I originally applied to UCSB because I wanted to attend UC Berkeley. When I realized the applications were the same, I decided to apply to both! The fees are normally $80 I think but I was in the free/ reduced lunch program at school so I had a few waivers for applications. I applied to eight schools all on the west coast, including UCSB, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, University of Washington, and University of Oregon. I was accepted to all except UCLA. When it came down to choosing a college, UCSB was the clear choice. They offered me significant financial aid, it's located on a beach, only a train ride away from home, and academically prestigious! We were ranked the 5th best public school in the nation and the happiest college students in California by Princeton Review! While cost is very important, I needed to choose somewhere I felt like I could be happy. The social, athletic, and academic aspects of the school were very appealing to my extroverted side. I had a 4.2 GPA overall in high school, played varsity women's lacrosse, and competed in the academic league. While I did take several AP classes, I would consider myself a medium, to the above-average student in high school. I got a 1420 on my SAT and a 30 on my ACT. The university seems to prioritize outside commitments and personal statements much higher than test scores through the admissions process in my opinion
Course Curriculum :
The course curriculum is very rigorous but extremely captivating. The chemistry and biology series is quite excruciating, but help understand in-depth the fundamentals of psychology and how our brains work. So far I have loved every class, including Math 34A (Calculus for Social sciences). If you prioritize studying and read after the lecture, it is easy to succeed in this program! I would love to provide a copy of the curriculum and my two-year plan if needed.
Exams :
I am not sure what this question means by the program, because I did not have to take any entrance exams. I have admitted pre- biological sciences and changed to psychology and brain sciences to fit my career aspiration. 7% of the university graduates are psych students. I received a 1420 on my SAT and a 30 on my SAT. I opted for this program because of its prestige within our university, research opportunities, and career goals.
Internship :
I have worked at three different on-campus jobs and it was very easy to find employment! For one, all of the various dining commons hire year-round and you have the option to work next to your own dorm or apartment for convenience. I was paid $12 starting and could see my job from my bedroom window! To work in the dining commons, you can approach the desk in the front, or any manager wearing a head seat and introduce yourself, no resume needed. Typically this job requires sweeping, cleaning tables, serving or preparing food, etc. I had a wonderful experience. I also got paid $25 dollars a unit per course that I took notes in. The disabled students' program allows you to upload your lecture notes online for other disabled students to access at their convenience! Since I take notes anyway, this was easy money and I did not have to communicate with anyone, just scan my notes using my phone and upload! Also, I worked at the Art and Architecture museum on campus by introducing myself. The app handshake allows you to log in with your Net ID and find on-campus jobs near you! This is how most UCSB students find employment.
Events :
UC Santa Barbara has a very large reputation as a party school. As a beach campus and small college town, we have parties pretty much every day of the week on our famous Del Playa Street. While we do not have a football team, we celebrate our school spirit at men's soccer and basketball games! Especially when playing our rival, Cal Poly SLO. Our events include the "Welcome Back Concert", Extravaganza, a music festival in May, and Deltopia, a weekend of nonstop partying oceanside. While Halloween in Isla Vista used to be a huge celebration, the university and police departments have shut it down nearly completely for safety measures. Artists such as Drake, Young Thug, Khalid, Wis Khalifa, Jack Johnson, and Amine, have performed at our school
Fees :
I pay on BARC about two weeks before the start of every quarter. The only loans I have used were given by the university and accessed on FinAid.ucsb.com. I have received the cal grant A award for 12,600 dollars, the federal Pell grant award for 3,000, and a UCSB scholarship for 4,000. All of which were given due to my family's financial need and military status.
Examination Structure :
Typically, most STEM classes in this program have 3 quizzes, 3 exams, and one final. They are multiple-choice scantron tests that will be graded in a little under a week. Depending on the professor, the exam may be curved, and multiple-choice questions may have a different point value for scoring purposes. So far, I have not had an exam other than multiple-choice except in my GE Sociology courses.
Faculty :
Unfortunately, most of my classes are in large lecture halls with about 600 other students. To make up for it, we have sections with lead TAs and grad students to help us go through lectures and prepare us for exams.
Hostel :
Living on campus is mandatory for your freshman year, and I highly recommend it for your sophomore year as well. It includes a meal plan at our amazing dining commons, as well as maid service, cleaning, and so many more amenities. I made so many friends living on campus and having friends just next door was a LIFESAVER more times than I could count. My only challenge was picking a random roommate freshman year, but you have the option to choose using the Facebook Schools App. Off-campus is difficult to find housing and is a lot more expensive.
