I truly do not know what to do. I worked really hard to get into those schools.
I am currently a community college student. My safe plan right now is UCI. However, I really DO NOT want to go there. I was honestly hoping UCLA OR UCB would take me in. I do not like UCI campus at all! It is not that is a bad place, on the contrary it is beautiful, but I am a really outgoing person. What I mean by that is that I love to party and socialize and UCI is so “chill.” I cannot see myself going there and truly enjoy it. I am contemplating whether or not I should stay another year at my CC and reapply. My GPA is not that good, I have a 3.6 for UCs and I am a psychology major. I know that they are truly impacted. I tried to explained in my app that I am extremely low income, practically almost homeless in the past. I have been living on my own since I was 18. So I moved out from place to place A LOT in the past years which negatively impacted some of my classes, I never even had sufficient money to even buy books. So I would have to be at school ALL the time to borrow books. Not to mention that I have been extremely involved in campus, I have been officer for several clubs, part of student government, and currently work in campus.I am also part of a lot of programs such as the Honors program, ARISE, DSPS, and others. I am also trying to appeal my UCLA application because at this point I am open for anything.
I have people telling me go to UCI, because at the end of the day it is just a degree, and others mentioning to stay another year if it is truly my dream school or the place I want to go.
Overall, I do not know what to do.
Please if anyone has any insight, opinion, advice or comments let me know. I would truly appreciate it! Thank you.
If you are poor, you need to finish your degree and stop paying tuition as quickly as possible. If you’ve already spent two years in CC, you would go over the maximum allowed transfer credits sticking around another year. The extra classes won’t get you to graduation faster. Go to UCI.
I fully agree with the people telling you to go to UCI.
UCI isn’t your only choice, by the sounds of it. So choose one of the other schools. Not sure why it’s UCI or nothing when you have other choices. I’m sorry you didn’t get into your top choices, but you yourself knew it was a long shot. You need to move on. So you love to party and socialize. Is that why you are going to college? I’m sure there are people at one of your other choices who love to party and socialize, but tbh, I think you need to make an adult decision that’s going to result in a degree.
Also, post 1 is 100% right. There is zero reason to continue to waste money on CC credits when you have a university to attend.
Thank you, those are all very valid points and I appreciate the feed back. I guess I am just scared to attend there, but I need to be more practical given my circumstances.
You can be nervous or scared, but…you can still knock it out of the park there! You have a plan, and it sounds like a good one. Wishing you much success.
Is it possible to join a fraternity as a transfer? That might satisfy your social wants.
According to UC data, with a 3.6 in psychology, you have a 12% chance of getting into UCB. You would be in the lowest quartile GPA for UCLA, so it would seem even less likely to transfer there. I don’t think those are great odds, so feel good that you got into the other schools and pick the one that works best for your finances. It’s two years of your life–not the rest of it–needs before wants.
Sorry you weren’t able to get into the schools you really wanted. It’s okay to mourn a little. So go ahead and do that for a while. But then move on as @Lindagaf said above. I haven’t visited UCI so can’t speak to whether it’s “chill” or not, but it sounds like you took full advantage of the opportunities to be involved at your CC. I imagine you will do the same at UCI. Why wouldn’t you? You’re still the same person, just somewhere else. So why not join clubs, take on leadership roles, and find a job – at UCI.
You recognize that it’s time to be practical, and that’s a very adult decision. Here’s another factor in being practical: the cost of living in the L.A. and the Bay Area are really high. And another: you can graduate sooner if you go to UCI now, rather than doing another year at CC.
Best wishes as you proceed.
At UCI, you will find just as many activities to participate in, if not more, than at your CC. You just need to wisely use time management to balance your academic and social activities, as well as a job. Orange County may seem suburban and boring, but there will be plenty of things to do there to occupy your time, plus, you are near the beach!
Here’s what you do. Quit complaining. Most college graduates don’t go to their dream school. That’s life. Happiness is a matter of attitude. Get your degree and be happy 
I also want to mention how for me going to Ucla or UCB has always been a personal goal of mine. I have always been working towards that goal. Not going towards those schools makes me feel like I am settling for less than what I set myself to. I am almost certain that if I stay another year I could get admitted, since I know many people who have done that and I could add a lot of experience. I do not want to go to Irvine because to me is almost like cheating myself. So please do not be mistaken, I mentioned partying because I was trying (in a way) to explain that I just cannot see myself going there without feeling conflicted or as if I do not belong there.
Thank you so much for your advice
You would be cheating yourself by staying at community college when you could be at UC Irvine. Four year universities offer a bigger variety of academic, career, and even social opportunities than community college.
Go to grad school at UCLA or Berkeley
I’m a parent and here is are my comments:
–First off, I give you a ton of credit for your success thus far despite your financial constraints. Well done!
- Now for what you don't want to hear -- OK so you didn't get into your "dream schools" -- time to move off of them and into the realm of what is possible. You need to recognize that many (if not most) people don't get into their dream schools and others get in only to find out they are unaffordable. You are not alone in this. It is time to move on to your next best option. IMO an important sign of a successful adult is how a person handles disappointment and adjusts plans based on reality.
–You are struggling financially and seem to have a financially viable, excellent 4 year college acceptance in hand. Your life and career prospects will not be materially changed by attending UCI rather than UCLA or UCB. It is time to be a bit pragmatic and move forward with what is available and affordable.
–In the end it is in your power to fall in love with and become an active member of a college or to sulk and make yourself miserable. I think the former is a better pathway.
- Instead of feeling like you have not reached your goal, I would suggest that now that you are a bit older and wiser that you reevaluate your goal. You have a chance to rise out of poverty and near homelessness and attend one of the best four year UCs in the CA system. It is a top 50 university nationwide. That is should not be considered a disappointment, that is a huge accomplishment.
–As Norman Vincent Peale famously said: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Maybe you didn’t get your moon with UCB or UCLA – but UCI is a star – grab it and make the most of your opportunity there!!!
Dunno, I found plenty of parties to go to at UCI (as a Greek). Pretty much every weekend in Newport was a party!
You are not settling. You made choices that have resulted in an offer from UCI. Your goalpost changed, but that isn’t a bad thing. Dreams are just that. Time to move on to reality.
I actually dream of doing a grad degree at Irvine
Choosing a college because you enjoy partying and a particular school appears more fun is foolish. Chose the school that increases your opportunity to learn and pursue your career goals.
Please get rid of this attitude now. Life doesn’t work like that. It’s admirable to set high goals for yourself – but part of doing that is accepting that you may not reach those goals, but you will have learned and gained experience from having made the attempt. Goals are not just prizes that you either get or don’t get – they’re motivational tools to help you achieve success. Part of becoming a mature adult is recognizing the success you’ve had, and not pining after the prizes you didn’t get.