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Selection

Selection criteria are established each year by the faculty admission committee.

Once the file review as described below is complete, UCSB computes a final admission score which combines the points derived from the academic preparation review and from the academic promise review. Currently, both have equal weight. Applicants are ranked on this total score and the top ranking applicants are selected. All ELC-identified applicants who have fulfilled all UC requirements for admission will be selected for admission, regardless of their total admission score.

UCSB does not admit by major except as noted below.

Evaluation - All colleges

At UCSB the evaluation process consists of two types of academic review: the academic preparation review and the academic promise review. Eligible applicants are evaluated for excellence in grades, coursework and test scores and excellence in extra-curricular activities, leadership, athletics, awards and honors.

The reported courses and grades of each applicant are reviewed to ensure that only courses on the approved UC course list are counted in the computation of grade point average and in the fulfillment of the a-g requirements. The official grade point average that UCSB uses includes up to a maximum of 8 additional honors points for UC-approved honors/AP/college courses and is capped at 4.40.

As part of the academic preparation review, an academic index score is computed that comprises the official GPA and the required test scores (SAT Reasoning test or converted ACT Assessment plus Writing and two SAT Subject Tests). The grade point average is most heavily weighted in the academic index, accounting for about 60% of the total. For applicants to engineering majors, the math test scores are more heavily weighted, whereas for applicants to Letters and Science and Creative Studies, verbal and writing test scores are more heavily weighted. Eligible applicants are then ranked based on their academic index score and awarded points based on their standing within the entire pool of applicants.

Eligible applicants are then assessed for academic promise. The academic promise review seeks to identify an applicant's achievements and personal qualities in the context of the opportunities and/or challenges an applicant has had which, when coupled with the academic review, provide a comprehensive view of an applicant's potential for success at UCSB. Achievements and personal characteristics for which evidence is sought in the academic promise review are grouped into the following four categories:

Challenges, special circumstances, hardships and persistence

Leadership, initiative, service and motivation

Diversity of intellectual and social experience

Honors, awards, special projects, talents, creativity, and intellectual vitality

Files are reviewed by trained admission professionals and retired teachers and counselors, all of whom go through an extensive training program every year. Reviewers are monitored for accuracy and consistency throughout the review process. Applications are read by at least two independent reviewers who do not know the score given by the other reader. Following a thorough review of the entire file, the reader assigns a single rating to it. If the scores differ significantly, then the file goes to a third, more senior, reader.

While there are no fixed points for activities or accomplishments, there are broad guidelines given to readers to suggest where point levels should lie. An applicant will receive one of the following ratings during the academic promise review:

Outstanding:

Applicant demonstrates outstanding characteristics or achievement in one or more of the four supplemental review areas. Applicant will offer a remarkable quality or level of achievement that will greatly enrich the freshman class.

Significant:

Applicant demonstrates strong or significant characteristics or achievement in one or more of the four supplemental criteria areas. Applicant will offer a quality or level of achievement that will significantly enhance the freshman class.

Good:

Applicant demonstrates average or good characteristics or achievement in one or more of the four supplemental criteria areas. Applicant will offer a quality or level of achievement that will enhance the freshman class.

Typical:

Applicant demonstrates some characteristics or achievement in one or more of the four supplemental review areas, but with limited range or depth. The applicant will not distinguish himself or herself relative to the other UCSB applicants and will not enrich the freshman class.

College of Engineering

Students are selected by major for all engineering and computer science majors. Only applicants with a solid background in advanced high school mathematics will be considered for admission to engineering. This includes high grades in all math courses through grade 11 and enrollment in pre-calculus or higher in grade 12. A student not selected for the first choice major will be reviewed for admission to a second choice major or undeclared major.

College of Creative Studies

Applicants to Creative Studies submit a supplementary application in addition to the general UC application, which is reviewed by Creative Studies faculty. Students are selected within Creative Studies majors only. Applicants not selected for Creative Studies will automatically be considered for admission to the general campus.

College of Letters and Science

Choice of major is not considered in selection except for computer science applicants, who are selected using engineering criteria (see above), and dance and music performance, which require an audition.

Academic Requirements

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Updated: October 9, 2009

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