Admissions

- Take advantage of all of the extras at your disposal. The school encourages you to be active and involved in the campus community in addition to keeping up with studies. There are over 300 clubs and organizations to get into, as well as plenty of activities you can do on your own--hiking, surfing, even shopping.
- Don't be intimidated by the 'party school' reputation. While there are parties, you don't have to party to have a good time. There are plenty of other things to do if you're not into that.
- Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to pursue a potential interest. You may surprise yourself at what independence can do for you.

Do everything you can to get into the Honors College on campus! You get one-on-one time with your professors, which helps you out when it comes to letters of recommendation, and it helps you to understand what you are studying more than if you aren't in the exclusive Honors Sections for the lectures.

Don't focus solely on good grades. Our admissions counselors look at 3 main things in regards to applications--grades, test scores and extra-curricular activities. While grades may seem the most important, you're more likely to get admitted if you have a combo of all three of these values.
Don't be afraid to apply undecided as far as majors go.Undecided is our most popular major for incoming freshman and you have up until the end of your second year to pick a major.

Keep up your GPA and focus on extra curricular activities! A less than average GPA can be made up for with incredible involvement within the community. Check out events happening in your town or school to get involved, it is a great way to meet new people and make valuable memories that will keep you going throughout college. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, don't just take a student led tour of the school, take one yourself! Before you visit make sure to look up what there is to do in the community surrounding your school and check it out once you visit. Be sure to ask yourself if you can see yourself living here for the next four or so years (with UCSB I guarantee you will!) and make a mental note of things you notice about the school in case you need to compare it to other schools you are considering. I know that the college search is a stressful time, but I promise it will be done in no time and that sooner or later you will miss it!

apologies but the capitalization disappeared for my review, and won't come back even if i edit it back in. so you'll have to deal with improper punctuation for a bit. also, the paragraphs aren't displaying properly, so prepare for some word walls.

bring half the stuff you think you need to bring to your dorm room. you'll buy new things throughout the year, and packing will be much simpler.

join clubs you're interested in. there are so many organizations on campus that cater to a wide variety of interests, and in the event that you don't find one that fits you, you can always create your own. i joined club tennis and the esports club -- it's a great way to make a lot of friends!

during the first week, go to everything you're invited to (so long as it's safe to do so, don't talk to strangers with white vans who offer you candy...).

don't take classes at 8 a.m. just don't. high school may have started at 8 in the morning, but you have the option to make your classes not start that early! so why not take it? also, you'll be far less tempted to skip class.

live in the dorms for your first year, then look into housing in isla vista. you need the "dorm experience" and the meal plan is really convenient. (side note: 10 or 14 meals a week is all you should need. the 17 and unlimited are a bit excessive, and more expensive!). isla vista is much cheaper to live in, and you're still close to campus.

bring a bike and a good u-lock. not a fancy bike, or a cruiser either. something reliable and practical. if it's flashy and new, it is more likely to get stolen. it's about a 20 minute walk across campus, but a 5 minute bike. there are plenty of bike paths and bike racks all over campus!

if you decide to party, make sure that your academics aren't suffering. having fun is great, but academic probation is not.

i would know that decisions for the ucs have been known to be a little wonky. so if for some reason you get denied here, but accepted berkeley or ucsd, don't be surprised. also, make sure to take aps, honors courses, show some sort of interest by extracurricular involvement, and achieve a 3.7+ uw.

UCSB is a fantastic school, and I am so lucky to be a student here! Not only is it one of the highest ranking universities in the United States for its academic and research accomplishments, but it is also a beautiful campus that will make almost anyone feel at home.

UCSB has the reputation for being a party school, but what I always tell people is that it all depends on the individual. It is true, every UCSB student will have a place to go on Friday and Saturday nights if they need some time off from studying, and UCSB is not the place for you if you cannot resist the temptation! The most important thing is to have your priorities in order. Study hard, and you can party harder!

As far as academics go, there is no reason any UCSB student should be worried about not doing well! As long as you are determined to study the material, our Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS) offers free tutoring for dozens of classes that prove to be tough.

UCSB also has many opportunities for student involvement and leadership. Students with a very wide range of interests will be able to find an activity that interests them on campus, whether it is participating in a rally, joining a campus organization, or running for student government. Keeping an open mind is key to being able to take advantage of all of the opportunities that come your way!

Engineering is a very difficult major to get into compared to other majors offered. Make sure your application is unique, last year around 80,000 people applied and there are under 9,000 freshman so its competitive.
If you're accepted its a great school. Research dorms and clubs before moving in, theres so many its hard to keep up with all the options in the first week when school starts. Also, definitely a good idea to use to find your own roommate option when applying for housing. Random roommate selections are hit-or-miss.

Yes, we do have a reputation as a party school but that doesn’t mean we don’t study or get good grades or that if you prefer not to party you shouldn’t come here. There are many options for people who do not want to spend their weekends partying like movies playing at Isla Vista theatre, comedy shows and even concerts. But during the week be prepared to study! Do NOT get behind and don’t get in the habit of skipping class! Also, you should save ratemyprofessor.com in your favorites; it will come in handy when choosing your classes.

P.S. Bring rain-boots! You’ll be glad you did!

Be ready to work hard and meet a variety of people.