uc santa barbara essay requirements

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UCSB Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are UCSB's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UCSB and build a strong application.

School location: Santa Barbara, CA

This school is also known as: UCSB, UC Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara

Admissions Rate: 29.1%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UCSB is 29.1% . For every 100 applicants, 29 are admitted.

This means the school is very selective . If you meet UCSB's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.

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UCSB GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4.12

The average GPA at UCSB is 4.12 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4.12, UCSB requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.12, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UCSB hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UCSB will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UCSB SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1355

The average SAT score composite at UCSB is a 1355 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UCSB Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

UCSB SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1230, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1480. In other words, a 1230 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1480 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UCSB has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that UCSB requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that UCSB will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1480, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

UCSB ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UCSB likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 29

The average ACT score at UCSB is 29. This score makes UCSB Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 26, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

Even though UCSB likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 26 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 29 and above that a 26 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 32 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to UCSB, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 32.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UCSB considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission . If you're able to score a 1480 SAT or a 32 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as UCSB, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1480 SAT or a 32 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UCSB here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests Optional
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 30 March 31

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 1210 Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2014
• Phone: (805) 893-8000
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UCSB, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UCSB.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UCSB. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UCSB, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UCSB, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UCSB is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Writing Program - UC Santa Barbara

Entry level writing requirement.

Summer 2024 CWP sessions:  June 10-17 (for orientations 1-6) and July 3-10 (for orientations 7-12)

There are multiple ways for UCSB students to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) and receive a placement in your initial writing class. Some of you may have already satisfied ELWR through SAT or AP test scores or other means. The bulleted list below describes all of the ways that ELWR can be satisfied; if you are not sure whether or not you have satisfied ELWR, contact your college (College of Creative Studies, College of Engineering, or College of Letters and Science) advising office.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions. Make sure to include your perm number and full name in your email.

International students who have not satisfied ELWR through qualifying grades and/or test scores must take the Entry Level Placement in English (ELPE). Visit the English for Multilingual Students (EMS) website  for more information.

The Entry Level Writing Requirement is a University of California requirement that all students must fulfill during their first year. This requirement applies to students in all three colleges at UCSB.

Students at UCSB must satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement in one of the following ways:

• score 3 or higher on the AP Seminar exam, the AP Research exam, or either of the AP English exams
• score of 30 or higher on the ACT combined English Language Arts (ELA)
• score 680 or higher on SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) 
• score 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate higher level English A Examination
• score 6 or higher on the International Baccalaureate standard level English A1 Examination
• receive a grade of "C" or higher in appropriate transfer English composition course satisfying GE Area A1
• receive a placement in Writing 2 via UCSB's Collaborative Writing Placement (CWP)
• receive a passing score on the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE)
• pass UCSB's Writing 1 with a grade of "C" or higher

It is important to note that once students matriculate at UCSB, they may no longer fulfill the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement with coursework from another institution.

Phone: 805-893-7488 [email protected]

Campus MailCode: 3010 Campus Maps

Give to the Writing Program

University of California, Santa Barbara | UCSB

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of California, Santa Barbara | UCSB?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of California, Santa Barbara | UCSB’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short responses.

Please respond to any 4 of the 8 questions below.We realize that not all questions apply to all applicants, so be sure to select the 4 questions that you believe give us the best information about you.All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. Responses to each question should be between 250-350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

• Student Resources
• Applying to College

Writing the Essay

General advice.

• Finish the rest of the application first. Listing all of the activities, classes, and awards will remind you of things that might be good to write about.
• Brainstorm on several topics.
• Choose a topic you can say something meaningful about (not the one you think will impress admissions readers). Admissions officers read thousands of essays and can spot when someone is writing about an AP course they took just because they think it will make them sound smart.
• Ask parents, teachers, and friends for ideas about your good qualities or accomplishments. Sometimes it is difficult for us to see the things about ourselves that are obvious to others.

Once You Begin Writing

• Stick to one or two important “stories.” Any more and you’ll dilute things to the point where they have little impact.
• Grab the reader’s interest from the start.
• Show, don’t tell—give concrete examples of something instead of just saying it.
• Make sure you answer the question instead of going on a tangent.
• Show who you are, not who you think the admissions officers want to see.
• Don’t just list information that is already in your application—you are missing the opportunity to tell the reader something new.
• Include the “So What?” Why did you tell this story? How did it impact your life? What does it show about you? How is it important to the question?

After You Write

• Write more than one draft. You probably haven’t written something like this before and it will take more than one attempt to get it right.
• Don’t be afraid to scrap your first draft and start from scratch.
• Ask others for feedback, but have useful questions for them. You know your friend will say “It’s good” before you even ask. So ask things like “Did it grab your interest from the start?” “What did you think I was trying to say?” and “Did you think it was funny/sad/passionate/(whatever tone you were going for)?”
• Proofread, and read it over carefully even after you spellcheck! Sometimes it tries to fix your mistakes by replacing them with the wrong word.

Common Application

Essay(250-500 words).

• There are several topics, as well as the option to choose your own topic. All the questions are just basically saying “Tell us about yourself.” The specific questions are just trying to make it easier for you to talk about your values and other aspects of yourself.
• Each question is just as valid as the other ones. There are no questions that “get you more points” if you pick that one.
• Some of the questions ask you to talk about an issue, historical figure, etc. Do NOT turn your answer into a report on this. Each one asks you to relate the topic to yourself—how has it influenced you? Why is it important to you? You are only using that topic as a way to get at your life and values.

UC ​Personal Insight Questions

(8 questions, you select 4; to answer, 350 words maximum each).

• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

To look at the personal insight questions and for helpful tips on how to respond to each one, learn more:  https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/personal-insight-questions.html

For additional guidance EAOP has come up with 5 general topics to help you answer the personal insight questions. As you write your UC personal essays think about the most relevant and significant experiences that best reflect your individual circumstances for the topics below. You can use one of the topics to answer more than one of the insight questions. (ex. Leadership experience could fit with questions 1 and 7, an obstacle experience could fit questions 4,5 and 7)

Overcoming obstacles/challenges

• Diversity of perspective
• Goals for the future.

 Not just offices and titles. Think about things YOU made happen that wouldn’t have happened without you. Think about your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience. What are your responsibilities? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities.  For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? Did responsibilities and chores limit your activities and studies? Did a disability make things more difficult academically or socially?

Diversity of Perspective

Highlight your cultural background and experiences. Learning a second language, moving from a different country, had to balance your parents’ culture against American culture ect. What things have made you see the world differently? How have they impacted your life?

Think about your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience. Do you have a passion for music, theater, visual art, dance, etc.? What have you gained from it that has affected other parts of your life? What kinds of things have you worked hard to achieve? In what ways did you show your determination and commitment to accomplish those things? How does your commitment/creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom?

Goals for the future

Goals can be general things like helping others, having your own business, helping your family, or being a good role model for your siblings. What do you want for your future? Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

• UC Santa Barbara Career Services
• Explore Grad School

Write Your Draft

Tell Your Story So Far  

Graduate schools ask you to submit admissions essays in an effort to get to know you better and understand your motivations for pursuing their program. Nearly every graduate program you encounter requires at least one essay, as it is an effective tool for them to gain key insights.

Fortunately, writing essays is something that should feel familiar to you by this point in your education, however, there can be more than what meets the eye in the various formats and prompts that are provided for application essays.

Use this page to compose a powerful draft for a Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, Research Statement, and other statements for graduate admission.

Three-Pronged Outline

To begin drafting your document, it can help to begin with an outline that covers the three fundamental topics of most admissions essays:

• Motivations: Why do you want to go to graduate school in your chosen field or discipline? Why do you want to attend the particular program to which you are applying?
• Qualifications: Why are you qualified to attend the graduate program? How do your academic performance, experiences, and extracurricular achievements demonstrate your suitability for that graduate program?
• Direction: Where do you see yourself heading professionally, and how will the graduate program help you accomplish this goal?

An Introduction That Captivates

Consider creating a storyline with an opening that is personal to you. Here are some strategies for creating a memorable opening to your essay:

• Place the reader into your story at a key moment in time
• Draw inspiration from a significant character in your story by beginning with something they once told you
• Provide a narrative, account, or observation about a current event that pertains to your story

Avoid an opening that states that you have wanted to pursue the field since a young age, as this is the most common way that applicants begin their admissions essays. You can certainly open this way, but know that it is frequently used, and your readers appreciate variety just like anyone else.

Writing Tips  

There are a few key considerations when writing, refining, and editing the body of your essay. Here are some essential tips.

Consider Your Audience

What will your audience want to learn about in order to better understand why you would be a great match for their program? If you are using significant space to tell a story that is not bolstering this point, you may want to edit it out. Keep your writing focused and concise.

Keep a Positive Tone

One of the biggest red flags that graduate programs see is an applicant who puts others down (i.e., another institution, organization, or individual) in an attempt to build themselves up. Your essay should not be judgmental in any way. This is unbecoming on a personal level and unprofessional.

Avoid Complimenting a Program’s Prestige

This is not an appropriate medium for you to make broad compliments about a program or explain why the program to which you are applying is better than your undergraduate college or university. Instead, focus on concrete aspects of the program that would add value to your career.

Condense Your Prose

Take any paragraph in your essay and calculate its word count. Now try to get the same message across in half as many words. You may not be able to do it, but the effort will show you where you can and cannot trim.

Proofread for Typos

Mistakes with grammar and spelling look unprofesional and undermine your credibbilty as a schollar. Don’t you aggree? :)

Get a Fresh Perspective

Enlist a friend you trust to read your essay. When they are done, go back to each paragraph and ask them to paraphrase what you wrote. Is what they remember the thing you wanted to get across? If not, rewrite so that it is.

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• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

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Download our worksheets:

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Research Mentorship Program

Application Window:   December 15, 2023 – March 18, 2024

Application reviews will begin in January to allow for the submission of transcripts that must include Fall 2023 grades. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.

In order to decide if RMP is the right fit for you, please review the eligibility requirements listed below, explore the information on our website thoroughly, and consider attending an informational webinar to learn more. You can also prepare for the application process by reviewing the elements you’ll need to submit below. 

Program Dates: June 17 – August 2, 2024

Program Eligibility

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

High school student in the 10th or 11th grade (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis)

Have a minimum 3.80 academic weighted GPA requirement 

Attend the program in its entirety, starting with the virtual component and ending with the closing events

Due to its intensive nature, students may not concurrently enroll in other courses, activities, or programs during RMP

Enrolled students are required to participate in an RMP Preparation Webinar to prepare for the program. They must choose from one of the following options:

May 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM (PT)

June 1, 2024 at 9:00 AM (PT)

June 1, 2024 at 3:00 PM (PT)

Application Requirements

Application

The online application includes:

Transcript – You will be asked to upload a transcript that shows your entire high school academic history. You can ask your school or counselor for a copy of an unofficial transcript to submit with your application. It must include the first trimester or semester grades for the 2023–2024 academic school year . Transcripts will be checked and verified before applications are reviewed. 

Personal Statement – In a 500 word maximum essay, discuss your goals, values, and reasons for wanting to attend RMP.

Writing Sample – Submit up to 3 typed pages of an English essay, a history paper, or a science report from the current academic year that demonstrates your individual writing ability .

If your document is longer than the limit, please select 3 consecutive pages that best reflect your writing style.

If you are submitting an excerpt from a science lab report, please choose pages that contain the least number of graphs, tables, figures, etc. 

Short Responses – This series of questions allows us to get to know you better. In 150 words or less for each response, we will ask you to:

Tell us about an idea or experience that made you absolutely excited about learning or sparked a period of personal growth.

Describe the most significant setback you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How do you think this experience will impact your RMP journey?

What does academic integrity look like in the age of generative AI, and how has it impacted you as a student?

1 Recommender – Be ready to provide the name and email address of one academic recommender.

Your recommender will receive an email to complete an online recommendation form after you submit your application . 

The completion of the recommendation form is required to review your application. This form must be submitted no later than April 1, 2024.

Letters of recommendation are not accepted.

AP Scores – If you have taken AP exams, you can upload a copy of your official scores. You may scan or download/print your scores from the College Board or other official institutions.

International Students:  TOEFL/English language proficiency exam scores are NOT needed for International applicants.

Scholarship application (optional) 

A limited number of scholarships are available and awarded based on need, qualifications, and availability. Priority is given to California residents. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, you can indicate your interest within your online program application.

If you are admitted into the program, your guardian will receive an email to complete the scholarship application. Your guardian will be required to submit the following: 

2023 Federal Tax returns (e.g., 1040, 1040EZ)

2023 W2 forms (if applicable)

Admission Process & Decision

Students complete an online application by March 18, 2024.

Applicants are notified via email when their application (including all required materials) is complete.

Completed applications move on to the review stage.

Applicants will receive their admission decision approximately three to five weeks after receiving their completion email.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and communicated via email directly to the applicant.

For more information about the program or to inquire about the application process, please contact:  [email protected] .

University of California 2023-24 Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 30

You Have: 

University of California  2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 4 out of 8 essays, 350 words each.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball , Community , Activity

The UC application sounds like a riddle. Every student must write four essays, but choose from eight prompts. The rules may be unfamiliar, but the game is the same: tell admissions something they don’t know – and then do it three more times! The instructions counsel you to “select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances,” and frankly, we couldn’t agree more. A strategic applicant will choose a constellation of prompts that highlight vastly different aspects of their lives and personalities, leaving an admissions officer with a deep and complete picture of who they are. Don’t get hung up on trying to divine the questions admissions wants you to answer. In the end, they just want to get to know the real you, plus the application swears that “there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.” So follow your heart (!) and don’t let the fatigue get to you. Avoid robotically starting every answer by restating the question and be as anecdotal as possible. With each essay, your goal isn’t just to answer the question, but to tell a very short story about yourself!

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.  

Things to consider: a leadership role can mean more than just a title. it can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. what were your responsibilities, did you lead a team how did your experience change your perspective on leading others did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization and your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. for example, do you help out or take care of your family.

When answering this question, avoid the siren song of your resume. This question isn’t asking you for a list! Remember: it’s your job, as an applicant, to use every essay as an opportunity to reveal something new about yourself. Think of a moment when you were in a position where you worked really hard to help a group of people. Maybe you are always the one helping your younger siblings with their homework, and you struggled to find ways to engage your dyslexic younger brother with math. Maybe, as a camp counselor or church volunteer, you were in charge of choreographing and instructing a number for a group of seven-year-old hip hop dancers to perform. Perhaps, on a Habitat for Humanity school trip, you became the head cook, whipping up everything from pancakes to chicken fajitas while galvanizing a team of sous chefs to pitch in.  

The point is, try to isolate a single leadership moment, and bring it to life with vivid details. Describe where you were, what was happening around you, and what you were feeling. Discuss what challenges you faced, and what you ultimately learned from the experience. Don’t shy away from challenges or even failures, since these are exactly the sorts of character-building experiences that can demonstrate resilience and quick thinking.

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Things to consider: what does creativity mean to you do you have a creative skill that is important to you what have you been able to do with that skill if you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution what are the steps you took to solve the problem, how does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom does your creativity relate to your major or a future career.

You may think that this question was geared towards the artistically inclined, but take a closer look. The wording offers many potential definitions that veer away from traditional conceptions of creativity (and actually, it asks you for your personal definition!). Creativity lies in your outlook: seeing the opportunity to use one of your skills in a novel situation; looking at a problem from a new angle to find the solution that no one else could see. This question is, in reality, ideal for the more scientifically oriented to create a more well-rounded profile. Creative types, on the other hand, might want to proceed with caution since, really, every question is an opportunity to show off your talents and describe your artistic endeavors.

No matter who you are, though, remember this classic writing advice: show don’t tell. So, you claim that gardening, or Calculus, or painting is how you show your creative side. Okay. So, then immerse the reader in this activity with you . If you enjoy gardening, describe the plants, their qualities, and how you make your horticultural choices; are you drawn to the aesthetics or are you botanically inquisitive? Similarly, if your subject is Calculus, show the reader how you sat in your dad’s office for six hours straight trying to calculate Pi on a three dozen sheets of paper using red crayon.  If you love to paint, show the reader where you paint, what you paint, and why you paint, describing the colors, textures, materials—the essential process behind your art. Write descriptively so that the reader can feel as if he or she were experiencing your creative passion with you.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?  

Things to consider: if there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. you don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). why is this talent or skill meaningful to you, does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom if so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule.

If question 3 reminds you of question 2, you’re not alone. Often, when we talk about a talent or skill that we have honed over the course of a lifetime, we’re inclined to describe it as an art — a creative extension of who we are. So if you choose to respond to both of these questions, make sure to highlight distinct skills in each. 

The good news is: finding your subject should be easy! You just need to answer this question: what makes you proud? Think about the stories that your friends and family like to share about you. Think about moments when your hard work paid off. When you can zero in on an experience that makes your heart swell, you’ll be able to pinpoint your essential subject. If the memory of your first swim meet victory still makes you smile, draw us into your rigorous training schedule; describe the aspects of the sport that motivate you to wake up early and push yourself. What were your challenges? What has this experience taught you? This narrative should have a clear timeline that traces your growth from the past to the present and into the future. How do you plan to further develop your talent in college and/or after college? Show not only that you have grown, but that you will continue to grow as you take your first steps into adulthood.

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Things to consider: an educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. for example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you — just to name a few. , if you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them what personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge how did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today.

This question is tricky because it has two parts. So first break the question down: You can write about either A.) How you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity OR B.) How you have worked to overcome an educational barrier. The “or” is key. You are not being asked to write about both parts of this question. Just write about one.

If you have participated in an afterschool program, internship, honors program, or a special class that was meaningful or inspiring to you, you will want to think about choosing option A.  Maybe it was an afterschool program for young, aspiring lawyers, or an advanced history class that you took at your local community college. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your ambition and highlight the kinds of challenges that engage and excite you. Beyond underscoring an academic interest, reflect on the personal qualities required for you to succeed. And remember to show, not tell! It will save you from accidentally humble-bragging your way through this assignment. 

Now, for option B. If you have worked to overcome a disability, struggled in school because you have a different background than your peers, suffered financial hardship, or something along those lines, you can choose to write about option B. To nail this tricky task, you will need to highlight not only the ways you struggled, but also the qualities that helped you succeed. How would you define yourself? Resilient? Hardworking? Brave? Zero in on a quality that resonates with you, and write targeted descriptions that bring it to life. (No one is going to believe you if you just write, “I am resilient,” and leave it at that.) Lastly, reflect on how this barrier shaped who you are today, and what skills you gained through facing this educational barrier.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Things to consider: a challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. why was the challenge significant to you this is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone, if you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life for example, ask yourself, “how has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family”.

If you skipped question 4 or chose to write about option A, this question is a gift: a second chance to showcase your resilience in the face of obstacles. On the other hand, if you chose to write about option B in question 4, this might feel redundant. You are free to write about both, but again, proceed with caution and be sure to select a totally different challenge.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: questions that ask you to describe a struggle or failure are really probing for stories about success. What pro-active steps did you take to address the problem at hand? Even if your solution didn’t work out perfectly, what did you learn? In facing this challenge, did you discover a courageous, creative, or hard-working side of yourself? Did you learn something valuable about yourself or others? Highlight the upside. How did this challenge shape who you are today? And how will the skills that you gained dealing with this challenge will help you in college and beyond?

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. 

Things to consider: many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. if that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom — such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs — and what you have gained from your involvement., has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, ap, ib, college or university work) are you inspired to pursue this subject further at uc, and how might you do that.

If you’ve ever referred to yourself as a “nerd” or “geek”, this question is probably for you. To nail down a topic for this bad boy, you can work in two directions: (1) think about how your favorite academic subject has impacted your extracurricular pursuits, or (2) trace one of your favorite hobbies back to its origins in the classroom. Maybe your love of languages led you to take a job at a coffee shop frequented by multilingual tourists. Or perhaps your now-extensive coin collection was resurrected when you did a research project on ancient Roman currency. Whichever way you go about it, building a bridge between the scholarly and the personal lies at the heart of answering this prompt.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? 

Things to consider: think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place —like your high school, hometown or home. you can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community, why were you inspired to act what did you learn from your effort how did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community.

Some backwards advice: When writing about community service, you should always start with yourself. Community service essays are cliché minefields. To avoid drifting into platitudes, you need to ground your writing in the specificity of your life. Don’t start with the action and end with what you learned. Instead, dig into your motivations. If you spent weeks petitioning your school community to raise the hourly wage for custodial staff, what prompted you to act? What assumptions did you have about income inequality and what did you learn about your community in the process? Or, maybe you weren’t too enthused about your community service. Maybe you participated in a soccer-team-mandated day of coaching a pee-wee team. What caused your skepticism? How did you turn the experience around?

Also, don’t just choose a topic that sounds impressive. “This year I acted as the co-chair of the Honors Society, presiding over twenty different cases.” If you didn’t, in fact, really enjoy Honors Society, write about a topic that means something to you instead. Think of a moment where you felt like you made a change in your local community. It can be something small; it does not have to be monumental, but it should mean a great deal to you. Describe the moment, using detail to bring it to life, and then reflect on what that experience taught you, and how you hope to continue these activities in the future.

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Things to consider: if there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your change. what have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better, from your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for uc don’t be afraid to brag a little..

This question is really just what it says it is—an open-ended, choose-your-own-adventure question.  Is there something that you really, really want to tell the UC admissions team that you feel makes you a strong and unique candidate that is not showcased in the other three personal insight questions? As with the other questions, whatever topic you choose, please use detail and description to bring this topic to life for the reader, and include thoughtful reflection on why this topic matters to you. Also, be sure to explain why your chosen topic makes you stand out as a strong candidate for the UC schools, since the question specifically asks you to do that!

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Division of Undergraduate Education - UC Santa Barbara

Degree requirements, college of letters & science degrees .

The College of Letters and Science offers four distinct bachelor’s degrees tailored to your interests and ambitions. Your choice of degree is dependent on your chosen major. Below are links to the requirements for each bachelor's degree:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
• Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

UC Santa Barbara's degree requirements fall into four main categories:

1. Unit Requirements

You must complete a total of either 180 or 184 units , including 60  upper-division units.

UCSB courses numbered 1-99 are considered lower-division, 100-199 are considered upper-division

2. University Requirements

Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) American History and Institutions Requirement (AMH) Academic Residence Requirement GPA Requirements 3. ​​ Letters & Science General Education Requirements

General Subject Area Requirements Special Subject Area Requirements

4. Major Requirements For information about Major Requirements, please consult the General Catalog , or contact the Major department directly for advising. ***Students can run a "Progress Check" in GOLD to see which requirements have been fulfilled .

L&S General Education Requirements and Courses

The College of Letters and Sciences General Education Program  includes the following  General Subject Area Requirements   and Special Subject Area Requirements .  Click on each area for a list of learning outcomes.

Note: the course lists provided include courses that have been approved for general education requirements through the previous academic year and not approvals made during the current year. The Course Information in GOLD should include the most recent changes.

General Subject Area Requirements

Area A:  English Reading and Composition

Courses that Fulfill Area A Requirements: A1: Writing 2, 2E, 2LK A2: English 10, 10AC, 10EM, 10LC; Writing 50, 50E, 105AA-ZZ, 107AA-ZZ, 109AA-ZZ Area B:  Foreign Language

2023-24 Area B Course List* ​Area C:  Science, Mathematics, and Technology 2023-24 Area C Course List*  (including IGETC categories for students with Partial IGETC certification) Area D:  Social Sciences 2023-24 Area D Course List* ​Area E:  Culture and Thought 2023-24 Area E Course List* ​Area F:  Arts 2023-24 Area F Course List* ​Area G:  Literature 2023-24 Area G: Course List*

Special Subject Area Requirements

Writing Requirement 2023-24 Writing Requirement Course List* European Traditions 2023-24 European Traditions Requirement Course List* World Cultures 2023-24 World Cultures Requirement Course List* Quantitative Relations 2023-24 Quantitative Relationships Requirement Course List*

Ethnicity 2023-24 Ethnicity Requirement Course List*

American History and Institutions

Note: AMH is a UC-wide requirement rather than specifically a UCSB general education requirement.  AHI courses may also count toward General Subject and Special Subject requirements.

2023-24 American History and Institutions Course List

General Education Policies & Tips

The One-Area Rule : Each GE course can satisfy one General Subject Area Requirement (Areas A-G) at a time. Some courses may be listed as fulfilling more than one Area A-G, however, only one area will be satisfied.

Courses can apply for both Area & Special Subject Requirements : A single GE course may fulfill multiple Special Subject Area Requirements in addition to one General Subject Area Requirement. For example, a course like Art History 6C may fulfill the General Subject Area E or Area F requirement and also fulfill the European Traditions (EUR) and a Writing (WRT) requirement. You may also search the course lists above to find courses in each area.

Petitioning Courses to Fulfill GE Writing Requirement:  L&S students need to complete up to six designated UCSB courses to fulfill the requirement though the number may vary depending on a student’s pre-matriculated coursework.  Up to two UC (non-designated UCSB courses, courses from another UC, or UCEAP courses) may be petitioned for the requirement. See Special Subject Writing Requirement Instructions for petition details.

GE Courses can change yearly : The UCSB Senate can approve and remove courses from the GE list from year to year. Check the current year's list in the General Catalog . If a course a student took is removed later, it will still satisfy the requirement if approved while enrolled in the course.

• Writing Requirement (WRT)
• European Traditions (EUR)
• World Cultures (NWC)
• Quantitative Relationships (QNT)
• Ethnicity Requirement Course List (ETH)

LASAR (Letters and Science Academic Requirements) 2023-2024

LASAR  is the "brief user's guide" to a Letters and Science degree.  See the  Archive  below edition from previous academic years.  It covers the essential requirements and policies required for students to complete their degrees.  Students may also consult the  General Catalog  for more detailed information.

LASAR  Archive

Another invaluable resource for understanding the structure of the Letters and Science degree is the annual LASAR ( Letters and Science Academic Requirements ) publication, distributed at Orientation to all students:

• Current Year
• LASAR 2022-23
• LASAR 2021-22
• LASAR 2020-21
• LASAR 2019-20
• LASAR 2018-19
• LASAR 2017-18
• LASAR 2016-17
• LASAR 2015-16
• LASAR 2014-15
• LASAR 2013-14
• LASAR 2012-13
• LASAR 2011-12
• LASAR 2010-11

The complete requirements for graduation are explained in the General Catalog .

General Education FAQ

I have nearly finished the breadth/ge requirements at another uc campus. can i finish my remaining requirements at ucsb.

If you have not fully completed your previous UC’s Breadth/GE program requirements before you enroll at UCSB, you will need to complete UCSB’s General Education Program. You will receive UCSB general education credit where appropriate for individual courses taken at the other school, but you will most likely need additional courses to satisfy UCSB’s general education requirements.

I took a course that I feel should count for a GE requirement, but it does not appear on the list of approved courses. Can I petition for GE credit?

For general subject requirements, only courses that appear on the lists for areas A through G can satisfy those requirements. There is no possibility of appealing for GE credit for UCSB courses that do not appear on the lists.

Special area requirements (Ethnicity, World Cultures, European Traditions, and Quantitative Relations) are not possible to be satisfied by petitioning UCSB courses as well, with the sole exception of the Writing Requirement: up to two courses not listed as satisfying the Writing Requirement, by petition, may be applied to the six maximum writing requirement courses required.

I have taken a course that appears in the lists for two different general subject areas. Will I get credit for completing both areas?

Although some courses appear on more than one list, individual courses can only satisfy one of the general subject areas. However, some courses can satisfy both a general subject area and a special subject area.

Can a course count for my major and also satisfy general education?

A course can satisfy both a general education requirement and a requirement for your major or pre-major. However, keep in mind that it must be taken for a letter grade if it is to be counted towards your major.

College Advising and Information

College Advising Hours & Information

Make an Appointment Online

How to Apply

Application deadline, degree offerings and Physics graduate program requirements.

Degree Offerings

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics with an Astrophysics Emphasis

Requirements

Complete the UCSB Graduate Division online application.

• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History and Diversity Statement ( Your Personal History and Diversity Statement must be written in narrative (essay) form without duplicating content from your Statement of Purpose. A minimum word count of 250 words is required. There is no maximum length requirement. Most statements are typically 1-2 pages.)
• Resume or CV

  All three documents are required for a complete application. All three documents are submitted online. For more information, see the Graduate Division website.

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted online.

You are required to upload an official transcript created by your university. This transcript will be used to review and evaluate your application.

Scan and upload all pages of your official transcript from this institution (including the grading scale, which may be on the backside of the transcript). The uploaded transcript must be produced by the university with all appropriate seals/stamps. Remove your Social Security Number by crossing/blacking out numbers before uploading (if applicable). If you have questions about whether or not a transcript is acceptable, contact your department/program directly.

Final / Official transcripts will be required for all applicants who are admitted and have indicated their intent to enroll at UC Santa Barbara by submitting a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). UC Santa Barbara reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admissions process, and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) are found.

TOEFL 550 Paper-Based Test (PBT), 80 Internet-Based Test (IBT) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Overall Band score of 7 or higher (if applicable), or the Duolingo English Test score of 120.

  Application Deadline

Our application deadline is December 15th by 11:59 PM PDT.

  Please Note

• Applications accepted for Fall quarter only.
• 2024 Applicants: GRE scores are not required and will not be accepted.

Jennifer Farrar

Primary areas of interest.

Applicants are encouraged to review the research interests in the department. It is very important to indicate in your Statement of Purpose which faculty member(s) you are interested in working with and to be specific about which research areas you are interested in.

• Astrophysics & Cosmology
• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Condensed Matter Experimental Physics
• Condensed Matter Theory
• Gravity & Relativity
• High Energy Experimental Physics
• High Energy Theory
• Physics of Soft and Living Matter (experiment)
• Physics of Soft and Living Matter (theory )

Review Faculty Profiles and Research

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members whose research interests align with their own early in the application process and to list potential advisors on their applications. It is very important to indicate in your Statement of Purpose which faculty member(s) you are interested in working with and to be specific about which research areas you are interested in.

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Students in the College of Letters and Science must complete the General Education requirements appropriate to their degree (B.A., B.S., B.F.A., or B.M.) in order to qualify for graduation.

Requirements may be satisfied with courses completed on the UCSB campus. Except for the writing requirement, they may also be satisfied with equivalent courses completed at another accredited institution, or by means of College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement credit. Lists of courses that satisfy the various area requirements in the General Education Program can be found in the "Undergraduate Education" section of this catalog under " General Subject Area Requirements " and " Special Subject Area Requirements ."

Students entering UC Santa Barbara as transfers from California community colleges may have their General Education requirements considered satisfied by virtue of completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). This is a program of at least 34 semester-units of articulated coursework spread across six liberal arts subject areas. If fully completed prior to matriculation at UCSB and certified by the community college, IGETC will be accepted in satisfaction of the General Education Program. Normally, unless transfer students have fully completed the IGETC program at the time of transfer, they must satisfy all requirements within the General Education Program. However, students admitted fall 2000 or later who have partially satisfied IGETC are entitled to substitute IGETC for General Education Program requirements if they meet the following criteria: (1) they lack no more than two courses in IGETC areas 1 through 6 at the time of matriculation; (2) the community college provides partial IGETC certification.  Eligible students should consult the College of Letters and Science to determine how they may complete their partial IGETC program.

• Bachelor of Arts Degree
• Bachelor of Science Degree
• Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music Degree

All provisions herein are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2011 The Regents of the University of California, All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use / Accessibility / Last Modified January 23, 2015 12:19 PM PDT / Questions or Comments? Please email us

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Transfer Applicants

We are so glad you're interested in transferring to UCSB. 

Future Transfer Applicants

UCSB admits transfer students applying for junior-level transfer for fall quarter only . Students interested in sophomore transfer should review our transfer requirements and prepare for junior-level transfer. Students who have reached senior standing are not eligible to transfer to UCSB and may refer to the Graduate Division for graduate degree options. 

With a transfer admit rate of close to 50% and one third of our incoming class being transfer students, UCSB is a transfer-friendly campus where your educational goals are our top priority.

Meet with a Transfer Counselor

A Comprehensive Look at UCSB Transfer Admissions

Detailed information on the transfer admission requirements at UC Santa Barbara, including an overview of the financial aid process.

What to Expect When You Transfer

The academic experience at UCSB for transfer students is both challenging and stimulating. As you prepare to transfer, know that academic preparation at your current college is the most important factor in admission.

Focus on not just meeting minimum junior transfer eligibility but on being a selective applicant with a strong GPA and major preparation coursework completed before you transfer. Completing major preparation coursework will not only make you a stronger applicant, but it will set you up for a smoother transition and path to graduation from UCSB.  

Transfer Life at UCSB

• The  Transfer Student Center , located in the UCSB Library, offers dedicated academic advising, workshops, and specialized programs to provide you with academic, social, and emotional support.
• UCSB Housing has six apartment complexes available for transfer students. UCSB Community Housing Services can help you find accommodations in the local community. 
• Transfer students can experience all that UCSB has to offer: studying abroad, conducting research, obtaining internships, and getting involved in student organizations. Plan early to make the most of your time at UCSB.