UCSB is one of my dream colleges, not because of its lifestyle, but because of its impressive engineering program and location in NorCal. I want to apply to the Mechanical Engineering program. I have an unweighted GPA of 3.73 and a weighted GPA of 4.15/4.2. I have an SAT score of 1490, but I think I can bring it up past 1500. In school, I am the team captain of our school’s robotics team and the vice-president of a service club, with over 250+ hours of community service. Outside of school, I started a STEM nonprofit subsidiary with my friends, am part of a hackathon planning team, and I mentor a younger robotics team that made it to state championship. I have a piano level 5 certification(I’ve played piano for 7 years) and I am a third-degree black belt(I’ve done taekwondo for over 8 years). Over the summer, I plan to be an intern at Powerschool, take college courses in the local CC, and job shadow at a the Intel headquarters. The reason I feel very concerned about my situation, is because my grades are not amazing. In freshman year, I got all A’s. In sophomore year, I got 3 B’s , 1 in Honors Chem and 2 in Precalc. In Junior year last semester, I got 3 B’s(AP Stats, AP comp sci, AP Chem), and 1 C in AP Calc AB. I plan on retaking Calc AB next yr, but because I passed the class the first time, UCs will not consider my new grade. I believe I will have decent rec letters because I have a lot of personal and professional connections with adults in my community due to the community service. Please any opinions and advice will help a lot. Thanks!
I would also like to add that I am an asian male
UCSB’s application review criteria is listed below. They state they consider 50% academics and 50% EC’s, essays, special talents etc…
Chancing is impossible since the UC’s can be very unpredictable and that C in AP Calc AB will impact your chances.
UCSB does not consider letters of recommendation in their application review. The only UC that will ask for LOR’s is UC Berkeley and by invitation only.
- Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
- Considered: Character/personal qualities, Class rank, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, Level of applicant's interest, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
- Note: Eligibility established by high school GPA, course requirement, and SAT scores. Special consideration for disadvantaged students.
- Freshman Selection: College of Engineering: Students are selected by major for all engineering and computer science majors. Only applicants with a solid background in advanced high school mathematics will be considered for admission to engineering. This includes high grades in all math courses through grade 11 and enrollment in pre-calculus or higher in grade 12. A student not selected for their first choice major will be reviewed for admission to an alternate major outside of the College of Engineering if one was selected.
2019 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and **not major specific: ** so expect the admit rate to be lower for competitive majors like Engineering.
UCSB: 32%
2019 UC capped weighted GPA averages along with 25th-75th percentile range:
UCSB: 4.16 (4.04-4.28)
2019 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT totals:
UCSB: 1280-1520
Make sure you have 2 safety schools on your list (guaranteed admission and affordable).
Best of luck.
Do you know of anyone ever before who were accepted into the UCSB with a C in a competitive major? Also, if i get a 4 or 5 on the AP calc AB Exam, will they consider the score for math proficiency?
I have heard of students getting admitted with a C on their transcript. It is not an automatic rejection but the College of Engineering specifically looks at an applicants Math capabilities so having a C will have an impact. Getting a high AP score will help offset that C, since it will show you understand the material and perhaps the C is not a true reflection of your Math skills.
UCSB has a small Engineering department as opposed to some other UC’s which just makes it all the more competitive.
It is nice to have a top choice (I prefer not to use Dream school), but you have to be willing to consider all options and make a balanced college list with 2 safeties, several match schools and a few reach schools.
Your dream school is the school that admits you…
@user_733293 Hopefully this helps…
I was admitted this year for ME at UCSB with a 3.93UW/4.27W UC GPA, and 35 ACT. I didn’t take AP Calc until senior year (directly into Calc BC). Granted, the C could end up hurting your chances, but you have extracurriculars that are way more advanced and major-related than mine. I only had 1 activity gauged toward engineering so I think you’ll still stand out. My best advice would be to take the hardest classes that your school offers senior year (I took 5 AP’s and 1 Honors) and be sure to get good grades in those courses in case you get waitlisted and they want your first semester grades…no senioritis. Also, if you end up doing well on the AP test I would recommend taking calc BC as it’s harder and I think they would look on that favorably. Also, take AP Physics C if your school offers it(closest to engineering that you’ll get) and then another engineering elective if possible. But only if you think you’ll do good in these classes. As @Gumbymom said, make sure you apply to safeties cause it’s brutal getting into just one UC. No UC is a safety at this point so I would recommend state schools like SDSU, CSULB and maybe some OOS too, like Colorado State. Remember, just because you fit into the averages for the school, it does not guantee anything because Engineering stats are likely much higher. Best of luck
You and I have extremely similar stats and your level of ECs seem to be above mine, and I got into UCSB for Mechanical Engineering and will most likely be going. Good Luck!!!
Hopefully you will be able to visit UCSB and take a tour. During the admissions portion of the tour, they say that, for admission to engineering, they want to see math, math and more math.
What was your math score on the SAT? I’m not sure that your class will be able to take subject tests. Without standardized test scores to prove your math skills, UCSB will only have your grades and the Bs in math/science courses and the C in calc are going to stand out.
Hi,
New to CC here, too late for my son, or a little early for my D;).
Would you folks who got in this year share stats for Mech E?
My son (also Asian male in-state) applied to Mech E at 7 UCs, 3 CSUs and USC .
Stats are 1530 SAT(800 Math), SAT subject math 780,
3.88 UW, 4.32 Wgtd, 4.23 Weighted and Capped.
Did AP Calc AB (5) in Junior year, doing AP Physics, AP Stats and AP US Govt in senior year.
He got into Santa Cruz for Mech E, San Jose State and SDSU, Got into UCSB for second choice of Physics, which he has now changed to Data Science and
rejected at UCB, UCLA and USC.
Waitlisted at UCI, UCDavis, UCSD and Cal Poly too.
He is not hopeful for waitlists .
@cricket56 Each UC should have a thread for admitted students stats page. For UCSB it is here: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/2173240-ucsb-class-of-2024-decision-thread-stats-only-p1.html
Thanks, saw that, but not a single Mech E? I searched for Mechanical, MechE, Mech E.
I found a few on the UCSB discussion thread:
Stats:
SAT: 1450 (800 math)
Subject tests: Physics (780) Math II (800)
IB predicted: 40/45
International student
First Gen
Son accepted for Mechanical Engineering.
in state
W GPA 4.67
UW GPA 4.0
ACT 35
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 - 790; US History - 750; Biology - 740
10 AP classes
Very strong essays and ECs.
Accepted In state
Mechanical engineering
3.93 UW
4.27 UC Capped Weighted
4.53 WGPA
35 ACT
Also accepted: UCSD, UWash
Waitlisted: UCD
Thanks @Gumbymom . I guess the top search on the website and search within each thread behave differently, although I am surprised at how few stats for Mech E are listed at any of the UC stats threads.
I guess my son is sort of borderline for UCSB Engineering, I honestly did not think he had a chance at UCB and UCLA, but to be waitlisted at Davis and SLO, I was surprised. Needless to say, he is quite dejected. He has out of state of options, but is reluctant to go at this time.
Not sure if Asian plays a role, or his ECs were light, but he worked really hard and I think we placed more emphasis on academics than ECs.
Their school does not allow more than one Science or Math course per year, so he could not have taken 10 APs anyway, unless they are taken outside of school.
Good luck to you, @user_733293, All said you should definitely apply!
@lkg4answers for standardized testing i got a 740 for math on the SAT, but i think i can get it higher because i got that score last year. I also am studying a lot for the Math 2 test. I do not know how it will go, but i can only hope for the best and put in maximum effort. Thank you all for your support!