As we begin a new academic year, I find myself thinking about what it means to be part of a public university at this particular moment.

UC Davis is a remarkable community, one that stretches from our campuses in Davis and Sacramento to communities and partners across California. We come to this work with different experiences, perspectives and responsibilities. What connects us is a shared commitment to creating a university where people can learn, work, contribute and thrive.

The CMSP AvenueM application cycle for the 2026-2027 academic year is now OPEN! Students who are early in their community college coursework or plan to transfer to a transfer institution Fall 2027 or beyond are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Learn more about this opportunity

Community college students from across Northern California spent two weeks at the UC Davis School of Medicine this summer practicing clinical skills, connecting with physicians and medical students, and gaining a firsthand look at careers in medicine through AvenueM. From learning suturing and CPR to exploring trauma care and physical exams, the immersive experience helped students build the knowledge, confidence and relationships needed to pursue medical school.

For many students in Siskiyou County, college can often feel more like an aspiration than a plan.

As one of California’s northern-most counties anchored by Mount Shasta, the rural town is filled with many first-generation students, and limited opportunities for youth to explore careers firsthand or see what the journey from high school to college might actually look like.

When Avenue M student Jessica de Laguna opened her MCAT score, years of work suddenly felt uncertain. After returning to school in her 30s and completing demanding science coursework, she had fallen short of the score she hoped for.

"I got a 490," she recalled. "So I have to retake it again."

For a student who had spent years battling imposter syndrome, it would have been easy to see the score as the end of the road. Instead, someone at UC Davis saw something else.

A first-generation college graduate, immigrant and UC Davis alumna stood before a crowd of about 800 students and family members at the University Credit Union Center on May 16, offering a powerful reminder that higher education is not reserved for a select few.

By the time Aidín Castillo Mazantini, executive director of the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center, finished sharing her story as keynote speaker of the Avanza Rising Scholars Conference, the audience was on its feet.

When Julia Lee volunteered with the Fostering the Future program as a UC Davis undergraduate student, she saw it as an opportunity to give back.

Years earlier when she was in high school, Lee attended a summer educational program that introduced her to health care careers and allowed her to shadow professionals in a hospital setting. The experience helped transform a general interest in medicine into a clear career goal.