Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between CCS and the College of Letters and Science?
Can I be in CCS if I want to go medical school? Do you have a pre-med program?
If I were to not apply to CCS, where would I be placed with my declared major?
What role does AP scores play in the admission process?
Can I visit campus and meet with faculty and students?
How does CCS differ from regular coursework in chemistry or biochemistry in the College of Letters and Science?
For a chemistry or biochemistry major much of the coursework will be the same. However, in CCS we can tailor your coursework towards a particular area of study early on if you are so inclined. Some students have a very clear idea about the area of chemistry or biochemistry they would like to study in depth. In those cases we can get you into upper level and graduate courses earlier on in your academic career.
What are the differences between CCS and the College of Letters and Science?
One of the key differences is that in CCS you will be assigned a personal faculty advisor to help you navigate your course work at UCSB. You will be required to meet with your advisor at least once per quarter during your time here. We also focus on undergraduate research. While you don’t need to be in CCS to do undergraduate research, our students typically start research projects one to two years before their fellow students in the Letters and Science Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.
CCS students have a few administrative perks as well, including priority registration for classes, extended library privileges and 24 hour access to the CCS building. In addition, CCS students may drop course up until the last day of instruction. Since CCS students can take many classes without meeting all of the pre-requisites this is a valuable safety net for students that are pushing their educational boundaries.
Is CCS an honors program?
CCS is not an honors college. However, there is an honors program in the College of Letters and Science.
Can I be in CCS if I want to go medical school? Do you have a pre-med program?
Many of our students have gone on to medical schools after graduating from CCS. The analytical thinking skills involved in a science major and refined in undergraduate research are certainly recognized by medical and professional schools. You may choose to major in any subject and still go to medical school so long as you take the required courses for medical school admission. We encourage you to look at the health professions advising web pages at UCSB as well. They offer quite a bit of information as to what is required to apply for medical school. You can find their pages here: http://www.ltsc.ucsb.edu/health/ .
If I were to not apply to CCS, where would I be placed with my declared major?
You will be placed in the College of Letters and Science unless you choose one of the engineering majors as your first choice.
Does it cost more to enter the College of Creative Studies? Would I have to live on campus?
Being a student in CCS is exactly the same in these regards as for all the other students on campus. Information on financial aid can be found here. There are no extra fees or living requirements in CCS. Housing and dorm information can be found here.
What role does AP scores play in the admission process?
We do look at AP scores and take them into consideration. Some of the AP classes will help advance your coursework. We may choose tp skip over introductory biology if you get a good score and depending on which calculus AP exam you take and your score you will be placed in an appropriate level Math course. We usually have all students in CCS take the honors chemistry series during the first year, even if they got a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam. We have found that this review is a valuable in preparation for upper level courses.
Can I visit campus and meet with faculty and students?
Yes! We would love for you to visit campus and learn about our program first hand. Please contact Dr. Laverman to arrange a visit. His office is located in room 1643C in the Physical Science North building. Campus maps and parking information are available online. Depending on availability you may also speak with current students about their experiences in the program.
Finding CCS: A campus map in PDF format with the CCS building marked can be downloaded here.