In mid Feb., a select few Downey High School seniors received an invitation from the University of California, Santa Barbara inviting them to a reception for top applicants where they will honor their academic achievements in the month of March.

To be considered a top applicant, the student needed to stand out from the piles and piles of applications sent in to the university. Also, receiving this invitation ultimately meant that the student had unofficially been accepted into the university.

Senior Juliza Ramirez received her invitation in the mail on Feb. 20. Her father was the first one to know about the letter and her acceptance, even before Ramirez knew about it herself.

“My dad opened the letter first and was like ‘Oh sweetie, you got in,’” Ramirez said. “I was confused at first because I didn’t know what it was but then I googled it and found out the invitation meant I had been accepted.”

Ramirez plans on majoring in Biology and eventually becoming an obstetrician and gynecologist, OBGYN, after she finishes her schooling. Ramirez hasn’t decided on which university to attend yet and is currently waiting on more acceptance letters that are scheduled to come in March.

Senior Andres Diaz received his invitation on the night of Feb. 21 when he came home from a day out with friends. Similar to Ramirez, he wasn’t sure of what the invitation meant until he asked a friend who currently attends UC Santa Barbara.

“I was really hyped and honestly started tearing up when I found out that I had been accepted,” Diaz said. “UCSB is tied for my top choice with UC Irvine, but I’m 80 percent sure I’ll be going to Santa Barbara.”

For Diaz, going to a four-year university is a major accomplishment in his family. He plans on majoring in psychology and attending law school after finishing his undergraduate studies. Currently, UCSB ranks as one of Diaz’s top choices of universities.

Along with Diaz, his cousin, senior German Diaz, was also invited to the reception for Top Applicants. The Diaz cousins have attended all four years of high school together and now they have the chance to spend the next four years in college together.

“When I saw that the letter was from UC Santa Barbara I thought, ‘Okay, this is good. This is another step for me,’” Diaz said. “I’m happy with getting the chance to spend my college years with my cousin; I’m honestly really okay with that possibility.”

The nearest reception will be held in Los Angeles on Mar. 14 and 15. Ramirez and the Diaz cousins have confirmed that they will be in attendance for the event. The University of California, Santa Barbara will be sending out official letters of admissions to the rest of the applicants beginning mid March.