Ask a current UCSB student anything

<p>i have a question about the dorm at ucsb. i will be a transfer student and i would like to live at a dorm that doesnt have parties going around(quiet). i heard Manzanita Village is pretty good, i dont care about anti-social wat so ever. i am considering for double but i am concern that my roommate would throw parties at the dorm which i really hate; single might be too expensive. however, all of that, do i get to choose which hall i desire to live or i am pretty much assigned?</p>

<p>im not sure how it works for transfer students but for incoming freshman, you rank the residence halls according to preference. most of the time you end up with your first choice. im sure your roommate wont be throwing parties if they choose manzanita because they probably didnt want parties in their room as well.</p>

<p>i’ve been wanting to set up an internet account, but info.resnet.ucsb.edu hasn’t been loading for me - is this problem affecting anyone else?</p>

<p>Hi, I’m kind of in a situation like d_dog.</p>

<p>I wasn’t thinking and looking at a map when I chose my classes and so I have these 2 back to back classes 15 minutes apart. Problem for me is the classes are HFH (I’m assuming it’s Harold Frank Hall?) to IV theatre. How long do you think that would take to walk or bike? Do you think I could make it in 15 minutes?</p>

<p>to maybetomorrow, don’t worry about it. You’ll be able to make it in 15 minutes. If you bike really fast, you can even make it within 5 minutes.</p>

<p>I’m wondering if I could possibly get accepted into UCSB… I am a high school junior and I have a 3.9 GPA, taking 2 APs and one honors class (switching into another AP hopefully), but no ECs thus far. I am planning on joining 3 clubs, becoming a leader my senior year in one of them, getting a job, and volunteering at a hospital & a clinic. Also will be studying to get a stellar score on the SAT to partially make up for the last 2 years of no ECs. Is there a chance I could get in?</p>

<p>I have other questions too. How competitive is it to get into the Biology majors? I’m specifically looking into the Pharmacy major. What is the job placement rate (in just the Biology/Science field) and/or percentage of students that go on to pursue higher degrees? What is the lifestyle of the campus? Big greek system? Laidback atmosphere, or competitive? Is there much racial diversity? Personality diversity? Are people open minded? Is there a lot to do on & off campus? How is the party life?</p>

<p>Lots of questions, lol. Thanks for your time!</p>

<p>sheyzzle, you’re on track. </p>

<p>As far as EC’s are concerned as well as in a job application, the quality is far more important than the quantity. Also, develop something that you’re truly interested in rather than just doing it to put on your college application. Volunteering for a local clinic or hospital would definitely demonstrate your interest in the Pharmacology major, even though your selected major choice is NOT taken into consideration in the admission process of the College of Letters and Science.</p>

<p>75% of UCSB graduates got hired within 6 months of graduation. 34% graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees. These are the stats from the UCSB Admissions Guide. I’m not particularly sure about the biological sciences field.</p>

<p>UCSB’s is very laidback than many colleges I’ve visited. About 10% of UCSB enrolled students are involved in the Greek system. The best thing about UCSB is that you don’t have to be a frat or sorority to have fun or party, because parties are simply everywhere once weekends come along. And it’s also an absolute personal choice and in fact, a fair amount of UCSB students choose to stay away from the party scene in Isla Vista. </p>

<p>About diversity, 50% of the student body are white; 22% are Chicano/a or Hispanics; 18% are Asians/Pacific Islanders; 3% are African American/ Black. And of course, UC’s are generally infamous for African American/ Black students recruitment. However, we have a strong and active BSU on campus. And minority students are among the most politically active in the state. UCSB is as liberal as Berkeley, regarding the fact that we burned down the Bank of America back the 70s and the Associated Students boycotted PC’s for their investment in South Africa in 80s. People here are generally open-minded.</p>

<p>And let me know if you have any other questions.</p>

<p>Do you have to apply separately to UCSB then to the College of Letters & Science? What is the admission rate for the Pharmacology major (or the College of Letters & Science)? </p>

<p>I like the fact that it’s a very laid back school, however I would like more racial diversity. </p>

<p>Please private message me if you have any helpful links or more advice! Thanks!</p>

<p>There’re three colleges for undergrads at UCSB, the College of Letters & Science (L&S), the College of Engineering (COE), and the College of Creative Studies(CCS). When you first apply for admission, you have two major options, your first and second, and in this case, you would put down pharmacology as your first major choice. Like I’ve said before, UCSB doesn’t admit by major in L&S i.e. it doesn’t matter what major you put down here as long as it’s in L&S. Your admission is based on the holistic review of our admissions counselors. Consequently, there isn’t a specific acceptance rate for different majors in L&S. But if COE or CCS, which are much more selective, is your first choice and you put a L&S major for your second choice, then your application will be first reviewed by either COE admissions committee or CCS faculty members. And if you don’t get accepted, your application will still be reviewed by the general admissions committee.</p>

<p>UCSB is a fairly diverse campus. Are you interested in any specific ethnic groups?</p>

<p>Hmm, that makes sense I guess. Are you pretty confident that I could get in, however? I feel a little inferior compared to other applicants with wonderful grades and lots of ECs. I’m guessing when I apply for UCSB, when I write about ECs I should just focus on 2 or 3 ECs that I really enjoyed or something?
& btw, how important would you say ECs are in admissions? Would good grades still be the overall deciding factor?</p>

<p>I’m Polynesian & asian, and I wanted to join any clubs that were specifically for those races.</p>

<p>Can you use thumb tack pins in santa catalina dorms?</p>

<p>sheyzzle,</p>

<p>Admission is based on your UC calculated GPA. Do some research on this and determine what your UC GPA comes in at. No freshman grades, no senior grades, no non-academic classes; they want to know what your GPA was in the important classes.</p>

<p>This year two kids I know had 4.0 overall GPA’s, and 4.1+ UC calculated GPA’s with 1900 SAT scores. One got in and one didn’t, so this was about the cutoff this year, and the trend is that it is getting more difficult each year. The one that got in played 3 varsity sports, the one that didn’t played 2, and neither had any other EC’s. Joining clubs now would be seen as resume padding, too late. Join one club and show a strong committment to that one club this year, not your senior year.</p>

<p>UCSB is the whitest of the UC’s. It represents the racial landscape of that part of California. There are more Hispanics, and less Asians, and even less Blacks in that area and the school seems to follow that pattern. On a sidenote, why is it that people that are looking for racial diversity are always looking to find clubs and groups that are race specific?</p>

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<p>Lol, I find this rather amusing, myself. It seems people looking for racial diversity are often looking for “less-whites” and more minorities. I’m asian, and considering UCSB’s demographic, it is probably one of the most “diverse” UC based on the notion that you are more likely to find “interethnic” friendships/groups here compared to other UCs, some of which, ethnicities tend to “stick together.” If racial tolerance is a goal, a “melting pot” view in friendships and groups should be desired.</p>

<p>Adding to that, SB is pretty liberal, so few and far between will you find some close-minded people(like every college, they do exist, unfortunately).</p>

<p>sheyzzle, obviously I can’t guarantee that you’ll get in for sure. Like Californiadream said, you should calculate your UC GPA first. Just for your reference, the Fall 2010 average admitted UC GPA is 4.1 and entering class UC GPA is 3.92.</p>

<p>About the admissions process, you academics (UC GPA and SAT’s/ACT’s) accounts for 50% of the decision making weight, and everything else, including your EC’s and personal statement, weigh the other 50% for L&S admissions, according to UCSB Admissions Office.</p>

<p>There’re a lot of Asian clubs and there’s also a Polynesian dance club at UCSB.</p>

<p>Absolutely agree with Oquendo, people at UCSB tend to integrate with each other. And they’re extremely laidback and friendly. Unlike some other UC’s, one ethnic group tends to stick with themselves and not interact with others. </p>

<p>Also a sidenote. I did voter registration at both UCSB and Berkeley. Students at UCSB are generally more friendly, open, and willing to listen to you, whereas people at Berkeley are more likely to avoid talking to you. And Berkeley was my first choice. This kinda has bugged me for a long time.</p>

<p>For the people commenting on the hypocrisy of me saying I want a more racially diverse campus but then I want to join a club race-specific… Yes, I do want a melting pot of students and not more of one race, coming from a high school where the majority of people are white, no offense. However, from your descriptions of UCSB, it sounds perfect for my personality. The laidback atmosphere and friendly people are PERFECT for me. So maybe race doesn’t matter after all (:</p>

<p>@ Californiadreamm : Did these 2 students both apply for UCSB? I do plan on joining a few clubs this year and committing myself to them.</p>

<p>@ Ryan : Is the average 4.1 UC GPA for all UCs, or just Santa Barbara? Because I have my grades from last year, and I only got one B during my Sophomore year (I HATE math).</p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice everyone.</p>

<p>Question: I just bought a brand-new bike - a pretty nice one, too, since I caved into buying an “investment” bike. Anyways, I’m a little paranoid with my things, especially w/ expensive ones, so this brings me to ask: Over the school year breaks, where does one leave there bikes? Just on the racks? That sounds kinda dangerous, no?</p>

<p>Is there like a storage bin for everyone leaving to keep them secure? Could I bring it inside my dorm?</p>

<p>A friend told me that the people who left their bikes over the break at UCI got there seats unscrewed and thrown in this gigantic pile of bike seats causing a headache for students. A few others had there tires slashed, and chains broken…even though it was Irvine, I’m sure this happens at SB.</p>

<p>You put them in your dorm and lock them to the bed.</p>

<p>sheyzzle, that’s for Santa Barbara.</p>

<p>oquendo, do NOT leave it outside during winter break.</p>

<p>

Because “racial diversity” is a code phrase that, as you’ve realized, means something other than the surface words.</p>

<p>Can you use thumb tack pins in santa catalina dorms?</p>