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<p>I think this is very well-stated, I have a kid who did very well in a small HS and decided she wanted to be in the big pond, she is the kind of kid described above and she had a great time at a UC. Though she did fight red tape now & again, she usually won that fight.</p>
<p>I have another who felt a bit lost at the UC and later said she does best in classes where the professor knows her and where she feels the professor notices how she does and cares.</p>
<p>Students can graduate on time from a UC, with solid planning and not changing majors & wasting units. There is such a diversity of people on the campus, politically, ethnically, ECs, etc., there should be a niche that fits.</p>
<p>If your student shuts down in that big school situation and won’t take advantage of the offerings it is not the right choice, but that is student specific.</p>