experience. 

What’s next? Here are three quick steps to take to officially join the Pacific family! 

• Say YES to Pacific by confirming your enrollment  
• Make sure you have your FAFSA submitted  
• Complete your housing preference form  

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at admission@pacific.edu or 209.946.2211.

April 8 is Admitted Student Day, a fun and informative day for you to learn about the Pacific experience. But with such an action-packed schedule of events, how can you be sure you’re making the most of it? We spoke to Andrew Merenda, director of campus visit programs and events, about his tips for success before you visit us on campus.

“Admitted Student Day is a great opportunity for admitted students to meet other future Tigers, current Pacific students and faculty and to get a good glimpse into the day in the life of the Pacific student,” says Merenda. “We highly encourage you all to attend and have a great time.”

Be early 

If this is your first time visiting Pacific, it’s a good idea to arrive early so you can familiarize yourself with our campus (and snag a good parking space). You will be checking in front of the DeRosa University Center, which has Parking Lots 6 and 7 located to the east and west of the building. You can find all other parking lots on the campus map.

The opening session at the DeRosa University Center will start at 10 a.m., but you can start checking in at 8:30 a.m. (and grab a bite at the Continental Welcome Breakfast). There will also be campus and housing tours happening every 15 minutes starting at 9 a.m., so you can start exploring Pacific shortly after you arrive on campus.

Wear comfy shoes

One of the highlights of Admitted Student Day is the opportunity to explore Pacific’s beautiful, 175-acre campus, but make sure you come prepared. “For (those) who are visiting that day, we encourage them to wear comfortable walking shoes, as they’ll be checking out campus on foot that day,” says Merenda.

It’s also a good idea to check the weather forecast in the morning before you take off, as springtime in the Central Valley can be unpredictable—layers are your friends.

Catch a lecture

Admitted Student Day is your chance to truly immerse yourself in the Pacific experience and picture your future as a student here. With our Class Experience Preview, you’ll be able to get a sneak peek at what classes at Pacific are like. These sessions will include presentations from faculty members in the sciences, humanities, engineering and more.

“You’ll have the opportunity to sit in on the class and experience an academic session at the university,” says Merenda. Plus, this is your chance to get to know your future professors, and some of your future classmates as well, so you won’t want to skip out.

Ask lots of questions 

We know you have a lot on your mind—here’s your chance to ask away. At Admitted Student Day, you will be able to chat with current students about their experiences.

“Ask why they chose Pacific and what they really enjoy about being a student here,” suggests Merenda. You will also have a chance to speak with professors and Pacific staff from career services, residential life, academic resources and more.

And if you have any questions about the event schedule or where to find certain spots on campus, keep an eye out for our “Tiger Team” in the bright orange polos—they’ll be happy to help.

Stop by financial aid 

Questions about your financial aid reward? This is the day to get answers.

“Financial Aid will be available all day for one-on-one appointments,” says Merenda. “Parents and family members and students simply check in at Knoles Hall and can meet with a financial counselor one-on-one.”

Also, check out our new “one-stop shop” on the main floor of Knoles Hall to get support for all university administrative services, from admissions to housing, in one central location.

Have fun 

While you’re checking out all the academic sessions and taking tours on campus, remember to enjoy yourself in the process! And don’t forget: after Admitted Student Day, you and your family are invited to cheer on the Tigers at the baseball game and tailgate party!

“My hope is that everyone has a really good time,” says Merenda. “They get to see all the great things that Pacific has to offer…and just get really excited for their upcoming fall semester as they start their college journey with us.”

Register for Admitted Student Day or visit our admitted students page for more information. If you have any questions ahead of the event, please contact Andrew Merenda, Director of Campus Visit Programs and Events, at amerenda@pacific.edu or 209.932.2835.

June 5 wasn’t an ordinary Saturday for Media X graduate Mike Camacho ’21. The recent grad received an opportunity to work as a production assistant during a reshoot for “Dear Evan Hansen,” the movie version of the Tony award-winning musical, which will be in theaters starting Sept. 24.  

He was eager to share his experience working on set at Universal Studios and give insight into the kind of work production assistants perform.  

Q: What does a production assistant do? 

A: Production assistants (PA) can do a lot of different things. In a way, it’s kind of like you do what you’re asked to do and whatever else is needed to be done. So that might be going to talk to a cast member, telling them that their shoot is coming up in five minutes or retrieving equipment for shoots to start or getting breakfast for all the actors. Essentially, you’re assisting the production department, which I know sounds redundant, but that is the best way to explain it. 

Q: What did you do during your workday?  

A: Specifically, what I did for “Dear Evan Hansen” was I started off by delivering breakfasts to all the extras and to all the cast and crew at six in the morning, which was fun. Then I did what’s called walk-ups. I was stationed at a certain part of the set where somebody could walk onto the shoot, or perhaps make a lot of noise, and while the camera was rolling, I was in charge of making sure sound was down and people were not walking into the shot.  

Q: Have you ever done PA work before? 

No, this is my first experience which is funny enough because I was dubbed the “Green PA,” which means that everybody knows that this was my first time doing something like this. 

Q: What was the most memorable moment from this experience? 

A: I have two memorable moments. The first one, though, specifically relates to being a PA and sitting there and watching how the shots are being made. It’s really fascinating to watch 200 individuals set up an entire scene that’s only going to take five seconds to film. How many things really go into the shot just blew my mind. It’s such a well-oiled machine and it just works and it works really smoothly. On top of that, I did get to go to Universal Studios Backlot for one of the shots, so that was really cool. Being on Elm Street as well as being right across the street from the “Jaws” set.  

The second memorable moment was that I got to be an extra in the movie! 

Q: What is a reshoot and why does it happen? 

A: So, a reshoot is essentially taking scenes that you have already filmed and doing them again. So “Dear Evan Hansen” has already been filmed in its entirety but maybe the director doesn’t like how a shot ended up or maybe they would like it from a different angle. It allows the production company and the production itself to have more angles on certain shots, or perhaps to redo an entire shot so they have more options when it goes into postproduction. 

Q: What made you interested in film and the Media X major?  

A: My career interests had flipped so many times in the four years leading up to going to college. For a while didn’t know what I wanted to do and in my senior year of high school, I was kind of freaking out.  

One day I was sitting in my front room watching “Dragon Ball Z,” which is one of my favorite shows and I realized that I still love cartoons, and I love watching movies, and I love, you know, diving into all these worlds and understanding how stuff gets created that way. I found it all fascinating and thought that I would love to do that as a career. 

So originally when I started at Pacific, I wanted to do animations for cartoons, but I slowly found my way into the production side working with camera equipment, audio equipment and doing the jobs that the production system does. I just found that all to be fascinating. 

In the end, it was just my love of cartoons and my love of movies and creative outlets that led me to the Media X major. 

Q: Is there a dream project you really want to work on? 

A: I still love cartoons so I would love to one day be able to produce my own cartoon and have it air on a big cable network or streaming service like Nickelodeon, Netflix, Cartoon Network or Disney. That would be my dream goal.  

Q: Is there anything else about the PA opportunity that you want to talk about? 

It was just an incredible experience. I mean, it was a long day. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. I got to the set at 6 a.m. and there are two things that the assistant director told me that are very true: PA’s do not sit and they are always doing something. I was moving around every single hour, every single minute that we were shooting and doing something, and we ended at 12:30 at night. 

I would do it again if I could or if the opportunity came up. It’s an incredible experience just to see how it all comes together, and I’m forever grateful to Jonathan McGarry for allowing me this opportunity. I’m still in awe that I was able to actually do it. And on top of that, being extra in the movie. So hey, you get to see me in the movie, hopefully.