FAQs

COSMOS Program Support

What if I receive different information from different COSMOS sources?

Immediately contact the COSMOS Statewide Office. While COSMOS strives to provide precise, accurate, and up-to-date information, the program communicates from multiple sites across the state and through various media. Not all sources may be updated simultaneously. The COSMOS Statewide Office is the final arbiter and issuer of superseding information in cases of inconsistency or uncertainty, and it is the Statewide Office that will resolve the matter.

RESIDENCY

COSMOS is limited to California high school students only. Please review the program policy for additional information. If you have questions, please get in touch with the Statewide Office directly.

APPLICATION

Can I apply to multiple campuses?
No. You may apply to only one campus and select one first-choice cluster and one second-choice cluster.

Will SAT or ACT scores be used for admission?
No. COSMOS will not consider SAT or ACT scores when making admission decisions or awarding financial aid.

Can I apply if I have attended COSMOS before?
No.

What is a CASSID?
CASSID is the California Student Identification Number. This is optional and will not affect your application if unavailable. Please ask your school registrar or counselor if you do not know this number. CASSID does not apply to out-of-state or international students.

How do I know if my high school class meets the cluster prerequisites?
Admissions decisions and clusters are administered at the campus level. Contact the campus directly if you have questions regarding prerequisites. Please carefully review cluster information on the campus websites.

How do I submit the application fee?
The application fee is payable only in the Parent/Guardian Portal. Parents will be notified by email to create a login and password. They can then make payments, submit their electronic signature, and provide optional financial aid information.

I applied last year. Can I use my same login ID?
Yes. You will need to create a new application each year, but you may log in with the same account.

If admitted, do I have to live on campus?
Yes. The residential experience is an integral part of the program, and all students are required to live on the campus to which they are admitted.

Is the application fee refundable?
No. Please review the program policy page for additional information.

Is the program cost refundable?
No. All COSMOS payments are non-refundable after the posted deadline. Please review the program policy page for additional information.

MISSED DEADLINES

Can I send late application materials?
No. Due to the competitive nature of the program and to ensure fairness, COSMOS does not accept late materials or payments. Materials must be submitted by the posted deadline for application review. Late materials will render your application incomplete, and it will not be reviewed.

What if my school is on holiday during the week of the deadline?
Plan ahead and speak with your teachers and transcript officials early to avoid school closures. COSMOS does not accept late materials.

APPLICATION ESSAY

What should I write in my application essay?
The essay is your personal statement. Use this section to highlight your achievements and explain why you would be a good fit for the program.

Is there a word limit to the essay?
Yes. The limit is set by the text box in the application.

Is there a word limit to the cluster choice essay(s)?
Yes. The limit is set by the text box in the application.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Does applying for financial aid affect the admission decision?
No. Admission and financial aid reviews are conducted separately. Please review the financial assistance page for additional information.

When will I know if I’ve received financial aid?
Financial aid notification will come with your admission decision.

Where do I send my financial aid application and supporting materials?
Financial aid documentation must be sent directly to the COSMOS Statewide Office. COSMOS is not responsible for lost, held, or damaged mail; delivery errors; or incorrect shipping information. Please do not request signature-required delivery. COSMOS strongly recommends registered or certified mail with tracking. See the website for the correct mailing address.

TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Do the recommendations need to come from a STEM teacher?
Yes. One must be a STEM teacher. A counselor or other academic recommender is acceptable as the second (optional) recommendation.

What information will I need to request teacher recommendations?
You will need your teachers’ names and their work email addresses. Once you complete the reference section of your application, teachers will be notified.

Will teachers be asked to submit or upload a letter?
Teachers will answer several questions about your performance and abilities in STEM subjects and rank you relative to peers. A comments box is provided, but a formal letter is not required.

Will I know when my teachers have submitted a recommendation?
Yes. You can view the submission status on your login checklist.

My teacher didn’t get an email to upload their recommendation?
Some school districts may flag emails as spam. Ask your teacher to request that the school or district IT department whitelist COSMOS emails.

When are teacher recommendations due?
All recommendations must be submitted by the application deadline.

ADMISSIONS DECISIONS

When are admissions decisions available?
See the Dates and Deadlines page for more information.

Does COSMOS have a waitlist?
Yes. COSMOS maintains a waitlist. Please refer to the Dates and Deadlines page for additional information.

If not admitted, can I apply again?
Yes. If you meet the criteria for 8th–12th grade, you may apply again. A prior denial does not affect future applications.

Do I need to send official transcripts?
Official transcripts are required for students admitted to the program. They must be sent by the deadline indicated in your acceptance email. The preferred method is to email the official transcript directly from a school official to the campus you will be attending.

What are official transcripts?
Official transcripts are typically sent directly by your high school counselor or registrar via mail to the COSMOS program (details provided in the application). Your school may also provide you with a sealed official copy to mail yourself. Do not open the envelope; it must remain sealed to be considered official.

Do you accept electronic transcripts?
Some schools use online services such as Parchment to send transcripts. These transcripts are accepted as official if they are sent directly from your school to COSMOS. The Parchment website will indicate whether your school uses this service. If not, you must order transcripts directly from your high school registrar or counselor. Order early in the application process. Transcripts sent after the deadline stated in your admission email will not be accepted.

What does “postmarked” mean?
Official transcripts (see above) and check payments must be at the post office, stamped, and mailed by the deadline. The post office, not COSMOS, must receive the materials by the deadline. Check your local post office for business hours.

Can I use unofficial transcripts?
Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to the application as a PDF before submission. They must be generated after the date the application opens.

Will I be required to show proof of vaccination to attend?
Students must comply with the local campus vaccine policies while attending COSMOS. For details:

UC Davis: https://campusready.ucdavis.edu/testing-response/dashboard

UC Irvine: https://studenthealth.uci.edu/

UC Los Angeles: https://covid-19.ucla.edu/ucla-covid-protocols/

UC Merced: https://health.ucmerced.edu/

UC San Diego:  https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/resources/public-health/covid-19/index.html

UC Santa Cruz: https://health.ucsc.edu/

OUT-of-STATE Student

Can I apply to COSMOS if I am not a California resident or an international student?
No. COSMOS is limited to California students only. If your circumstances are unclear, please get in touch with the COSMOS Statewide Office.

Are international students allowed to apply?
No. Please refer to the answer above regarding non-California residents.

COSMOS is limited to California high school students only. Please refer to the program policy page for additional information.

PAYMENTS

An approx.2.5% transaction fee applies to credit card payments; however, the application fee is exempt from this charge. This fee is charged by the third-party processor, not COSMOS, and is not refundable even if the associated payment is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back.

University banking policy requires that this fee be assessed separately from program cost payments. As a result, you will be asked to submit multiple payments:

1. program cost payments, and

2. payments related to service fees.

If you choose to pay by credit card, you must submit both the payment and the service fee before the stated deadlines for your admission to be complete. Alternatively, you may avoid the service fee by mailing a check or money order, postmarked by the stated deadline, to:

UC Davis Campus Cashiering
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

Make checks or money orders payable to “UC Regents” (not COSMOS).
Please include the campus you are applying to (e.g., COSMOS UCD) and the applicant’s name on the check.

Disclaimer: COSMOS is not responsible for lost, delayed, held, or damaged mail, nor for delivery errors by the carrier or incorrect shipping information provided by the sender. Please verify all mailing details before sending. Do not request signature-required delivery. Registered mail is recommended.