Hello,
I have a dilemma which tears at my heart. I would be infinitely grateful if you might kindly offer some advice on the subject. I wish more than anything to be accepted into UC Santa Cruz. This part is common - my case, however, is not. During my senior year of high school I applied to a number of schools in the US, Canada, and the UK. I was promptly accepted to King’s College London, The University of Edinburgh, and The University of Exeter (the first two being top 20 schools in the world). Determining that it would be wise to select the uni with the strongest academic reputation I went with Edinburgh and was rather content with the choice. I had this naive, half-baked dream of traveling to a foreign financial hub to study economics and investment banking (a subject of which I really knew nothing).
At the same time, I started dating a girl in my high school who applied only to the UCs. I considered applying at the time (and even began the application), but stopped halfway through as I believed it foolish to commit to a relationship I had only just begun. Oh was I wrong.
When I discovered that my UK prospects would accept me regardless of my high school transcript, I dropped out to begin my life in the world of Silicon Valley startups. I worked for a number of companies, filling a variety of roles, and learned much about what the tech industry has to offer. I became enamored with the Silicon Valley life and realized it would be a fool’s errand to move across the Atlantic to pursue something I knew nothing about.
I also fell in love. I’ll save you from the bore of our passions, but the thought of even temporary separation crippled us. She was accepted to Santa Cruz for bioengineering and reveled in the notion of studying on such a wonderfully forested campus among blossoming SV minds. I began to realize the error in my choices senior year. I feared the opportunity to study with the love of my life was slipping through my fingers.
We thought of the idea of taking a gap year; if only to postpone the inevitable. The UC system has a policy against it, but Edinburgh thought it was a proper idea. When the UCSC term began, I was offered the opportunity to work for my friends plasma-physics startup based at Stanford. Our company developed a product that increases the energy efficiency of a standard HVAC water heater by 10 times and our prototypes have already been patented in the US and China. I became engrossed in my work as I realized my love for physics and sustainability. I was soon allowed to attend courses at Stanford (one of which is in the Graduate School of Physics). After a number of successful maneuvers to the betterment of our company I was promoted to VP of Development - quite the ego boost for an 18-year-old. Alas, I am still far from my goal.
We visit every weekend, but still will feel torn apart. I am seeking advice on how I ought to apply to UCSC. I have not graduated high school. Yet, I received a 2200 SAT (first try), have 5s on both AP courses I took junior year, was distinguished member of Lincoln Douglas Debate in the US, and have a passion for ice climbing. I have always been an entrepreneur and began designing websites when I was 12. I also have numerous recs in relevant areas. If you could provide any advice/strategies for my application I would be forever indebted.
Help me College Confidential, you are my only hope.
With love,
Anon