I am planning on applying to COSMOS this summer, UCSC cluster 5 video games: the design of fun from concept to code. Can anyone tell me how competitive this cluster is and what to write on my personal statement and application essays? For example for my personal statement should I focus on a specific challenge I had to overcome or write something more generic like what peaked my interest in technology. Thank you guys :))
Use whichever you feel would give the readers the most insight into who you are.
And it’s piqued my interest, not peaked my interest.
Good luck to you!
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Sorry about the spelling error :,)
I suppose I can try and write both and see which is more revealing. thank you
All the cosmos campuses are having zoom info sessions in the coming weeks that could help you learn more about filling out the application. In our families experience there is a lot of crossover, so it could still be helpful to tune into a non-ucsc info session if different times work for you.
Remember that the professors who teach the courses are the ones who read the applications for that cluster.
All the clusters are very competitive, just do your best and good luck!
My son went to the video game cluster in 2022 and I can give our perspective of what it was like then. During that year the overall acceptance rate was 17% across all campuses. In the following year 2023 the number of applications really went up and the overall acceptance rate was around 13%. I think it will stay around the low teens until they open up more clusters to fulfill demand. Of course, each cluster’s acceptance rate will be different. Some clusters are more popular and video games is one of them because in 2022 it was the only cluster that directly dealt with software programming. So if you like coding, then this cluster would be a good choice. Have you checked to see if there are any other clusters that involve coding? I’m asking because that will affect how many applicants apply to video games. When my son applied the acceptance rate was between 10-12% for video games and there were only 25 students in the cluster and the majority were female.
For his essay he wrote about his passion for CS and his experience with the Unity game engine. I think you can write whatever you like just as long as it’s personal to you. Good luck!
UCSC have introduced a machine learning course, and I am not entirely sure how much programming is involved with it, but from my past experience of working with ML models, I believe that it does have some coding incorporated. I didn’t include Unity as I am currently learning it, but in my essay I talked about how I became passionate about game development over the course of the pandemic and my future aspirations to continue game dev. For my personal statement I wrote about a really difficult programming challenge I faced trying to get into a robotics club and the steps I took to overcome it. Let me know what you think, and thank you for the advice!
Thank you! Yes, I will be sure to attend the info zoom sessions 
Also would you mind giving me what your son put as his extra curriculars? Thanks!
I think your essays sound really good! They are looking for motivated, curious students so you seem like a good match.
It also helps that they have a ML course because that will help spread the competition a bit.
All his ECs are related to programming including competitions, school club and community work. I think all the students in that cluster either love gaming or game development. My son loves to code so he has a portfolio of games that he had already developed but that’s not why he got in. It’s more about a willingness to learn and being creative because not everyone had game dev experience. Good luck!
My son did ucsc cluster 2, nanotech/nanochem. I don’t remember exactly what was in his ec section, it was 2021. For sure it would have included the two sports he did, plus a long time nature junior naturalist position he had, probably food bank volunteering, maybe even a long summer backpacking camp he did. They value well rounded, inquisitive kids. If you don’t think you have enough specifically related to the cluster it’s perfectly fine to include other things you do. Part time jobs, dual enrollment courses, family commitments that take time, think about how you exhibit leadership.
I recall the cosmos app very much being like a mini UC application. I love The College Essay Guy for his tips on the UC activities section. It’s a good place to start. Try to fill all the spots they give you.
Thank you so much guys! My ECs are a lot like your sons @rwskakuna. However, applications just opened today, and it says two ECs are the maximum you can put. I got accepted into a competitive robotics team (around 20 ppl), and we will be competing internationally in a few months. I want to include that as one of my ECs, but for my second one which of these do you think is better? 1. A 4 week summer camp that taught me how to code drones, automation, arduinos, etc, or 2. Being part of and helping teach at Girls Who Code at my school, (currently I am training to be a instructor at the summit)