<p>I'm out of state (MA) and applying as a physics major. Here are my stats.
WGPA: 4.05
UWGPA: 3.8
Top 10% of my class</p>
<p>Testing:
SAT: 2080 CR: 770 Math: 710 Writing: 600 SAT (out of 1600): 1480
SAT IIs:
Math 2: 800
Chemistry: 710 (I'll get it up to an 800 in october)
I'm currently studying for physics and plan on a 750-800</p>
<p>APs:
AP Chemistry (4)
AP Calculus AB (plan on taking)
AP Physics (Plan on taking)
AP Biology (plan on taking)
AP Statistics (plan on taking)</p>
<p>Awards: Bausch and Lomb honorary Science award
Member of National Honors Society
Member of National Spanish Honors Society</p>
<p>ECs:
Math team (10, 11, 12)
Baseball (9, 10, 11) (not varsity)
indoor track (10, 11)
Captain of my physics olympics team (11)
Chemistry Olympiad (11 didn't make it out of northeastern qualifiers)
Kick off Mentor (11, 12)
Chemistry Club (11,12)
Internship at coastal research lab (11,12)</p>
<p>Community Service:
Referee of kids floor hockey (9, 11, 12)
over 150 hours of community service (time spent at coastal research internship also counted towards community service)</p>
<p>Now there’s never a ‘guaranteed’ chance of getting in other than ELC(although one friend was ELC’d to Davis and they still rejected him), I’d be very comfortable with your stats. We are top 10 in the U.S. for physics, so I don’t know how tough it is but you’ll have a really good chance for an alternative major, if rejected from physics. Now you just need a little bit of luck with those great stats.</p>
<p>I can pretty much guarantee you’ll get into Santa Barbara.</p>
<p>You mentioned that you were applying for a Physics major. I would highly suggest looking into the College of Creative Studies, as their Physics department is one of the best undergraduate educations you can receive in the United States. Getting into it requires an additional application (just type in “College of Creative Studies UCSB” into Google and you’ll get plenty of info). </p>
<p>I’d also like to mention that the poster above said that you might get “rejected” because of your major choice. This is not true. UCSB does not admit by major. They first admit you into UCSB, and then they admit you into your major afterwards. Note however, some UCs DO admit by major (namely, Davis).</p>
<p>I’m not sure on the actual differences in coursework or whatever, but if you can get into CCS, then do it. From what I hear it’s very difficult to get into. I think you get a lot of one on one with professors. Maybe you get to do research or something. I think the overall level of education is just better. Not sure if any of that helped haha. I just know it’s pretty elite.</p>
<p>CCS is A LOT more rigorous than the Letters and Science Physics. Typically, the way CCS works is that you’ll take the specific CCS Physics classes your first year, which are very small classes and very intense. It might be worth noting that you are not actually given grades in these classes, but rather “units”, and the more effort you put into the class the more units you receive. During the first two years they also have specific classes designed to get you actively involved in actual research early on (some as early as sophomore year). </p>
<p>The last two years you take upper division/graduate level courses. You have no unit cap, and you can take any class you want without having met the pre-requisites (in an attempt to challenge yourself, and you’re even allowed to drop the class up till THE LAST DAY, without even receiving a withdraw). The perks of CCS are numerous, I highly suggest you look into it. It really is one of the best undergraduate educations in the nation.</p>
<p>Get an 800 on the Physics subject test, a 5 on the AP Physics test, and I’d say you have a very good shot, especially since you’re already captain of your Physics Olympic team.</p>