Options after rejection? Need advice

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi! So I just got my last and final admission decision this morning, and it was a rejection from UCI. Out of all the colleges I applied to, I only got accepted to UCR and UCM, and also to CSU Pomona, CSU Fullerton, and St. John's University in New York (Rejected from UCI, UCSB, UCSD, UCD). I'm really sad right now, but to be honest I didn't know if I was good enough to make it in. But also, I thought I worked REALLY hard during high school.
I took honors English through all of high school (the diff. Between English honors and regs at my school is incredibly large), went past the minimum requirements when others just stopped (like in Spanish and math), took AP Bio and passed the test, took APUSH and passed, started and president of a Roots and Shoots club that helped animal shelters, and I've been a volunteer at an animal shelter for four years and a volunteer at a vet clinic for two years. </p>

<p>I took rigorous classes, and I didn't fail them, but then I didn't get A's in them. And I just got a 4.0 while taking hard classes senior year too (like AP Stats, AP Lit, Spanish 4, Anatomy/Physiology, and Govt/Econ). Overall, I think I was average in my grades, esp after a not-so-spectacular junior year (3.5). And my SAT score was 1840 too. They say that it's better to get a B in an AP/Honors class than to just get A's in really easy classes, but it seems like admissions didn't even care about the curriculum. I KNOW that I can handle more academically than some people who got accepted, because I know that they didn't try during high school. </p>

<p>I know this is bad to do, but I can't not compare myself to others who did make it in. Most people I know took the extremely easy way out, cheated in classes, got a high GPA, weren't really active in extracurriculars, but yet they got accepted. There were those who I knew would make it in because they worked hard for it, but then there's others who took the easy way out just to have a high GPA. </p>

<p>I've narrowed my choices to either CSU Poly-Pomona or UCR, but also I was considering going to a JC and transferring to a UC through the TAG transfer policy, because I wants to go to another UC that has more major options, and I heard as long as you keep up your GPA, you're guaranteed UC admission from a JC. Previously, I thought I would never go to a JC, but then I realized how economic and convienent it is, but then I know people would ask me why I'm going there and I know they would judge me. </p>

<p>Can anyone give me advice on how to cope with rejection and jealousy? and also, advice on what I should do? </p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>

</p>

<p>Do not rely on what you “heard.” Look it up.</p>

<p>I know nothing about how it works in California. I do know, however, that in the state where I live there are articulation agreements in place between community colleges and the state university system. I know that some community colleges also have “guaranteed transfer” agreements in place, but that these agreements are riddled with exceptions and limitations. In my state, for example, students who meet criteria are guaranteed admission to a state college or university, but not necessarily to the one of their choosing, and that no state college or university can be compelled to go over its enrollment limits in order to accommodate qualifying community-college transfers. I am sure you can find out details of how this works in California by doing a little Googling, but under no circumstances should you simply rely on what you’ve heard.</p>

<p>JMO, but I don’t think you should go to a junior college in order to scheme your way into one of the universities that turned you down. I think you should go to one of the universities that admitted you and begin getting on with your life.</p>

<p>And finally, I’m sincerely sorry for your disappointment.</p>

3

<p>You were admitted to some very good schools! And it’s not too late to apply to more, as there are still rolling admission dates for many, many colleges. </p>

<p>I think you’ll feel better sooner if you chart a course into your future with the least doubt, and the greatest odds for success. I would not recommend the JC course you’ve mentioned - too many ways that plan can derail. </p>

<p>Once you choose and commit to your choice, whatever it is, you will feel much better. </p>

<p>Here is a link for schools with late application deadlines:</p>

<p>[List</a> of Late Deadline Schools- Locate Colleges with Late Application Deadlines at Petersons.com](<a href=“http://www.petersons.com/college-search/late-deadline-schools.aspx]List”>http://www.petersons.com/college-search/late-deadline-schools.aspx)</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

4

<p>Do not feel ashamed about following the JC-UC route lots of students in your state do that (just like others follow the equivalent pathway in other states). Find out the details about how that works from your guidance counselor and the advising center at the JC you would attend. Don’t worry so much about what your classmates did or didn’t do. Concentrate on finding your own best future.</p>

5

<p>The sting will soften in time. No one likes to be rejected, especially when it impact their life choices. But, looking at your situation, it’s not nearly as bad as you think it is.</p>

<p>UCR is a good school. It’s probably better than most state colleges in the country. In CA, it’s especially competitive because UCB, UCLA and UCSD are world class universities that attract students from everywhere. The competition is brutal, and that’s what you are comparing yourself against. If you were living in many other states, you would probably have been accepted to their flagship.
But back to your choices. Look at UCR’s catalog and see what you might major in if you attend. Do you plan to go to grad school? Business school? You can do that from UCR as well as from anywhere. I’d definitely go with the University of California over the Cal State system, with perhaps the exception of SLO. If you were my kid I’d be helping you plan our trips to the admit days of the schools where you were accepted. You’d be amazed at how exciting college is when you stop thinking about what could have been and look at the educational opportunities front of you.</p>