Let me start off by saying that my stats are as follows:
Current Class Rank 25/366
ACT (plus writing): 34
SAT II Math II: 730
SAT II Bio M: 650
GPA: (UC weighted GPA): 4.18, Unweighted: 3.88
8 APs total
EC:
3 years swim (2 years varsity)
Founder of History Club (and president therefore)
3 Years Leo’s Club
3 Years NHS
Volunteer Tutor (Through NHS)
Have a job as a Math Tutor (recent)
150+ Hours of Volunteer work at Hospital
Awards: Summa Cum Laude, Bronze PVSA, AP Scholar
I applied to the UC/CSUs, made it into Cal Poly SLO, and all the UCs aside from UCD, UCSD, and UCLA (waitlisted for UCD and UCSD 2 for biomed engi/bioinformatics)
Now, I know that I’d only be happy at UCD, UCSD, and UCLA, and that If I attended the other schools for 4 years, I would not be content with myself. So here is my question: Should I just go to community college for 2 years, and transfer into a UC of my desire? Is there anything wrong with that? Would all my work have gone to waste? Does it make me look stupid?
It honestly seems like the future that I’m heading towards, but is it the right one CC?
Oh and I guess it also saves money.
Thanks for your replies.
Also, I’m deciding between West Valley College and De Anza Community College, so if there are any thoughts on which is better, please let me know, thanks.
What you could do is reapply to those UCs in Fall 2016. Maybe take some classes during De Anza summer quarter to complete IGETC (assuming you passed all eight of your AP tests). I THINK this is a possibility. Someone would have to confirm this but I think you can do it.
I might also add that you should definitely take a closer look at Cal Poly and the UCs you were accepted to. Just because they’re not considered “top tier” colleges doesn’t mean they’re bad schools or you wouldn’t have a good time there. If you go to a CC that will mean 1-2 more years of living at home etc.
As for WV vs. De Anza, I’ve taken classes at both and I prefer De Anza by far. Better academics, better campus, better location.
Also, doing two years at a CC you might run out of classes to take depending on your major and how many AP tests you passed in high school.
If you take even one class at a CC after you graduate high school, you are a transfer applicant - No UC will look at your application again until you are approaching Jr status.
I’d say, you don’t need to make up your mind right now but, I challenge you to open your mind to the possibility that you can find academic happiness at one of the schools that accepted you. UCSB, UCI and CP SLO are particularly great schools and are probably worthy of your serious consideration. Attend the admitted student preview at each of them before rejecting them out of hand.
Where you go for undergrad will not define, it is what you do with the opportunities you are given. All the schools that have accepted you will give you an excellent education. As @NCalRent stated, keep an open mind.
You are applying to an impacted major at the UC’s; you may end up with the same result.
Why wouldn’t you want to go to the other UC’s? or SLO???
SLO is a great school. My son’s friends love it there and the school is similar to Davis in many respects.
Go visit! There are tons of kids who didn’t get into SLO with that major and would love to take your spot! This school is a LOT less expensive than the UCs.