UC Santa Barbara vs William & Mary

UC Santa Barbara is the more selective of the two at 33%, versus 34% at William & Mary. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

UC Santa Barbara and William & Mary are almost equally selective (33% vs 34%), so neither is a clear safety relative to the other. Your odds at each come down to fit, not headline difficulty.

The two also read applications a little differently. UC Santa Barbara leans more on extracurricular activities, talent / ability, character / personal qualities, while William & Mary puts more weight on class rank, recommendations, interview. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, UC Santa Barbara's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430 and William & Mary's is around 1480. Admitted students at William & Mary post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.