UCSB SRA

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

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In-person6 wksRolling AdmissionFinancial AidInternational OK

Collin Recommendation Index

Proprietary Application Analysis

Tier 2

7/10

Collin Index

Recommended

Collin's Analysis

A selective program with a strong research reputation. Admits tend to show genuine curiosity and a concrete project rather than a long list of activities, and past cohorts skew toward students with some prior exposure to the field.

Application Strategy

Lead with one specific question you have explored, tie it to what this program teaches, and use the short answers to show range. Apply before the priority deadline and ask your recommender early.

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Successful essays

15 accepted essays across 5 prompts

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Admissions Timeline

Application Opens

—

Priority Deadline

—

Regular Deadline

—

Program Dates

Jun 25 – Jul 23, 2027

Rolling Admission

Yes

Financials

Tuition

$9,874

Application Fee

$75 application fee

Financial Aid

Available

Student Stipend

None

Requirements & Selectivity

Eligible Grades

Grades 9–11

International Students

Eligible

Minimum GPA

3.6 GPA minimum

Acceptance Rate

~10%

Essay Required

Yes

Interview Required

Essay Prompts

Short Responses – This series of questions allows us to get to know you better. In 150 words or fewer for each response, we will ask you to answer the following prompts: Tell us about a researcher in your field of interest who inspires you and why. What role do you take in an academically collaborative setting, and how do you contribute to both your learning and the success of others? What is something about your personal identity or experience that makes you unique? Describe a significant setback you have faced, and how this experience impacted your growth as an individual.