@gumbymom I don’t know if you still remember me haha
I was on these forums back in like 2022 as a high school senior. I usually check in on this thread every year or so around admissions season. I think this will be the last time I will be checking in, as I’m about to graduate in June 
Here’s my post from many years ago:
It is hard to put into words the impact that UCSB has had on me throughout these last four years. It has shaped me into who I am today. I met my closest friends here, did research with world class professors, interned for amazing companies, went to parties to unwind on the weekends and had the unforgettable experience of living in Isla Vista with all of my friends and fellow students, literally steps away from the beach. Coming from a competitive Bay Area high school, UCSB really pushed me to expand my horizons. I gained a much healthier relationship with work and school compared to what I experienced in HS.
This June, I will be graduating with a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering. This summer, I will be interning for a large semiconductor company (currently in the news) doing CPU/GPU design, a role that I could have only dreamed of working back in high school. After that, I will be heading to the University of Southern California this fall to start my PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with the goal of eventually becoming a professor.
None of this would’ve been possible without the amazing faculty (ECE department has 2 Nobel Prize winners, and Physics just got 2 more Nobel Prizes this year!), the small student to faculty ratio (6:1 for my major), the amazing research opportunities (I did some really cutting edge semiconductor research) and most importantly, the friendly and collaborative culture of this university.
UCSB was a life-changing experience for me, and I’m sure it will change your life too, if you choose to attend.
Best of luck to all the applicants! No matter where you go, your life is just beginning