Chance of getting into UCSB?

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

Background (just so you know who I am)
-I’m majoring in Chem Eng or Chemistry. After doing a bunch of research on the two fields, I’m still undecided, so I’m putting Chem E as first choice and Chem as second, as the College of Engineering is harder to get into, so I’ve heard.
-California resident
-I’m especially drawn toward UCSB because their Chem Eng is stellar, Chemistry is great too (good profs), Materials Science is good, and the school is more geared toward undergrads than other colleges (low percentage of grad students)

UC Capped, Weighted GPA: 3.89 :confused:
Fully Weighted 10-11th GPA: 4.04
Unweighted 10-11th GPA: 3.61
SAT 1520 (720 english/800 math), 5-5-6 essay
ACT 36 (32 ELA, 36 STEM), 9-7-9-9 essay, 9 overall

AP Tests
10th grade
Chemistry (5), Japanese (5), Calc BC (5)

11th grade
Physics 1 (5), Physics 2 (4), English Language (5)

12th grade planned
Biology, Physics C Mech & E/M, Macroeconomics, US Government, Comp Sci A, English Literature

SAT Subject Tests
Chemistry (780), Math 2 (800), Physics (790), Japanese (800)

Extracurriculars & stuff
-Japanese Club Vice President 11th grade, Treasurer 12th grade
-Japanese Saturday school since 1st grade
-Competitive swimming until 10th grade (I am totally not made for athletics at all)
-Volunteering at events in the area through Japanese Club
-Volunteering at local elementary school every week teaching Japanese culture (started this year)
-Attempting to do some laboratory organic chemistry at school (totally informal, supervised by teacher, started this year)

Work/Internship Experience
-Interned at UCSD Chem Lab for a month this past summer doing organic reactions

I guess I’m kind of a mixed bag. Meh GPA, smallish list of extracurriculars, but good test scores.
Thanks for reading yet another one of these!

2

Your UC GPA is going to hurt your chances but your test scores are outstanding and you have some very focused EC’s along with your internship which is major related.

UCSB considers 50% academics and 50% EC’s and essays, so really work on your personal insight essays and make them standout.

I think you have a better shot at the Chemistry major than the Chemical Engineering but overall you are competitive.

Freshman application review:

  • SANTA BARBARA
    *
  •   Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores

  •   Considered: Character/personal qualities, Class rank, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, Level of applicant's interest, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience

  •   Note: Eligibility established by high school GPA, course requirement, and SAT scores. Special consideration for disadvantaged students.
  • Freshman Selection:
    College of Letters and Sciences: Choice of major is not considered in selection to the College of Letters and Science. The exceptions to this rule are dance and music performance majors. Both majors require applicants to complete an audition in late January or early February.
College of Engineering: Students are selected by major for all engineering  and computer science majors. Only applicants with a solid background in     advanced high school mathematics will be considered for admission to        engineering. This includes high grades in all math courses through grade 11     and enrollment in pre-calculus or higher in grade 12. A student not selected    for their first choice major will be reviewed for admission to an alternate         major outside of the College of Engineering if one was selected.

Some statistical UC data not major specific:
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19: UCSB: 53.6%

Average Capped Weighted UC GPA: 4.13

2018 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT: UCSB: 1270-1500

Best of luck and apply widely.