Hey Guys! I am currently a freshman interested in attending the math and science summer camp, COSMOS, in 2019. I thought there may be some people out there already eager for next year, who have questions, knowledge, or opinions to share.
@holdmypencil123 I remember when I was a freshman applying to COSMOS. It was the most nerve-wracking experience of my life. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask me. I attended COSMOS UC Davis as a freshman 
@GoBears2013 Thanks! I have heard that the essay is the main deciding factor for the program. Is this true? What was the essay prompt your year?
Hi @holdmypencil123 Yes, essays are in fact important but not the main deciding factor. I would say that you need to have good ECs that can support what you write about in your essays. In my year, I wrote about the way combinatorics would be applicable to machine learning algorithms and game theory. I spent quite some time crafting the essay. If you want, I can look over your essay and given some pointers if you PM me.
@GoBears2023 Wow, I would really appreciate if you could look over my essay when the application opens. Thank you! The problem is that I do not have many ECs relating to the cluster I am probably applying towards, which is Cluster 9 : Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing at UCSC. Even though I don’t have any ECs relating to my cluster, I am involved in other clubs, such as DECA and the interact club. I am also on my high school soccer team. I will likely get a 4.0 GPA this semester. Will I still have a chance at getting in with these ECs and stats despite not having any solid ECs relating to my cluster? I was also wondering if the rank of the college one attends for COSMOS matters on college applications? For example, since UCD has a better ranking than UCSC, would attending UCD for Cosmos look better on college apps? Would it be harder to get into? Thank you again so much, sorry for the many, many questions!//
Chances of getting into that cluster will be low because you don’t have any ECs relating to it. Given that you are a freshman, it would have helped if you were in some type of accelerated program. For example, I was a year ahead of the curriculum at school. In addition, machine learning is the hype right now, meaning that competition WILL BE FIERCE. Be prepared with a second choice.
As for your rank question, it’s not really in terms of the ranking for the sites, but rather the prestige each garners. By far UC Davis is the most competitive campus, no matter the cluster. Next comes UCSD, followed by UCSC and then UCI. For the UCs mostly, I heard that the site you attend for COSMOS is more likely to accept you.
UCD is the most prestigious COSMOS site, as they receive the most applicants. In my year, 1300 applied. From what I heard, that number is now close to 1700 and keeps growing. Since you can only go to COSMOS once, I recommend go big or go home. If you don’t feel like you are a strong applicant, then don’t apply this year. Instead, do something to buff up your resume and apply to UCD next year.
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In addition, @holdmypencil123,
If you simply want to go to COSMOS for the college app, apply to a weird/uncommon cluster. A friend of mine, who had really low stats (3.5 UW, 3.8 W) got into COSMOS UCSD by applying to a new cluster with music.
@GoBears2023 I have my heart set on this cluster, I would rather do something I am really interested in at a less competitive campus. I did do math counts, and I am planning to start a club next year at my school relating to this cluster. I am 2 years ahead in terms of curriculum at my school; the standard is Algebra I, and I am currently in Honors Algebra II.
@holdmypencil123 Sounds good! As long as you are happy 
As for your math, it seems like you are advanced. This will help significantly. I would say you have a fairly good chance of getting in!
@GoBears2023 Thank you! Do you think I should write about how I am planning to start a club relating to comp-sci next year in my essay? That is one of the reasons I am attending, so I can pass on the information I learn at COSMOS to other students at my school through the club.
@holdmypencil123 That sounds like a great idea. Make sure you emphasize that you want to pass on what you learned. They love that. Also, be careful about posting your ideas on public forums since people can steal them. Just shoot me PMs if you want my opinion on an idea!
Just trying to keep your great ideas safe
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@GoBears2023 Thanks for the advice! I will most likely be PM’ing you from now on.
@holdmypencil123 sounds good!
@holdmypencil123 Hey there! I attended Cosmos UCI last year as a sophomore. I would say, if you really want to choose that cluster go for it, but don’t also don’t expect to get your 2nd choice cluster because very few get their 2nd choice. As for which campus, i don’t think it matter for college apps but since i’m not a senior i’m not 100% sure.
Campus does matter a little, as the acceptance rate varies from campus to campus:
UC Davis: 18-20%
UC SD: 23-25%
UCSC: 35%
UCI: 50-60%
@GoBears2023 Where did you get these stats from??
@holdmypencil123 From people at my school. When we got our acceptance letters, they told how many people applied and we knew how many people ended up attending since we went. Based on this, I calculated the approximate acceptance rate to each site.
@GoBears2023 Oh ok, I thought this was online somewhere.
@hodmypencil No, that’s why I think it is usual to crowd source information so that we can get an accurate estimate of the acceptance rates! I hope people will find them useful!
I’m not sure where you’re getting these numbers from - I went to cosmos at uci last year and we all ask our professors for the acceptance rates of each cluster, and depending on the cluster they ranged from 10-25%.