Clone of PACE Program Application 2025-26

PACE Program Application 2026-27
The PACE 2026-27 application is currently open and will close April 24th, 2026.

Dear Applicant,

We are so excited that you are interested in joining the Personal and Career Experience (PACE) Fellowship program for the 2026-27 academic year. The PACE programs provide AB 540 and CA Dream Act students opportunities to participate in an experiential learning opportunities (ELO), receive mentorship, professional development, and financial support.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the PACE Fellowship Program will be housed under the Academic Internship Program (AIP). As a result, PACE Fellows will be required to follow AIP guidelines, including completing a deliverable for each quarter they participate in the program.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Program Coordinator, Pricila Rodriguez, at brr023@ucsd.edu, or the Assistant Program Coordinator, Rei Perez Munoz, at rmperezmunoz@ucsd.edu, or schedule a meeting with either one of them.

* In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories. All eligible students are encouraged to apply. The PACE Fellowship Program does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process.
- More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.
- More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.

PACE Fellowship Eligibility

Below you will find the PACE Fellowship Program eligibility for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please read all eligibility requirements carefully.

You are eligible to participate in the PACE Fellowship Program if you meet all of the following:
- An undergraduate with current enrollment at UC San Diego for the current academic year in which you apply.
- Ineligible for federal financial aid (e.g., Pell Grants, Direct Loans).
- Have AB 540 California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption.
- Have a California Dream Act (CADAA) Application on file.
- Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI) is equal to or less than the maximum to qualify for a Pell Grant ($6,600).
- Demonstrate sufficient financial need.
Don’t meet the PACE Fellowship criteria? Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to explore other available scholarship or fellowship opportunities.

Still unsure if you should apply?

Schedule an appointment with the Program Coordinator, Pricila Rodriguez or the Assistant Program Coordinator, Rei Perez-Munoz to discuss the Fellowship in more detail. Use this link to schedule your appointment.

PACE Fellowship Program Requirements

Please review the PACE Fellowship Program requirements below. Fellows are responsible for completing all requirements each quarter to remain in the Fellowship Program.
- Commit 8-10 hours weekly to an ELO for the entire academic year.
- Attend the in-person PACE Orientation in October
- Enroll in the AIP course for all three quarters.
  - Class is taken for 2 units and is for Pass/No Pass
- Complete a deliverable each quarter in accordance with AIP guidelines .
  - The deliverable may take the form of a final paper, project, or presentation that demonstrates the student's learning through their ELO.
  - Should be created alongside the ELO so that the learning experience and final deliverable are developed simultaneously.
  - The specific topic, approach, and bibliography should be developed in consultation with the mentor.
- Submit Quarterly Program Assessments

Ready to apply? Great!

Please be prepared to provide all of the following information:
- A Resume
- A Screenshot of your 2025-26 Financial Aid Award letter
- Answer short essay response questions
*If you are a person with a disability and need accommodations to complete this application or to participate in any of our programming, please contact Pricila Rodriguez (brr023@ucsd.edu) for assistance.

Deadline to Apply:

April 24th, 2026

Eligibility

Students must be AB 540 and have a CA Dream Act application on file to join the PACE Programs. No exceptions.
YesNo
YesNo
YesNo

Fellow Information

Please complete all required sections
Full Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
Preferred Name
Pronouns
Ex: she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them
PID*
(ex. A12345678)
UCSD Email*
example@ucsd.edu
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
College*
YesNo
FreshmanSophomoreJuniorSenior
Anticipated Graduation Term and Year *
(ex. Spring 2023)
Major*
Current GPA*
Please share more information about GPA
Fellows must have minimum 2.5 GPA. If you have a lower GPA, please use this space to share how you plan to stay committed to the fellowship program and stay in academic satisfactory
Yes, returning PACE FellowNo, this is my first time applying to be a PACE Fellow

Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO)

An Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO) is a hands-on learning experience that allows PACE Fellows to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world or professional setting. All fellows are expected to participate in the same ELO they select for the full academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
I will create my own ELO in collaboration with a UC San Diego faculty or staff member.I plan to select an ELO from the directory provided by the PACE Fellowship Program.I am unsure which option to pursue and will schedule an appointment with the Program Coordinator, Pricila, to receive support using the link below.
If you selected the "I will create my own ELO" option, you must have a finalized ELO and confirmed mentor by May 1st. If you do not have an ELO and a mentor confirmed by the May 1st deadline, you will need to pick and ELO from the directory.

If you selected the "I am unsure" option, you must schedule an appointment with Pricila, as soon as possible, in order for you PACE Fellowship application to be fully considered. Please use the link below to book your appointment.

https://USSappointments.as.me/Pricila

Resume

Your resume should provide a summary of your education, work experience, skills, accomplishments, and qualifications relevant to your desired experiential learning opportunity.
Resources on how to build a resume can be found at career.ucsd.edu/succeed-search/resume
Please upload your resume here: *

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Proof of Financial Aid

Please upload a PDF/screenshot of your most current financial aid package. You will need to submit your 2026-27 financial aid package once you are able to view it.
Here is a tutorial showing how to access your financial aid package!
Please upload your financial aid package here *

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Short Easy Response Questions

Please throughly read the questions below and provide thoughtful responses to each question. Please provide 4 to 6 sentences with as much detail as possible, as this will allow us to best match you with expirential learning oppertunities and ensure that you are supprorted throughout the Fellowship year.
What type of professional development experiences are you seeking to develop? *
What are your academic AND personal strengths? Provide examples on how your strengths will help you take on the responsibilities of being a PACE Fellow. *
What are skills you currently wish to improve on (ex. listening skills, communication, time management, etc.)? Describe a time when you received feedback that challenged you or was hard to accept. How did you respond in that moment, and how did you process it? What steps do you take to apply feedback?*

Click the "Submit" button to Submit your application. After you submit your application you will not be able to make changes to your application.
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PACE Program Application 2026-27

Eligibility

Fellow Information

Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO)

Resume

Proof of Financial Aid