Chances at UCSB

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I am a junior at a competitive, top 200 public high school in Massachusetts

I am wondering about my chances at UCSB

GPA: 3.7W, unsure about unweighted
ACT: 26 (planning on taking it 2 more times to get the score up, this was the first time I took it)
From my school this is pretty close to what they have accepted in the past (average GPA of 3.9 and ACT of 27).

Have taken all honors and 1 AP, taking 3 APs senior year

ECs:
-Varsity swimming
-NHS
-Service trips in Cambodia (housebuilding, etc)
-Planning on founding Global Community Volunteer Service Club
-Camp Counselor in the summer
-Tutor/babysit once a week
-Plan on lifeguarding

Something to set me apart, I lived in Singapore for most of my childhood and attended a private American school, up through my freshman year of high school. (Probably going to talk about the impact of being a third culture kid had on my life.)

Essay/Rec letters will be good.

2

UC’s have their own method to calculate UC GPA. As an OOS applicant, you will only get extra honors point credit for AP/IB or DE courses. Also make sure you have 1 year of a Visual/Performing Art course (UC requirement).

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

If you look at the average ACT and GPA for UCSB, I would say your current UW is on target but ACT is below average. UCSB considers 50% GPA/Test scores and 50% Essays/EC’s in their application review. LOR’s are not accepted.

What is your intended major since this will be significant in determining your chances? The more competitive the major, the higher the stats needed for admission.

Average UC GPA for 2015: 4.05
Average ACT for 2015: 29

Although not related to your chances, be aware that the UC’s no longer offer FA to OOS students, so expect to pay close to $55K/year to attend.