The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program is designed for CSU students (and CCC students transferring to a CSU) majoring in physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, or mathematics/statistics with an interest in pursuing a PhD in these or related disciplines. The program provides the support and guidance needed to successfully apply to and be accepted by PhD programs across the nation, but especially those at UC campuses.
Selected applicants are known as Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars who receive four elements of support in addition to the larger community of practice: (1) substantial financial support; (2) intensive, joint mentoring by CSU and UC faculty members; (3) professional development workshops; and (4) exposure to a wide variety of research opportunities, including at the participating UC campuses. In addition, Cal-Bridge scholars join a large and growing community of like-minded scholars who support each other throughout their academic careers.
There are multiple pathways for our scholars through the systems of the CA Community Colleges, CSUs, & UCs into the Cal-Bridge program. Cal-Bridge provides comprehensive end-to-end support from the undergraduate to professoriate.
CSU and California Community College undergraduates majoring in physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, or mathematics/statistics who are interested in pursuing a PhD in those or any related discipline.
The Cal-Bridge program provides vital support to help undergraduate scholars successfully matriculate to a PhD program in the discipline of their choice. Financial support allows scholars to stop working and focus on school work; joint, intensive mentoring by both CSU and UC mentors provide encouragement and guidance through through the sometimes hidden and often complex path to successfully apply to PhD programs; professional development workshops provide needed skills to succeed in applying to PhD programs as well as providing a space for community building; and research experiences provide a chance to develop and demonstrate research skills to assess one’s interest in research and to demonstrate it to PhD programs. Best of all, Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars join a community of support consisting of hundreds of like-minded people with similar goals and backgrounds.
Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars are expected to fully commit to all elements of the program including biweekly mentorship meetings; 3-4 weekends devoted to professional development and community building; summer research internships; and participating in the PhD application process. Upon admission into the program, scholars sign a Cal-Bridge undergraduate contract outlining these obligations in detail.
Applications are open in April of each year to begin in the following fall. Details on how and when to apply can be found here:
Program
What STEM disciplines does the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program support?
The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program currently supports students majoring in physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics. Other disciplines may be added in the future
Are students who intend to switch majors eligible to apply?
Yes, students who plan to switch to one of the eligible Cal-Bridge majors can apply
Is the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program limited to California State University students?
To be eligible, applicants must be attending a California State University by the fall of their year of entry into the Cal-Bridge program and for the remainder of their undergraduate career; this includes California Community College students transferring to a CSU
Does the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program provide assistance in writing personal statements, CV’s, statements of purpose, etc?
Personal and professional development workshops are one of the elements of success for the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program. Topics of these workshops include but are not limited to writing personal statements, statements of purpose, creating CVs, applying to internships and graduate schools, etc.
What is the frequency of the professional and personal development workshops and will they be in person or over Zoom?
There are three in-person weekend-long workshops for Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars, including the Fall Conference. Additional virtual workshops on Zoom are held throughout the year, about one per month. All workshops are mandatory for all Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars
Can I get help getting into a research or other internship in my discipline?
Cal-Bridge increases exposure to internship opportunities. In addition, as part of being a Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholar, you are required to apply to summer research opportunities including Cal-Bridge Summer, which provides research opportunities at UC campuses as well as nationally
What kind of financial support is offered?
Financial support is one of the four elements of success for Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars. Students who are citizens or permanent residents and have completed a FAFSA, as well as AB540 students who have completed a California Dream Act Application are eligible to receive up to $15,000 of financial support per academic year. In addition, the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program provides financial support to pay for GRE testing fees, transportation costs to and from workshops, and graduate school application fees
What financial support is available for a Cal-Bridge scholar who enters a Master’s program in a related field?
Cal-Bridge has offered up to one year of financial support for Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars entering a Master’s program after completing two years in the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program and who plan to reapply to PhD programs in the first two years of their Master’s program. However, such support is dependent on program funding and is not guaranteed
What financial support is available for a Cal-Bridge scholar who enters a PhD program in a related field?
The Cal-Bridge Doctoral program offers a Cal-Bridge Fellowship (currently $40,000) to support Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars who matriculate to a University of California PhD program and become Cal-Bridge doctoral scholars. For more information about the Cal-Bridge Doctoral program visit that program’s webpage
What are the four elements of success that Cal-Bridge offers?
The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program offers (1) mentoring via two mentors, one from your home CSU campus and one from a University of California campus; (2) financial support of up to $15,000 per academic year for qualifying students; (3) professional and personal development workshops; and (4) exposure to summer research experiences, primarily through the Cal-Bridge Summer program
Eligibility Requirements
What are the eligibility requirements for prospective applicants?
To be eligible to apply for Fall 2023, applicants must:
If I do not meet the eligibility requirements (for example, if I am on track to graduate in a different term) should I still consider applying?
It does not hurt to apply, although the program is intended for students who are/will be attending a CSU with two years left before graduating, i.e. who are entering their Junior year
Can engineering majors apply?
Engineering majors are not eligible for the program. However, students enrolled in one of the eligible majors may apply if they are interested in pursuing a PhD in any engineering or other related discipline
Application
If I participated in a summer internship this year through the Cal-Bridge Summer program, should I talk about it in my application for the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program?
Absolutely! While previous research experience is not required to apply to the Cal-Bridge undergraduate program, including it in your application will certainly help, especially with assigning mentors and/or understanding your interests
Are graduate students (e.g., Master’s students) eligible to apply?
Graduate students are not eligible to apply
What are the requirements for students that are transferring from a California Community College to a California State University?
Requirements are the same for all applicants: you must be enrolled at a California State University in an eligible major in the fall of the year you enter the program and have two years left to complete your undergraduate degree
What constitutes a strong letter of recommendation?
The best options for a strong letter of recommendation are faculty who have seen you succeed in an academic setting or research experience and can attest to your interest and curiosity in the field.
Who is appropriate to ask for a reference letter?
Cal-Bridge applicants are encouraged to obtain recent letters of recommendation from faculty at institutions and research advisors. Up to one letter from a non-academic writer will be accepted. Letters of recommendation are most beneficial when the recommender can attest to the applicant’s character inside and outside of the classroom and can describe the applicant’s academic and technical skills.
How can I adequately describe my motivation and intent to pursue graduate education?
The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program hosts a “How to Apply to Cal-Bridge” workshop each year, so make sure to attend! In general, be honest, express your interests, tell your story and focus on your strengths
How can I learn more about the application process?
Cal-Bridge offers two workshops each year before the application deadline that cover the program elements, the application process, tips on asking for recommendation letters, and writing personal essays
How do I create a graduation plan for my California State University?
Each California State University has a coursework catalog for students in a given major. More specific questions regarding when to take courses are best discussed with your department’s academic advisor. Applicants can also obtain a graduation plan directly from their academic advisor. If you are transferring from a Community College to a California State University, you are not required to submit a graduation plan until your transfer.
Is a GitHub account a requirement for students applying as computer science and/or computer science engineering majors?
This is a common practice in the field. It looks nice and it elevates applications. So even though it’s not required, it is highly recommended since the more projects on GitHub, the better the person will look.
For International and Undocumented Students
Are international students eligible to apply?
Yes!
Are undocumented students eligible to apply?
Yes!
What financial support is available for international or undocumented students?
Undocumented (AB 540) students are fully eligible for financial aid. International students are eligible to apply but may be considered for financial support on a case by case basis. All Scholars are eligible for financial support for GRE fees, transportation costs, and graduate school application fees. Additionally, some summer internships offer financial support for all students. This also applies to AB540 or Dreamer students.
General Career
How much work is involved in pursuing a PhD?
The amount of work that is involved in pursuing a PhD depends on the student. Each student is faced with different obstacles and has different strengths which could hinder or reduce the amount of time they work per week. Students can attend workshops on time management to learn how to allocate time per week for studying. Some students participate in extracurricular activities on campus. These are just a few variables that students must balance as they pursue a PhD
As a future scientist, what can we do outside of school to pursue our career and to make ourselves stand out?
As a future scientist, there is plenty one can do outside of school while you pursue your career in science. For example, a student can join amateur science groups. Cal-Bridge provides research opportunities to help students gain experience outside the classroom. Students can stand out by participating in extracurricular activities such as clubs, organizations and societies. Another way for a student to stand out is by becoming mentors, and/or volunteer their time. There are many avenues outside of school that can assist students in the pursuit of their scientific career
How do we get from Community College into a College or University and into a career in STEM?
A successful path from a community college to a college or University is strongly tied to the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). First, students should make an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss the appropriate IGETC plan for the student’s chosen career. The IGETC plan is a 2-year transfer plan designed for transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The plan also schedules multiple meetings with an academic advisor to make sure the student stays on the right path to graduation. The student can use this time to build a portfolio of schools that are a good fit for them. During this time, it is recommended that the student seeks internships and joins extracurricular activities to increase their chances of acceptance into a good bachelor’s program. If the student is selected for a bachelor’s program, then the student can seek out more internships as well as research groups to join. Upon graduation, the student can choose to pursue higher education such as graduate school or join the workforce by seeking employment in the field of astronomy. These are just some of the things suggested to pursue a career in STEM as a community college student.
How do I enter into a PhD program?
As a Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholar you will begin discussing PhD options with your research advisors and mentors as you approach your final undergraduate year. The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program also offers multiple workshops regarding the requirements for the graduate school application process. PhD programs are competitive; therefore students are encouraged to find ways to stand out in a field of hundreds of applicants. For example, scholars can join organizations and societies to boost their scholastic resume. Scholars are also encouraged to contact professors to get information about different university PhD programs. Furthermore, there are a couple of essays that universities ask for within the application and the applications also require multiple letters of recommendation
How do I find out if a PhD is right for me? As a student who has had his education thus far funded by the state, how much of a financial hardship can a PhD program be?
The Cal-Bridge undergraduate program provides workshops, including panels with graduate students, that answer questions about what it is like to be a doctoral student. The program also provides tours of campuses so that scholars can see the laboratories and get to know the researchers. During the campus tour students get a basic idea of the type of research performed at the institution. These things can help a student decide whether a PhD is a path they would like to take.
Participating in summer research as a Cal-Bridge Summer scholar will play a key role in exposing you to real research which will help you decide if a PhD is right for you.
Crucially, as part of the Cal-Bridge Program, scholars are paired with two mentors who can provide information about PhD programs. Each PhD program presents different financial obstacles. The cost of living is different from state to state so it is difficult to pinpoint a specific figure, but most STEM PhD programs provide full funding support to their PhD students. Additionally, the Cal-Bridge doctoral program provides all UC doctoral scholars with a Cal-Bridge Fellowship (currently $40,000)
What does research look like during undergrad vs PhD?
Research During an Undergraduate Program
Research During a PhD Program
The daily life of a PhD student will differ vastly from what students may be used to during their pursuit of an undergraduate degree. Creating original research independently within a student’s discipline is the bulk of a PhD program. Although publications of a student’s work are typically expected, each discipline will have different requirements for the number of these publications. During the later half of a student’s PhD degree, they will likely dedicate over 90% of their time to their research work. Compiling research publications in a PhD “thesis” and “defending” one’s work by sharing the research while faculty in related fields ask questions is integral to obtaining a doctoral degree
