Yes, you can participate in both FSSP and MAX. More information about FSSP is available here.
If you are participating in Freshman Summer Start Program (FSSP) the cost for Bridge to STEM will be built into your total tuition for FSSP.
No, both MAX and STEP are excellent summer opportunities, but their schedules are incompatible.
You are highly encouraged to attend an Orientation session before MAX begins.
MAX begins on August 4, 2025.
The Disabled Students Program (DSP) offers a robust program to accommodate students with a wide variety of documented needs. Learn more here.
Yes! Learn more here.
If your friend has also been admitted to UCSB, yes, they can join.
Yes. The course INT W 25 counts as “elective credit” toward a UCSB degree. “Elective credit” is required for graduation.
- Students who participated in MAX in 2024, on average, earned higher grades in introductory Chemistry and Math in Fall quarter.
- MAX can give you a head start on earning units toward graduation before Fall quarter.
- The course, INT W 25, can give you the confidence needed to succeed in fast-paced STEM courses during your first year at UCSB.
- An experienced MAX peer mentor can help you navigate your first year at UCSB.
- UCSB students who take summer courses are about 30% more likely to graduate on time.
- Students who participate in summer bridge programs between high school and college do better in their first year, and are less likely to end up on academic review.
The course begins on August 4th and ends on September 13th.
Yes, the course takes place online. It has asynchronous (work on your own) and synchronous (work with others) components.
One unit represents 5 hours of work per week. This is a 4 unit course. You should devote approximately 20 hours per week.
You’ll learn about topics and gain skills that students say they need to re-learn and practice throughout their UCSB careers.
Topics include telling stories with data; units and conversions; systems of equations; linear functions; exponential functions; and probability.
Skills include navigating how you’ll learn; using help that’s there for you; taking the sting out of struggle; managing your time on the quarter system; communicating with professors and TAs; and adapting your learning for different courses.
No. To participate in Fall mentoring, you must enroll in INT W 25 and meet other students and future mentors.
No, participation entails both the Summer course/mentorship and the Fall mentorship.
Yes. INT W 25 is a 4 unit course. Units earned count as “elective credit” toward a UCSB degree. “Elective credit” is required for graduation.
If you are participating in FSSP (Freshman Summer Start Program), please select INT W 25 as one of your preferences on your FSSP Course Preference Form.
If you are not participating in FSSP, please follow the steps below.
- Fill out a Summer Sessions Enrollment application by following the instructions for “Newly Admitted Freshmen” on this webpage.
- Once your application has been processed, you will receive information about registering for classes in GOLD. Log into GOLD to proceed with registering for INT W 25.
- Go to the "My Schedule" screen in GOLD, and select "Summer 2025." In the "Add by Enrollment Code" box, enter the code (see codes for each day/time below). Click "Add." If you need assistance using GOLD, review the GOLD 101 video.
TWR 9:00-10:30am, Enrollment Code: 10819
TWR 10:00-11:30am, Enrollment Code: 10801
TWR 1:00- 2:30pm, Enrollment Code: 10793
The following fees will be charged to a student's BARC account based on their registration in INT W25 in Summer 2025:
$1116.00 Unit Fee
$548.05 Campus-Based Fee
$33.87 Student Technology Fee
Upon successful completion of the course, MAX participants will receive a $1116.00 campus scholarship for the unit fees associated with INT W 25 (Bridge to STEM) in Summer Session B. Students will be responsible for the campus-based fees of $548.05 and $33.87 for a total of $581.92. Please note: students must be in a paid status on BARC by the end of the first week of the session to avoid being lapsed and removed from the course.
There is no cost to continue participation in the program during Fall quarter. All course materials will be accessible free of charge on the online course site.
Yes, you can complete the asynchronous work during a time that suits you. However, you are required to attend weekly synchronous sessions Tuesday - Thursday during specified times.
Every week of the course will follow the same pattern.
Mondays: Watch a lecture and complete a quiz on lecture content, watch a video on STEM navigation skills, and meet with the instructor during office hours
Tuesdays: Attend synchronous, online meeting with faculty, TA and complete practice problems
Wednesday: Meet synchronously with your TA, attend break out sessions with undergraduate learning mentors to discuss practice problems, learn about the week’s case study from the TA, and work independently on the case study.
Thursday: Meet synchronously with your undergraduate learning mentors to discuss the case study and STEM navigation questions, attend a session hosted by your faculty instructor to address remaining questions, weekly quiz unlocked and due Monday night.
Friday: Optional office hours with the TA
Throughout the week: Support hours with undergraduate learning mentors
Please email us at max-contact@ucsb.edu
