California University of Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara)

• Founded: in 1891
• Location: Santa Barbara, USA
• Total number of students: 21685 people

The large public open University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) is one of the 10 campuses of the world-renowned University of California. It covers an area of ​​1022 acres and is located northwest of Los Angeles at a distance of approximately 160 kilometers.

As early as 1891, an independent college was established on the base of the current campus, which was actively developed and expanded, which led to its inclusion in the prestigious University of California in 1944.

The total number of students today reaches 21685 people - this is the 5th place in the general university ranking. Approximately 3000 people are enrolled in the postgraduate program.

The UC Santa Barbara faculty is exceptionally strong: among them there are 5 laureates of the prestigious Nobel Prize, 32 full members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the American Academy of Arts and Science and the National Academy of Engineering.

The sports field is very developed on the campus: the university team is a member of the National Association of Student Sports, repeatedly became the winners in the men's water polo and soccer competition (national championship).

The motto of UC Santa Barbara is the Latin saying Fiat Lux - "Let there be light." Many well-known and successful personalities among graduates - let's name just a few names:

• Benjamin Bratt (actor of theater and cinema)
• Michael Douglas (actor, producer)
• Gwyneth Paltrow (actress, Oscar winner)
• Michael Friedman (mathematician awarded the Fields Prize for his work on the Poincaré conjecture)
• David Gross (a physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 2004)
• Walter Cohn (theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize 1998)
• Alan Heeger (physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize in 2004) and many others.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

UCSB students receive a wide range of additional opportunities that are balancedly integrated into the educational process. Some students participate in charity events, sports and creative clubs, supplementing their portfolios, while others go abroad on an exchange program to gain international learning experience.

At each stage of the learning process, students are supported by qualified teaching staff and employees of administrative departments. In addition to issues related to housing, psychological health, and extracurricular development, employees pay special attention to the career prospects of graduates, helping them find employment in their specialty or continue their academic path.

The university includes several specialized colleges:

• Literature, sciences,
• Engineering,
• Creative research,
• Environmental sciences, management,
• Higher education school,
• Postgraduate department.

The University manages several summer programs, offering seasonal education for school-aged children.

More than 90 startups have launched thanks to the technical developments of UCSB Technologies. The largest employer in the county, UCSB is a major driver of economic activity on the South Coast; approximately 60 local companies, and a total of more than 90, have been created based on technologies developed or discovered at UCSB. On average, four to six new companies are formed each year based on university research. Companies on four continents are currently using technologies developed on this university’s campus.

Research activities at institutes that are part of UCSB are conducted in many areas, including:

• Calculations, data,
• Science, technology,
• Social sciences, culture,
• Humanities, fine arts.

Accommodation options in Santa Barbara

For accommodation for the period of study, students are offered a comfortable hostel on the campus: here young people are offered cozy rooms, furnished with necessary furniture, where they can accommodate 1-2 people or more.

In addition to living in a dormitory, young people can always choose rental housing outside campus. For meals, students can use the canteen on campus, prepare their own meals in the kitchen at the residence, or eat in catering establishments, which are abundant not far from the university campus.

Subject list: Accounting, Actuarial Science, anthropology, archeology, Art, Asian Studies, BA, biochemistry, biology, Black Studies, Business and management, chemical engineering, chemistry, Chicano Studies, Classics, Communication, Dance, Department of Education, Earth Science , ecology, economics, Electrical engineering, Environmental studies, Filmmaking, geography, geology, German Studies, Global research, history, Information Technology, Interdisciplinary Courses, Interdisciplinary Studies, Italian, Jewish Studies, Languages & Cultures, Latin American Studies, letter, linguistics, literature, Machinery manufacturing, Marine research, Materials Science, maths, Mechanical engineering, Military Science, music, Naval Science, neurology, pedagogy, Pharmacology, philosophy, physics, physiology, Political science, politics, Psychology, Religious studies, Renaissance Studies, sociology, Spanish and Portuguese, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Statistics, Study Abroad Program, Teacher Education, theatre studies, Women's Studies, Writing skills, zoology

UCSB offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to develop their talents and abilities. Thanks to its large campus and partnerships with local and international organizations, students can try their hand at new hobbies and continue pursuing their favorite interests not only at the standard level but also at a more professional one.

More than 500 student organizations operate on campus, managed by Associated Students — a committee of students funded by UCSB at $14,000,000 to ensure that every student is heard, supported, and motivated. Thematic student organizations are small groups of students united by a common hobby, goal, or culture:

• Environmental justice,
• Christian fellowship,
• Artificial intelligence,
• Radio club,
• Anime,
• Architecture, design,
• Art history,
• Crafts club,
• Volunteer fund,
• Drama club,
• Bird lovers' club,
• Letter writing, languages,
• Middle Eastern culture studies,
• Chess community,
• Cosplay club and much more.

To maintain an active lifestyle, UCSB students can join one of the university's sports clubs, get on varsity teams, or participate in adventure trip programs. Each quarter, Adventure Programs provides numerous opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to embark on a nighttime adventure. During the journey, they will acquire outdoor skills, meet like-minded people, and gain unforgettable experiences. All trips are organized by professional staff who have undergone extensive training to ensure safety. Previously organized tours included:

• Canoeing on the Colorado River,
• Hiking in Sequoia National Park,
• Hiking in the Grand Canyon,
• Trip to Santa Cruz Island,
• Camping and rock climbing in Joshua Tree,
• Canyoning in San Gabriel Mountains,
• Wilderness survival skills in Quail Springs.

Sports clubs are divided into general, women's and men's clubs. Teams of the same gender participate in numerous regional, interuniversity, national competitions, achieving excellent results thanks to qualified coaches and effective regular training sessions. The list of available sections includes:

• Women's: lacrosse, rowing, rugby, soccer, volleyball, water polo,
• Men's: baseball, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, soccer, water polo, volleyball,
• Mixed: rock climbing, dancing, hockey, sailing, surfing, swimming, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting.

More than 9000 students volunteer in the local community each year. In the course of charitable activities, they gain new skills, develop leadership and social qualities, and broaden their horizons. Thanks to extensive partnerships, UCSB students can participate in fundraising campaigns, visit shelters and specialized homes, and support local residents.

Almost no event organized throughout the year takes place without the participation of musical and theatrical groups. Students developing talent in performing arts often independently develop a festive program, and their assistants from technical communities are responsible for lighting, sound, decorations, costumes, and much more. Thanks to coordinated work on campus, large-scale events such as the Christmas Ball, Graduation Evening, Days of Culture, theater performances, and musical concerts take place brightly.

UC Santa Barbara has been repeatedly awarded with various awards and is renowned for its achievements:

• 29th among the best universities in the USA (2014)
• 116th place among US universities by Forbes (2014)
• 42 place among national universities according to US version News & amp; World Report (2011)
• 35th place in the world ranking of universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• 33rd place among the academic successes of the universities of the world (2011).

UC Santa Barbara is known for its research and successful attraction of investments: in 2007, more than $ 191.2 million was raised (97th place in the US national ranking for investment). The campus has 12 research centers and institutes, including the famous and successful Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.

The general structure of the UC Santa Barbara campus includes 2 schools and 3 colleges - the total number of specialties reaches 87 under the baccalaureate and 55 in the direction of the magistracy. In general, the structure of the university looks like this:

• College of Engineering
• Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
• College of Creative Research
• School of Environmental Sciences and Management named after Bren (located in the large modern building of Bren Hall)
• College of Writing and Science.

 Students can use the resources of a huge library of their own, which provides a rich array of both printed and periodical literature, and electronic and multimedia materials, as well as gramophone records and slides. Practical classes take place in specially equipped laboratories and research centers equipped with advanced technology.

For international students, the cost of studying at UC Santa Barbara is about $ 40,704 for an academic year. This price does not include and is paid additionally:

• Round trip air tickets
• Round trip
• Personal pocket expenses
• Medical insurance
• Visa fees and services, translation and certification of documents, courier delivery of originals
• Consular fee (to be paid at the embassy).

You can apply to UCSB through an online application form: by completing it, the applicant provides the required documents, pays the registration fee and waits for a response from the admissions committee. Employees invite candidates for an interview and entrance tests, based on the results of which future students are selected. After passing the entrance stages, the applicant should expect an official invitation to enroll, then make deposits to reserve a place in the residence hall and class, and arrive on campus.

When considering each incoming application, the admissions committee looks not only at grades — features that are considered for each applicant:

• Average academic score for all completed courses,
• Number, content and performance in all subject areas,
• Confirmation according to the UC classification that the candidate is among the top 9% of students in their class,
• Quality of the graduation program, assessed by the type and number of academic courses in any subject area,
• Quality of performance compared to educational opportunities available in secondary school,
• Outstanding achievements in one or more subject areas,
• Outstanding work on one or more special projects in any academic field,
• Special talents, achievements and awards in a specific area, for example, in visual and performing arts,
• Completion of special projects implemented as part of the secondary school curriculum,
• Academic achievements taking into account life experience and special circumstances, including disability, low family income, need to work,
• Location of the secondary school, place of residence.

Thanks to extensive additional opportunities and strong academic programs, graduates achieve excellent results, starting their careers or continuing their education at the next stage within six months. To date, the list of outstanding alumni includes hundreds of individuals who have achieved international recognition for their professional work:

• Carol Greider — Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009,
• Robert Ballard — oceanographer who discovered the "Titanic" in 1985,
• Michael Douglas — actor, Oscar winner,
• Gwyneth Paltrow — actress known for her roles in the "Iron Man" trilogy,
• Robby Krieger — guitarist of The Doors,
• Jason Lezak — four-time Olympic swimming champion,
• Brian Shaw — NBA player, head coach.

Applicants must submit the following documents to the admissions office:

• Higher education certificate (for magistracy) or school certificate of secondary education (for undergraduate)
• Certificate of high level of English Language (TOEFL or GMAT).

Additionally, you will be asked to pass a personal interview, and entrance examinations for priority specialties are provided.

The majority of financial aid at UCSB is available only to California residents based on demonstrated financial need. International students can apply for federal, private grants, loans, credits and scholarships — each has individual criteria for awards.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision