Does UCSB notify students by their last name? I am econ major with 3.77 GPA, but my status still showed “decision pending” 
Rejected unfortunately
Major: Political Science
Location: In state
GPA: 3.7
IGETC: Finishing this spring
Pre-req: Finishing this spring
Applied: UCR/UCSB/UCI/UCB/UCLA/UCSD/UCD
Admitted: UCR
Rejected: UCSB
Just some first hand experience regarding the whole math requirement for UCSB. It’s pretty real. Just got rejected with a moderately high GPA (3.7) and my friend got in with a 3.22. So UCSB takes their pre-req’s really seriously. For any upcoming transfers reading this thread, PLEASE finish your math and english before fall 2015. It’s absolutely crucial and a big part of admissions. That said, I had tons of EC and my essays were pretty strong, so the only reason would be that math I’m taking this Spring. Obviously, each situation differs from person to person, but if you can complete your core’s, please do!
After this rejection, I’m pretty worried and freaked out I won’t get in to any other UC’s I applied to. Does anyone know if it’s just UCSB with this whole strict math policy or every UC?
@Chidori611 I’m sorry to hear that. But it shouldn’t affect your others. UCSB means business re that math req. unfortunately, and obviously it hasn’t changed.
Are you taking the math this term? For what it’s worth, esp if you get an A, you can try appealing. It’s been effective in the past.
@Chidori611 what math are you taking right now? And did you have any prior college level math completed after the TAU of fall 2014 grades?
@lindyk8 Thanks for your reassurance. I’m taking stats currently and hopefully I do well. If I don’t get into any other Uc’s, I’ll probably try to appeal. For now, I’ll keep optimistic. I didn’t know UCSB had this policy until a couple days ago when I was researching schools.
@Cancelout I’m taking stats, I did not have any college math completed before. If UCSB saw any math classes that I passed, even non-transferable ones, I’m sure it would help my cause. I took AP Calc in high school. I didn’t pass but I retained enough information to test into a high level math.
Yes, if you have any math course with a grade, even non-transferable int algebra they’ll let the math problem through. Happened to my daughter. Kicked out of UCSB TAG because taking stats in spring, but she had a letter grade for int algebra, so she got through. They specifically told me this on the phone: as long as any math is on the transcript with a letter grade, it’s ok. No math anywhere. Rejection guaranteed.
She said they instituted the rule because of too many math problems after the fact. She didn’t elaborate.
@Chidori611 did you have intermediate algebra ( non transferable) which is a pre req to take stats or did you place into stats from the placement exam?
Hmm, that seems just so strange. I guess it’s because they want assurance that you will pass your math class and they don’t want to assume you will. With the non transferable math classes, it still shows that you have the ability to preform at a college-level math class, transferable or not. I just would think that if someone has a good amount of A’s and few B’s and has a high gpa, that also could be an indicator of performance. I guess UCSB just really wants those courses done.
@Cancelout I placed into through the placement exam.
@Chidori611 one would think.
It’s looking more and more like other UCs are moving toward the fall completion. I think you called it. Students must have been tanking in stats at the UC level.
I do think they should make this rule more prominent on their web page. It’s not just TAG, it affects every applicant. But maybe there’s a method to their madness: it keeps applications high, which is what it’s all about in terms of rankings. If the rule was front and center, they’d have a lower numbers of applicants.
@Chidori611 I believe UCSB is the only one that has that strict policy. Your GPA is still competitive so I’m sure you have a good chance at the other UCs.
I had spoken to an admissions rep from engineering and asked her about the 2 pre reqs that i was taking during spring and if they should have been done in fall and she said that its okay to take them in spring(this was Dynamics and MATLAB, so no math and english) the evaluators assume that they will pass these courses according to their general trend of grades.
@shuttlepilotnd In other words, they’ll put faith in you and give you an acceptance trusting that you’ll do well in those courses? I hope it speaks for all majors… I have a high GPA but one prereq in progress.
I don’t get why they would have this whole problem with the Math thing though. It’s a PROVISIONAL admittance right? So I’m
Sure they would want you to be able to finish your spring IP courses regardless without any D’s or F’s.
@sliceoflife24 exactly, they assume you’ll do well. I also asked her what would happen if they didnt do well or dropped the course and she said that the offer of admission would be cancelled.
Admitted.
Pre-Economics
College of Letters and Science
3.92 GPA
IGETC: yes
Prereq - 2nd sem Calc in progress
TAG: no
Accepted: UCSB
Pending: UCSD, UCLA, UCB, USC
Umm… I checked the portal and my perm number is gone… what
@sliceoflife24 same here. Doesn’t look like good news…
embraces rejection
Anyone elses perm numbers disappear? That’s never a good sign.