<p>I got rejected by Cal two months ago and I have no idea how to make myself feel better. I regret not trying harder in academics, quitting the music program, and not appealing. So many people I know got in and it's hard to deal with.</p>
<p>Well you could start by posting it in the Cal board, not UCSD. But anyway, if you really want to go to Cal, you’re in luck because transferring to UC’s is so much easier than freshman admission. I can’t count how many of my friends wasted their high school chances and went to CC only to go to UCLA and Cal in 2 years (some even in 1 year). It kind of makes my UCLA admission feel less meaningful in some ways, but it’s very very good for people who want second chances.</p>
<p>You’ll probably realize sooner or later that there are thousands of universities in the U.S. and many of them would both get you where you want to go and going there will be an enjoyable experience.</p>
<p>I’ve come to realize that much of the perception of universities come from high schoolers who unfortunately really don’t know what they’re talking about for the most part. And then people to say things like “Oh you’re going to which university? Ah, what a pity. Good luck (with that inferior college selection).” which is almost as pointlessly wrong as saying “Oh you’re black? Well I’m white so fortunately for me I’m better than you”. Don’t let not getting into some random institution of higher education get you down from achieving your dreams.</p>
<p>I agree with all the previous comments but if you just want a different perspective on Cal, (no offense to Cal students, this is just a personal opinion) Although I graduated first in my high school class and had a decent shot at getting in, I personally decided not to apply there for two reasons. First because although there are many great cultural things going on in Berkeley, for me, the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the campus are not where I would want to live for four years of my life, especially when compared to the scenic attributes of La Jolla. Secondly, I kept hearing from people who had gone there that there is a lot of competition for resources, very large class sizes, and not as much support for undergraduates as is available on other UC campuses. Several Cal insiders said to me “Berkeley is by, for, and about their graduate programs”. I would love to go to Berkeley as a graduate student but as an undergraduate, I preferred UCSD, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Davis over Cal.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that since you’re posting in the UCSD board you’re coming to UCSD next year. One option that you could pursue is applying to transfer to Berkeley your 2nd year. Just make sure that your grades are top notch your first couple of quarters here, get involved, write an amazing essay and hopefully Berkeley will accept you as a transfer!
Good luck :)</p>
<p>My most reassuring advice that I could give you is not so much to tell you to transfer in two years, but to use your rejection from Cal as an opportunity to re-evaluate yourself, find out what you need to change to become more of the person you want to be and then motivate yourself to make those changes. By doing that you will have gained back anything you lost from being rejected by Cal, and possibly more.</p>
<p>^That’s really good advice. :)</p>
<p>You can make yourself feel better by moving on. I was in the same position as you four years ago, with almost all my friends headed off to Cal (which I thought I really loved after spending some time there while my brother was in undergrad). I came to UCSD thinking I’d transfer out after two years, but I made a decision sometime in sophomore year that I would much rather stay. Regardless of what you decide to do, don’t make the same mistake I did in not branching out and making great friends as a 1st year because you think you’re going to transfer.</p>
<p>I’ve had two offers to become a Golden Bear (Junior Transfer and Grad) since being rejected as a high school student and I decided to decline both times. Perhaps in two years you’ll feel the same way I do, that being rejected was the best thing that could have happened. Many of my friends who have gone to Cal have struggled/cracked under the pressure, and if your goal is ultimately to attend graduate school, just know that the ‘undergraduate prestige’ advantage is not a real factor. </p>
<p>We might not have lay prestige on their side, but UCSD is a great school that will give you every opportunity to succeed if you put in the effort. I have only a few regrets from the past few years, and choosing UCSD is certainly not one of them.</p>