Do I still have a chance get into UCSB?

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1

UCSB is my dream school and it always will be :slight_smile:
Okay, since UCSB is my first chioce, I am really planning for applying UCSB. However, when I look at my transcript, I feel…only nervous and hopeless:(
Here is my overall situation, hope anyone can help me figure out how to improve my chance to get into UCSB:(

I used to be an in-state student for three years.After Frenshmen year wasover, I transferred out from my first high school to another in-state high school. I spent one and half year there, then I transferred out again on April, 2017----- This time I came to South Corlina, which makes me an out-of-state student from UC’s point of view(I searched for UC’s admission policy, it seems I have to spend 3 whole year in California in order to be classify as an in-state student).
unweighted GPA: 3.577
SC GPA (weighted in different way): 4.259
UC GPA (Calculated on Internet): 3.71
SAT without Essay: 1350
(I am going to take SAT with Essay on Nov.4)
SAT math: 780
SAT physics: 760

AP class: AP Calculus BC(Junior year in California), AP Calculus AB(Junior year in South Corlina. I tried but afterall I dropped it), AP Physics(junior year in California, then I dropped it again)
In Senior year, I take AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, AP Marcoeconomic and AP Government. I am having all straight As in those classes right now.
I got a D in AP calculus BC first semester.
AP score: 4 in AP cal AB

Honor Classes: Physics Honor, Biology Honor, Algebra 2 Honor

Extracurricular Activity: I changed schools a lot, so I don’t have much extracurricular activity record. 60+volunteer hours, 1 year CSF membership in junior year(I know it is useless for me now), 1 year NHS membership in Senior year, 2 year Mu Alpha Theta membership, and 1 year membership of other club. No leadership.

I am going to apply UCSB with major undecided or mathematics.

Please let me know am I still have a chance to get into UCSB, if I don’t, then I am planning to apply Clemson, UIUC or others:(

2

Your SAT subject scores are competitive but GPA not so much. Senior grades are not considered in admission decisions so they will help you maintain your provisional admission but not help you with acceptances.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCSB: 14%

It will be a Slight Reach to Reach.

3

Thank you for your reply! and one more question: which one does UCSB care about more, SAT or GPA? (since I couldn’t change my GPA the only thing I can do is to improve SAT score as soon as possible)

4

If you are truly considered out-of-state, then UCSB will be expensive–I believe there’s no need-based financial aid for out of state students at UCs. Gumbymom would know. There is a strategy that some in-state students employ to get to UCSB which involves going to Santa Barbara City College, then transferring to UCSB after 2 years. Not sure whether this would work for out-of-state. Do a search on College Confidential–there are threads discussing this.

5

You should still apply, but make sure you have back ups because your stats do no guarantee acceptance.

6

OOS applicants receive no financial aid to expect full fees at $60K. Run the Net Price calculator to confirm.

Below is what UCSB considers important in their application review:

  • 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.

UCSB Freshman Profile 2017:
GPA and test scores of middle 25%-75% students

High School GPA (capped weighted):3.96 - 4.25
ACT Composite Score:28 - 33
ACT English Language Arts:26 - 31
SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing:610 - 700
SAT Mathematics:600 - 750
SAT Essay:15 - 19

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/files/freshman-profiles/freshman_profile_santa_barbara.pdf

7

your GPA makes it pretty unlikely - but worth a shot.