<p>I can't really seem to see myself going to any of these colleges. I'm a physics major. I'm not looking for parties or location. I want a good physics department and a good academic atmosphere. My main choices are
UCSB: College of Creative Studies
UC Irvine
UC Davis
UC Merced: Bobcats to Bears/Bruins- I go to Merced for 1-2 years and get a garanteed transfer to Berkeley/UCLA
(also I got excepted by Cal Lutheran, Fresno State and Cal Poly but I'm not seriously considering these)
What do you think I should do?</p>
<p>Please, I'm tearing my hair out trying to decide. Anyone have any advise?</p>
<p>For the love of god, can anyone please offer some advise? I don't know what to do.</p>
<p>I think UC Merced might be your best option, since you would get to transfer to UCLA or Berkeley after two years. Since it's pretty much guaranteed, you've got nothing to lose. Merced doesn't have a BAD reputation -- it's just new. I think Merced might be good for you. Good luck making your decision!</p>
<p>I can't say much about most of those, but I have heard absolutely WONDERFUL things about UCSB's College of Creative Studies. You can drop classes the day before they end. You get top priority. ETC. If you LOVE physics, if you want to do research, or just are really passionate about something and can do well on your own - I'd say go for it. It is an absolutely incredible deal.</p>
<p>Merced is in the middle of nowhere, but if you get to go to UCLA or Berkeley guaranteed, it's worth it. Merced in 10-20 years will be a top 50 school, but for now it's really little and doesn't have a lot of resources, so be warned. Changing schools can also be really hard.</p>
<p>The better 4-year choice you have there is Irvine. Of all the schools on your list though, I'd go with Cal Poly if you wanted to avoid Merced.</p>
<p>TheLoneRanger - "Merced in 10-20 years will be a top 50 school"</p>
<p>Hmm....I'm sure it would improve in rank...but top 50? In the middle of nowhere...I'm sure that would hurt it. Location is important in choosing colleges - or even establishing them.</p>
<p>oops, wrong thread</p>
<p>Thanks for your advise. If anyone has anymore it would be usefull.</p>
<p>UC Merced won't be in the middle of nowhere in 10 years. Central Valley cities have been expanding insanely fast. Its the only place left in Ca that is affordable.</p>
<p>Dan, good luck if Merced/bear/bruin is your route.
Just courious how does guarantee transfer works? Is it only offered to some students ?</p>
<p>Its only offered to a select few. Anyone else have some advise? I really want to get out of Merced in one year but there are a lot of road blocks.</p>
<p>Please, Anyone?</p>
<p>You have several excellent choices -- but if you want to end up with a Berkeley degree and 2 years of physics at Berkeley, your best bet is the Merced option -- have you looked at the school? It might be great to be in such a small school, if the professors are good and they have the classes you want. When UCSC first started and was small, it was the hot place to go -- lots of personal attention. UCSB could also be a great choice -- beautiful location, top faculty (lots of Nobel prizewinners), and one of the smaller UC's. People like Davis too, though it is larger. You can't go wrong, but you might not be able to transfer after only one year at Merced and might not be able to transfer from the other schools to Cal.</p>
<p>merced. you get to go to ucb or ucla</p>
<p>Anyone, thought I knew what I was doing but now I'm not sure. I'm questioning whether Merced-UCB/UCLA is worth it to lose out on research ops of Davis and UCSB.</p>
<p>It may be hard to do...when you look at 4/5 years from now...which diploma do you want on your wall?</p>