Each spring, UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions invites the newly admitted first-year and transfer classes to participate in a series of in-person events designed to welcome and introduce them to Aggie life.

The Undergraduate Admissions team works closely with campus partners to plan a range of different celebratory and informative events so admitted students everywhere can access the important information they need before making the decision to commit to UC Davis

Types of admit events

Through May, admitted students will visit campus (or their hometowns, in the case of Meet-and-Greets events) to meet faculty, staff and students, learn about their majors or potential options, talk with housing and dining representatives, chat with financial aid advisors, connect with cultural and identity-based groups and more.

Fly-in programs

These invite-only programs are all-expense paid trips for students who are unable to visit campus due to financial reasons. UC Davis’ fly-in programs include Aggie Senior Weekend for high school students, led by the Student Recruitment and Retention Center and Experience UC Davis for both first-years, transfers, and their one accompanying guest. Students who attend this type of event get to experience both UC Davis and the town of Davis in an overnight setting. The event team creates unique opportunities such as set dinners and trips to Davis staples like Davis Creamery, in addition to specially curated academic, housing and finance presentations and meetings, all geared towards connecting attendees while fostering a profound sense of belonging.

Hometown meet-and-greets

Meet-and-Greets events are carefully designed to simulate smaller versions of on campus events to welcome and connect campus partners with incoming students and their families. These gatherings target underrepresented groups and offer an inclusive space amongst various locations within California, for attendees to engage, create connections and get all their questions answered in a warm and inviting atmosphere close to home.

On-campus festivities

UC Davis’ flagship Aggie Day (held for both first-year and transfer students on different days) is campus’ biggest admit event with crowds reaching over 10,000 people. On Aggie Day, admitted students and their families are invited to explore campus. The agenda for each day features open houses for the colleges and different majors, structured tours for housing and the general campus, personal financial aid appointments with real advisors, exciting cultural performances, club fairs and so much more. The campus is open for personalized interactions and the event is built for students and attendees to shape their own experience and discover unique facets to kickstart their UC Davis journey.

Melanie Koch, senior events manager for Undergraduate Admissions, plans for students and families to celebrate their acceptance and receive what they need to say yes to UC Davis.

“It is so important, now more than ever, to set foot on campus or have access to in-person information. A lot of new students are coming out of pandemic style learning and were online for so many years. Fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for decision making,” Koch said.

She also said staff can expect energetic and interactive environments at each event. Staff play a vital role in guiding new students through UC Davis’ in-person events. Both students and families rely on the information that staff, representatives and current students share to understand how they fit within the UC Davis community.

“As the campus comes alive, be ready to showcase not only the university’s merits but also your own experiences and reasons for working here,” Koch said. “We all have different answers as to why we chose Davis and they are all powerful testimonies needed to grow our amazing community.”