<p>@brianbellau
</p>
<p>Can someone please explain to me how he got in with stats almost identical to mine but I didn’t? I thought major prep was extremely important to UCSB, and his GPA is low for Biology major too. He didn’t TAG either.</p>
<p>Rejected
Major: Pre-Biology
GPA: 3.35
Major Prep: Missing 2, Ochem I+II
TAG: No
Applied to: UCD, UCSB
Admitted: None
Rejected: UCSB</p>
<p>Are you sure you don’t have any requirements that haven’t been completed/are in progress? Apparently if your math or english is IP, you get rejected :/</p>
<p>Give em a call and ask.</p>
<p>Nope, I have math and english done since last spring. I did call them, and they said it’s simply the nature of a selective major???</p>
<p>This is so frustrating :(</p>
<p>Did anyone went to the open house? I did. Most of the misconceptions I have heard here and there were been clarified after spending my time there. I also got good news and/or bad news for engineering major ( YES!!! AND/OR!! mostly for chemical engineering).</p>
<p>@dwencel24 </p>
<p>Can you share some of them?</p>
<p>Sure. But before you make conclusions, I would like to say that this was just based on what I saw, heard and experienced during my time there.</p>
<p>First Misconception:
Majority of people in SB are white. I don’t think so. During my travel in the bus to Santa Barbara, I have noticed that there are some Latinos. When I get to down town, I noticed more Latinos. There was even a restaurant where the workers are Latinos who, by the way, one helped me find the transit center. But I didnt see much Latinos in UCSB - More whites but I wont say majority are whites (because there are no class during the open house that’s why I cant say). The palce and the school is quite diverse if you ask me.</p>
<p>Second Misconception:
UCSB is a party school and SB is a party place. That is a big N.O - NO. As I walked through downtown going to the transit center, I have notice bars and restaurants that made me assume that it is going to get crazy in the afternoon and night. Also, as I departed the school, I notice students (looked like they are student) in get up (casual clothing) and having some sodas (so I thought in dress + soda = alcohol + party). HOWEVER, this was just me. Who knows what the soda was for and why are they in casual clothing. Also, when I get to downtown (SCARED), I was completely shocked. There were a lot of people but it was not crowded. Bars and restaurants are full but no crazy drunks YET and people walking along with me normally. </p>
<p>Also, I have talked to students there about the party reputation of USCB. Two of them that I talked to are double majors. They told me that the party place in SB is really far. It is up to the individual if he/she will attend (be pressure by other). One of them was even an RA - like a manager of a dorm or an apartment. This was during the Housing Overview. he told me that the student places (near the other side of Isla Vista) are far away from the party places (the other side of Isla Vista near the ocean). You can also talk to them if you are having issues with noisy neighborhood and such. Again, I cant say much about this because I have not gone to browse the whole place.</p>
<p>Major: Psychology
GPA: 3.40
Major prep: completed
Igetc: yes
Tag: No
Admitted: UCSB, UCSC</p>
<p>I was surprised I was admitted, but hapy</p>
<p>@dwencel24 </p>
<p>Thanks for explaining those misconceptions. One of my friends lives in Isla Vista, and she told me that it’s noisy at night especially during the weekend. Well, it won’t be a problem if you can self-discipline and manage your time well. By the way, I’m applying for chemical engineering major. What are the good/bad news you mentioned?</p>
<p>Yeah, if you live in Isla Vista, it will definitely be noisy especially as you go and get closer to the beach. So, I wont live there for sure. And by the way, their library is 24/7 so you can study there if you want to and it is really big. Just to give you an idea, they say that their library is the second largest library in the nation (second to the congress). Also, they are making another extension - not a problem though in terms of academic disturbance.</p>
<p>Going to the engineering question. By the way this could apply to other engineering major or even other major as well. So after I talked to a transfer student and the adviser for Chemical Engineering, I learned that once you decided to transfer you will have two OPTIONS about your schedule there which are: two years or three years. Two years is possible. However, you will cram so many class each quarter and may ruin your GPA. I have been thinking about this as well since last year. Actually, I even tried to make my schedule in UCSB last year for two years and I have concluded that I will be taking around 17-19 units per quarter which is ridiculous. Why is that? You have to remember that there are CH E courses that was not required for transfer to take but must actually be taken in sophomore year if you want to graduate in time - like CH E 1A, CH E 10, CH E 110A and 110B. Also, you have to remember that even if you finished IGETC you will still have to take other GE courses (most likely they are upper division courses and in series) for graduation requirements - this applies to all UC I believe. Both of them preferred the three year option since the transition will be hard. Also, since transfer student in Chemical Engineering will not have experienced in engineering courses at all going to UCSB.</p>
<p>So again like I said, AND/OR - you can treat this as a good news AND/OR bad news. I was pretty disappointed as well. I thought that I will only have to spend two years there and graduate. But after thinking some time, I realized that it make sense. I realized why their engineering department has a higher success rate compare to other UC - because they care about their students. I realized that it could be a good thing. Why? First, if you’re thinking of taking FE and/or GRE, you will have time to prepare for them. Second, If you have no experience at all in research or internship before, you will have the time to do so during the normal quarter in UCSB or in summer. They highly recommend to you to study abroad because at the same time you can also work in a research program there and become well rounded student (learned other culture, language and make connection). Lastly, you will have the time to know your peers and faculty. I guess that I don’t have to explain the advantages of knowing them. Of course, there might be some disadvantage in taking the three year path like in future employment and graduate school. So, think about it. </p>
<p>As for me, I don’t have any other school that I am choosing against UCSB - only UCSB that is why, again, I am somewhat disappointed. But again, THAT IS ONLY AN OPTION. You can take the other path - IT IS UP TO YOU. </p>
<p>Also there are more good news and/or bad news. I don’t want to pose too big.</p>
<p>Accepted today!
Major: Pre-Econ & Accounting
GPA: 3.67
Major Prep: Calc II IP
IGETC: Yes
Tag: No
Ethnicity: White
Gender: F
Admitted: UCR, UCSB
Pending: UCI, UCSD, UCB, UCLA</p>
<p>Good luck to all!</p>
<p>No problem. Again, those were just based on my experience. I am not claiming anything. </p>
<p>Yeah, it is definitely noisy in Isla Vista especially as you get closer to the beach. So, I wont absolutely live there. But if your place is noisy, they have big library that is open 24/7. </p>
<p>Going to the engineering question. By the way, this could also apply to all engineering major and other major as well. During the Open House, I have talked to a transfer student and the Chemical Engineering adviser. I learned that transfer students will have two options how long they are going to spend their time in UCSB. This two options are two years or three years. YES, you will have an OPTION. This is the reason why I said AND/OR.</p>
<p>I think the reason why they are making this option is so that transfer students will have enough transition time into UCSB. You have to remember that there are some courses in engineering in UCSB that should be taken during the sophomore year but are not required for transfer student to take like CHE 1A, CHE 10, CHE 110A and CHE 110B. Also, since Chemical Engineering transfer students have no engineering course experience at all, it will be tough and shocking if you suddenly start taking pure engineering courses once you start there. Also, there will be other courses students must take for graduation requirements - even if you completed your IGETC. </p>
<p>I felt disappointed after hearing this - that I should choose the three year option to excel in UCSB (just my case). I thought that I will just have to spend two years in UCSB and then graduate. However, I think choosing the three years option will make sense. Here is why:</p>
<p>1.) Course Load. I was actually been thinking about this since last year. I actually made some sample schedule for me last year for the two years I will be spending in UCSB based on prerequisites (since upper division courses are like tree branch) and such. I concluded that I will be taking an overwhelming course load per quarter - REMEMBER this is quarter system (fast pace).
2.) Examinations. Okay, if you are like me who wants to take FE and GRE exams, choosing the three years option will benefit you. You will have more time to review your math physics, and chemistry at the same time study the current courses required for FE. You will also have lots of time to prepare the graduate/professional school requirements.
3.) Experience. When I said experience, I meant like research or internship. In UCSB, they are heavily encouraging students to do research or internship. Three years will give you more time to gain enough experience for future employment and graduate requirements. Also, they are encouraging students to do study abroad. You can study abroad and do research at the same time during the normal term and/or summer.
4.) Connection. This might be the most important thing here. I think that three years will be enough to know your peers and the faculty members and to know them you too well. Why is this important? Simple - REFERENCE!!</p>
<p>I think this is why UCSB engineering department has a higher student’s success rate and satisfaction compare to other UC. Again, this is just an OPTION. And of course, there might be some disadvantages in choosing that path such as in future employment and graduate school - they might question you why it take you so long. But I guess as long as you don’t have any bad grades and you have enough REFERENCE, this disadvantages will be minimized. </p>
<p>It’s up to you to find your crowd. I hear on some days in IV, people party it up all along the street. I just got a studio on Sabado, a block from campus, so I guess the crowd might actually come to the base of my balcony.</p>
<p>Status: Denied</p>
<p>Major: Chemical Engineering
GPA: 4.0
Major Prep Completed: No
IGETC: No
TAG: No
Admitted: UIUC, UMN
Denied: UCSB
Pending: UCLA, UCB
Additional Information: Transferring from a 4-year institution</p>
<p>Got my reply just now. Goodluck guys…</p>
<p>Accepted
Major: economics
Gpa 3.41
Igetc done by spring
Prereq: done just finishing stats
Tag no
Personal statement strong</p>
<p>@firstgenstudent and @xChair </p>
<p>Did you guys both receive an email or did you guys just check your portal? I’m losing so much sleep because I’m up checking my portal. LOL… I wonder if admissions counselors can see how many times I log in throughout the day. LOL… Yes, I would love to be admitted!!! Open sesame! </p>
<p>@WhiteTiger84 </p>
<p>They’ll never send an e-mail to you. I checked my portal about twice a day, and finally got this bad news. Goodluck!</p>
<p>@xChair </p>
<p>Thank you. With your GPA, I’m sure you’ll get into either UCLA or UCB! Good luck to you as well!!!</p>
<p>@whitetiger84 you have to check yourself you may not get the email until a week after your acceptance online so keep checking! </p>
<p>Not sure if this helps anyone, but I was accepted last year.</p>
<p>Psych
3.31 GPA
TAG - yup
IGETC completed
Pre reqs - not completed, think I was missing 2 or 3.</p>
<p>Basically, psych’s a pretty easy one to get into</p>
<p>I can’t believe I am still pending. I tagged and met all the criteria. So frustrating!!</p>