Chances at UCSB?

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

I have a UC GPA of 3.78, ACT at a 25…(still waiting on new scores from December). I know this score is low, but I am applying as an English major, and for the English section on the ACT I scored a 33. I have pretty good EC:

-Two years of HS basketball and one year of club basketball
-one year of Cross Country
-Two years of Rowing
-Over 600 hours of community service from two separate mission trips
-Over 80 hours of community service as National Honor Society member
-Volunteered with several different animal shelters and homeless shelters
-Job experience: Camp counselor, basketball referee, restaurant hostess, acting and modeling
-I am a published photographer and have won many different awards for my photography
-have had my photography exhibited at an Awards show
-A leadership position at my school
-Won first place medal rowing one year
-one club and one other academic organization

Pretty good essays- one about how Photography has impacted my life, another about my leadership position at my school, and another about my experiences as an actor.

AP Psych exam: 5
AP Spanish: 3
AP English Language: 3

After high school I will have taken a total of 6 AP classes.

2

I was also diagnosed with ADD late into high school, which will hopefully make up for slightly lower-than-average GPA…but I also attend a very rigorous high school.

3

Did you write one of your essays about having ADD? I do think that UCSB is a definite reach but with the right essays I think you have a shot.

4

Are you being recruited for rowing?

I agree with @uclahopeful that UCSB looks like a Reach based on your stats. If you have some compelling essays, they may help but if you look at the common data set and Freshman admits for your GPA and Test score range, you are below the 25th percentile for both.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:

UCB: 2%
UCLA: 3%
UCSD: 6%
UCD: 11%
UCSB: 13%
UCI: 16%
UCSC: 47%
UCR: 64%
UCM: 80%

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

High School GPA UC GPA: 3.92 - 4.23
ACT Composite Score: 27-33

Good Luck.