Cal Poly SLO or UCI??

College Search & Selection
1

Hi,
I got admitted to Cal Poly SLO, UCI, UCSD, as well as other schools for my psych major.
I was offered a full ride at SLO and would pay about $14k at UCI.

I was highly considering going to Foothill (a cc) and transferring to Stanford as I am currently working a four year program there for mental health + have been establishing connections with the people there. If unable to transfer to Stanford, I can maintain the internships and connections I have while continuing at CC (whose president I met at a scholarship dinner for Vietnamese Women and have established a relationship with to help me with the transfer process). I believed staying at CC would be the most valuable in the long run, however, my home life has been very unstable and unsafe. Staying at home to go to CC and transfer poses my safety at risk, and I have talked about this at lengths with my counselor and social worker to weigh out my options. I am currently paying for my transportation to high school, internships, conferences, etc. and have faced the threat of homelessness and getting kicked out multiple times. I am currently 17 & have more legal protection, however staying home for the next two years will leave me very unprotected and honestly, education is the least thing I am worried about when I face the potential situation of no housing or transportation.

I am a high achyieving student currently in national honor society, started + president of two clubs, stanford’s ambassador, etc etc. I will be honest, the fear of going to SLO is that I am a person of color that appreciates diversity. Not only that, but I know SLO’s psych isn’t prestigious nor holds as much weight as say Stanford or UCB or maybe UCI. I am afraid of opportunities at SLO for psych, my ability to be happy there with its social life, and a degree at SLO’s weight in the professional world. However, SLO is FREE 100% for TOTAL cost of attendance. This has a plethora of pros attached to it as well as stability of dorming and food.

UCI is much more diverse in its demographics. Gives me much more freedom and comfort. But tuition is still too, too much for me to pay on my own (I filed FAFSA as an independent).

Please help!

2

ACCEPT SLO - That is a great offer (their psy major is a difficult admit). If I’m not mistaken wasn’t the deadline for your response 5/1? Freshman are typically given the best packages, as a transfer student you most likely won’t get a full-ride. In comparison to many other states/colleges SLO is diverse at 57% Caucasian (it just looks less diverse in comparison to many of the UCs and Cal States).