<p>So I was denied admission at UCI and I want to ask you guys for advise on what I should do next. </p>
<p>I was accepted to CSUF, CSULB, and UCR, but I feel that going to UCI would be better for me. I am majoring in Developmental and Cell Biology. </p>
<p>Anyways, here are my options: I could go to UCR for the full 4 years, go to UCR and try to transfer to UCI, go to a community college and transfer to UCI or go to one of the Cal States. </p>
<p>What do you guys think is my best option? How does the TAG program at UCI work? I noticed that Developmental and Cell Biology is one of the majors that is not participating in the TAG program, but that Biological Sciences is. And I remember that when I applied as a Freshmen the said to pick Biological Sciences if I wanted to do Developmental and Cell Biology. Is that why?</p>
<p>Is it really harder to transfer from one UC to another?</p>
<p>Also, don't get me wrong, I'd be happy to go to UCR, but I just want some advice. Besides, I live in Irvine, so UCI is much closer than Riverside.</p>
<p>Go to UCR and do extremely well there. It’s a UC with great faculty. It’s a much better choice than a CC. Your fellow UC students will be very different from those at your local CC. Avoid planning for a “transfer” before you even start. That kind of thinking will get in the way of your academic success. And if you do well at UCR why would you transfer?</p>
<p>It’s a hard one to answer and I am not sure what I would counsel my child with these questions. All of the UC’s range from solid to exceptional, I think I would start at UCR and see how I felt after a year, apply to transfer to UCI and closer to home if you felt that was where you really belonged after experiencing UCR. If you want to be close to home then CSUF can be ruled out. Tour again at CSULB and UCR, make a decision and be at peace with it, at best -you will have a wonderful college experience, at worst -it could be only a brief year and a stepping stone to your desired school.</p>
<p>I don’t know what your future plans are (perhaps grad school or med school) but if you are thinking of further education you’re probably better off sticking at one school if you can. You’ll need recs, and you’ll only have 1 year if you xfer to get to know some profs if you apply for grad school senior year. Same for taking part in research; you’ll have more opportunities if you develop them over all the years you are enrolled at 1 college instead of transferring in and starting new. College is about more than classes; you will build a better circle of friends if you stay in one college instead of splitting the 4 years over 2 of them.</p>
<p>Which is not to say there are never good reasons for transferring, but if I was in your shoes I’d give one of the 4-years that accepted you a real try.</p>
<p>Do you qualify for lots of aid at UCR? What is in your FA pkg?
How much does your family have to pay and will they pay it?</p>
<p>Would you commute to UCI if you got in? (the traffic is AWFUL unless you live VERY close. Even a 10 mile commute is awful in that highly congested area…nearly all day long!!! )</p>
<p>What is your career goal? If it’s research or medicine, then go to UCR…don’t go to a CC first. Frankly, if I were premed in Calif, I’d avoid UCI and the other UC’s like the plague because they’re are too many premeds there. I’d go to a UC that is less targetted by gunning premeds. </p>
<p>Anyway…go to UCR, unless it’s unaffordable.</p>
<p>As others have said, it depends on your goals. </p>
<p>CC transfer using TAG is relatively easy. As of now, it’s a 3.2 in certain classes plus an agreement with UCI. If a bachelors is going to be your terminal degree, then go to UCI. If you want a more balanced experience or prefer being in upper-middle class suburbia, also consider CC transfer. </p>
<p>UCR is generally easier than UCI and it’s located pretty far from places college students generally like. If you just want a high GPA, conducive to your med school chances, go there.</p>
<p>UCR and UCI are not to different. I think that instead of going to a CalState or CC and hoping to transfer in, go to UCR and transfer. This will show the Admissions Council at UCI that you are comfortable with the UC system, you are a very good student [I am an East-Coaster and think that any UC> any CalState, and while that may not be true, this is the bias you will face when looking for jobs] and that you can handle the social scene of UCI.</p>
<p>I would not recommend starting at UCR with the intention to transfer. You will not really give UCR a chance if you do that. If you really want UCI, then you should do community college and transfer there</p>
<p>Sorry for talking so long to reply, I’ve been pretty busy.</p>
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<p>I would like to eventually go to graduate school, yes. And yeah, I understand your point, switching schools half way through would certainly not be very helpful.</p>
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<p>Yeah, I was awarded the Cal Grant A, which covers a lot of the cost. I would like to do research.</p>
<p>You have a free ride practically to a UC school and this is an issue? I think you need to realize what a tremendous opportunity you have and go to UCR. Many students would kill to be in your position. I am astounded that this is even a question.</p>