Hey guys I am trying to apply to UCSB for either CS or bio/chemical engineering.
GPA unweighted 3.4
UC weighted 3.7
SAT: 2120
AP classes (including senior year): 10
Honor courses: 1
EC: I have around 900 volunteer hours in health organizations, park districts, library, and in school.
I am in multiple clubs, i am in the school newspaper, and i am a financial adviser for a club. I teach kids a language for about 3 years now for a nonprofit organization.
My school is stop 20 in California so, it is highly valued on academics.
Also do colleges want you to add in any job experiences that you have had?
Thanks and dont hesitate to tell me where i would stand in my chances getting into this school.
UC GPA is below 4.0 so that will be a difficult hurdle to overcome. SAT is competitive. Job experiences will count so definitely list them on your application. Since you are applying for Engineering, I would have to say UCSB is a Low Reach/High Match. UCSB’s Engineering college is small so the competition is fierce. Spend time on your essays since they along with EC’s could give you a boost.
Good Luck.
Hi thanks for responding, i was looking at another option that was for biochemistry. Since this isn’t a part of the engineering program, how do my chances stand if i were to apply to the college of letters and science.
Also in my junior year my uc average gpa is above a 4.0, it was just my sophomore year i struggled with.
You might have a slightly better chance at Biochemistry but your UC GPA is below UCSB’s average. Like I stated, a compelling essay could boost your chances but there is no guarantee. Apply and hope for the best.
I have attached the Common Dataset for UCSB 2014-2015 section C11. Only 2.81% of applicants with uW GPA of 3.4 were admitted. You need to focus on some solid match schools and consider UCSB a slight Reach.
http://bap.ucsb.edu/IR/Common_Data_Set/CDS_2014-2015.pdf
Try some of the CSU’s. The UC’s look at 10th and 11th grades.
Looking only at your 11th grade GPA doesn’t change your overall GPA. It is a numbers game, so, that 3.4 won’t be competitive.
I agree with the above posters - UCSB is unlikely but not out of the question. You should apply but Riverside and SDSU are more likely targets.
Good luck
Applying to impacted majors such as CS and eningeering with a relatively low GPA and getting in is going to be tough.