Questions on UC Irvine's Exercise Science Program

Hi all! I'm currently a junior with a strong passion for both biology and sports, hence I'm leaning towards Exercise Science as my intended major. While exploring possibilities, UC Irvine's program really stood out to me. Is anyone familiar with this program and could shed some light on how competitive it is?

UC Irvine's Exercise Science major is part of their Department of Kinesiology, which has an excellent reputation for combining science with athletics and fitness. It's important to know that acceptance rates to UC Irvine can be quite competitive, with the university wide acceptance rate is around 21%. However, UC Irvine doesn’t release admission rates by major, so it’s difficult to pin down the exact competitiveness specific to the Exercise Science program.

The program emphasizes scientific knowledge and understanding of human motion that can be applied to physical activity, fitness, sports, and health-related fields. Some of the key courses you'll be taking include human anatomy, human physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and motor control/learning, among others.

As for your application, keep in mind that UC schools use something called the University of California Admissions Index to help in reviewing applications. This includes your GPA and other major factors in your profile like extracurricular involvement. High involvement in a few extracurriculars related to your intended major, such as a varsity sport or a biology club, is more important than a broad range of activities (a "spike"). Therefore, try to ensure you're not only academically prepared but also show demonstrated interest in the field outside of the classroom.

Lastly, when crafting your essays for the application, steer clear from generic topics and try to showcase your unique experience and perspective. Since this is a major that combines biology and sports, perhaps you could discuss a singular experience where these two fields intersected for you.