Need some advice on what to do, been really stressed.

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hey.</p>

<p>So i recently transferred from UCSC to UCLA. While at my old UC i wasn't super into it, and just thought the academics weren't really too great, and was worried i wouldn't be graduating with a worthy degree. </p>

<p>Now i'm at UCLA, and TBH i don't really know if i fit here. It's pretty competitive, and being in the math department doesnt help. I like a couple things here, but i always find myself wondering, would i be happier back at UCSC? </p>

<p>I can return back to UCSC, but if i do, i feel i may regret not giving LA my full try and especially feel bad about the forgone job opportunities. On the other hand, i'm really not too happy here. Classes are difficult, teachers aren't as great as i thought they were (many of my UCSC professors were better because they cared more), and well i don't know, i feel pretty mixed up. </p>

<p>I was doing really really well at UCSC, i mean i hadn't gotten a B since my first quarter there, and now i'm here taking pretty basic courses and i'm getting C's thus far. Courses are so much more stressful, and i don't exactly feel like i'm learning too much rather than just cramming in information.</p>

<p>I plan on going to grad school, but for the years after Ugrad, i'd like to secure a good job. I fear that returning to UCSC will really hurt my chances of getting a good job, just because UCLA is such a well known name. </p>

<p>I guess my final question is, should i stay here at UCLA, tough it out, although it may be too difficult for me, or do you think returning to UCSC where i will be more happy with my quality of life would be a better option?</p>

<p>I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by giving up the opportunity of UCLA, but at the same time, i don't love it. This quarter has been really taxing on my mental health i feel, whereas i was pretty happy and content back at UCSC.</p>

2

<p>Just my opinion, but a 3.6+ from UCSC is going to look better than a UCLA degree if your GPAs like a sub-3.0. The advantage for UCLA would be being able to network with people that could get you job opportunities in the future, but that’s unpredictable. IMO, if you’re struggling to get C’s now at UCLA and you’re not evening taking the more difficult major courses then even if you scrape by and get your degree it isn’t going to look great on a job application when you put down your GPA. Also, it depends on what your plans are post-undergrad. If you plan on applying for grad school, GPA means a whole lot. And the difference in reputation between UCLA and UCSC isn’t going to make up a one point difference (or more) in your GPA. That said, I don’t really know your whole situation. For most people that have already transferred once I would stay to stick it out. But unless you can get your GPA up dramatically, say you’re really underachieving right now and you know you can put in a lot more effort, then maybe you should think about going back to UCSC.</p>

3

<p>I can relate with some of these same issues…for me I think its because I miss the laid back environment at my old UC (UCI) and I totally agree with you when you mention the competition over here. Maybe it’s the transition that’s making it so hard. We did leave behind a comfort zone. I’ll admit that there’s been some pretty lonely, tough periods so far…but I havent thought about going back…there’s been good moments too. Most likely, I would have had regrets if I stayed. It’ll only be for two more years. =/ Quarter’s not over till the last final dies! -__- Maybe your grades will be better than you think. If you think you’d be better off back at UCSC, then call them to see if they’ll readmit you…although I wouldn’t know if they’ll do that during the middle of the year.</p>

4

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>@dilapidatedmind, i do plan on trying to do grad school. My interest is working with international economics, specifically with European countries. I plan on trying to get a job after school for a year or two, then going to grad school. My worries come when i think about getting a relevant job if i were to graduate from UCSC. I know UCLA would probably be a better place post-graduation wise for jobs (not totally sure), but if i do well and enjoy myself better at UCSC, it may be worth it.</p>

<p>Academics wise, i don’t know. I got bad luck with a math teacher of mine, and its really made this quarter tough, and since most of the major i’m doing is math, i don’t know how well i’ll fare here. I left UCSC with a 3.7, so and A’s in almost all my major classes, so i feel like returning might be good, i just worry about the job opportunities of UCSC vs UCLA after graduation.</p>

<p>@oceanpartier I definitely agree that i left a comfort zone. I had it made back at SC, and was getting really good grades and enjoying my classes for the most part. the part that worries me is resigning myself to the ‘it will only be two more years’ montra, because i’d like to enjoy myself as well as get an education. My grades will hopefully end up being B’s or B-'s, which is not great compared to how i was performing at UCSC. </p>

<p>My real main concern is i want to be able to get a job that i enjoy, within the international economics/policies field, and if UCSC can’t provide that, then i would probably stay at UCLA in order to try and get to where i want to go. But if i could end up working for some legitimate research institutes or NGOs out of SC, i’d gladly go back. Its just impossible, pretty much, to find that sort of information… Since i’m eventually going to want to go to grad school, i am sort of leaning towards UCSC again, because i could have a better more comfortable life, and get better grades. It’s a tough choice though because i don’t want to give up an opportunity.</p>

<p>UCSC said all i have to do is fill out an application by a certain date and i can go back starting spring quarter… so the door is open, the question is do i go back…</p>

5

<p>Like someone else said, you are much more likely to get a job with a great GPA from UCSC than a bad one from UCLA. Plus, since the classes are easier for you you could potentially get an internship or at least have a lot of time to network with other like minded students via clubs. UCSC isn’t that far away from the Bay Area so it’s not like you are completely isolated.</p>