Chance Me OOS applicant!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Barbara
1

Hi!! I am currently a Junior at a private school in New Hampshire but am looking for a serious change in scenery and UCSB looks like the absolute perfect place for that. This whole college process is scaring me to death because I hear it is harder for out of state kids to get into these schools, and I had some serious health struggles freshman year that ruined my grades for 9th grade so I have some low grades on my transcript. If anyone could chance me and maybe give me some California schools that I could match with as well I will give you a virtual hug :slight_smile:

Scores–
Intended major: Marine Biology
SAT: 1310 (590 reading/720 math)
GPA: our school only gives us them once a year at the very end of the year but it is currently a 3.2. I know this is low but I finished freshman year with a 2.5, got it up to 3.2 after sophomore year and currently have all straight A’s and am hoping for it to go up to at least a 3.6 or 3.7 by the time I apply. (I heard that an increase shows commitment ?)

AP’s:
none yet but I plan on taking AP Environmental Science and AP gov senior year.
My school is weird as they only let you take one or two AP’s a year. Plus I am not sure if courses that count as honors for us count when calculating a UC GPA (I am very confused on that part).

EC’s:
Varsity swim team all four years, voted MVP sophomore and junior year when my team also won the state championship.
four time state champion
20+ hours a week to club swimming
debate club- two years
art club- three years, president junior year
NH Envirothon team member- three years. where we learn all the information ever about New Hampshire wildlife and ecosystems and then go and compete against all the other schools in the state at the end of the year. super fun and my team placed well last year!
environmental club- two years
60 hours of volunteering at a local marine conservation non-profit. I work in their booth on the beach and show kids all the different crabs and fish in the touch tank and then tell them about whales!! its super cute :slight_smile:
50 hours of volunteering and soon to be job at local marine research center, basically doing most of the same things as the other program but I go out on the boats and tag sharks occasionally with this program.
Spent 2 weeks at a school in the bahamas helping a masters student from oxford write her graduate thesis on invasive species (lionfish in particular), tagging sharks and sea turtles, and helping with deep sea research. absolutely the best experience of my life and will probably write an essay about it.
Helped canvas for bernie sanders during his presidential run in 2016

That is basically it, I am hoping to get some good teacher recs and I think my essays will be okay. Thank you guys sooo much for chancing me!!

2

please?

3

@ellieswim01 It’s really hard to say. My daughter has 4.7 and got waitlisted. Out of state tuition is insane, and they do not give any scholarships. Are you hoping to swim in college? That might help. If California is your dream, check out some of the private schools (more financial awards), as well as the Cal State Schools. As soon as they release the essays, start working on them. You will be able to detail your leadership and work experience as well as explain your health setback. Best of luck

4

First, as an OOS student, you will receive no financial aid to attend so expect to pay $60K+/year if you are accepted.

The UC’s have their own GPA calculation which includes only 10-11th grades in the a-g course requirements.
You only get the extra honors points in the calculation for AP/IB or DE courses taken 10-11th with a cap of 8 semesters/4 year long classes.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

The calculator gives you the UW UC GPA, the Capped Weighted UC GPA (which is used by all UC campuses) and the Uncapped Fully weighted UC GPA (used by UCLA/UCB).

Here is the 2017 Freshman profile for UCSB. UCSB’s application review will be based on 50% Academics (UC GPA/Test scores) and 50% (EC’s/Community service and essays). UCSB does not consider LOR’s.

GPA and test scores of middle 25%-75% students

High School GPA UC capped weighted: 3.96 - 4.25
ACT Composite Score: 28 - 33
ACT English Language Arts: 26 - 31
SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing: 610 - 700
SAT Mathematics: 600 - 750
SAT Essay: 15 - 19

Your test scores are within range but your GPA looks like it will be below the 25th percentile. I would say it will be a Reach unless you are a recruited athlete.

I would consider the advice of the above poster and look at your in-state options first and if California is really important, than some private schools which may end up being more affordable than the UC’s.

5

Being an out of stater definitely makes it harder but certainly not impossible (I am an OOS student at UCSB). The increase in your gpa will work in your favor and I would recommend possibly mentioning your health struggles in your one of your essays to explain the low gpa your freshman year. You have good extracurriculars and given that some are related to your desired major, I think they will help you out. I would really focus on your essays. I think a lot of students underestimate the weight of their extracurriculars and personal statement on their admission decision. I know people who work in the admissions office and have been told that grade and gpa are 50% of what they consider and your ECs and essays are the other 50%. I had friends who applied with strong stats but blew off the essays and were rejected. Also, the UCs do not accept letters of rec. Best of luck!