<p>I applied to the UC system and got rejected by all, except Davis where i was wait listed. I got accepted to the University of Oregon and San Jose State University, but am overqualified for both. I don't know what to do. I really want to go to a UC but transfers from UO or SJSU are hard to do. They way I see if I have two options; 1. go to UO for 4 years 2. go to a community college and then transfer to a UC after 2 years. I don't really know what to do and am slightly depressed because of my college application process. Any advice?</p>
<p>id take my chances with community college, and then transfer to UC</p>
<p>But then I miss out on the first two years of a real college. Does anyone really care where someone when to study for undergrad? As long as i study my ass of and get into a solid graduate school would it matter?</p>
<p>FixedZD: As a Duck, I think it is a fine school. I got my BA at U of O, then went to grad school at George Washington University. </p>
<p>Are you an in-state Californian? obviously it is more expensive to go out of state. </p>
<p>If you are in state, you might consider going to community college and transferring to the UC of your dreams. </p>
<p>There are indeed many routes to what you want. Consider your objective: it might not require a UC to get there.</p>
<p>Crizello: It is a fine school, i just fear not being challenged enough. I am in California but my parents would pay for me to go to Oregon, though as of right now they are under the impression that i could go to Oregon and the transfer to a UC after 2 years. Only now i am realizing that this is nearly impossible because the UC’s greatly favor Community Colleges and in state schools. I’ll have to talk more about it with them. </p>
<p>How was your experience applying to grad school from U of O? How much do you think grad schools care where you studied for your undergrad?</p>
<p>On the other end of Ivy admissions for CA students, we’re finding that many of them are opting for UofOregon and ASU and UofArizona. Oregon is in fact taking some of these students from the Arizona schools. Oregon has a lot to offer; it’s a good school to find yourself without the huge competition within the UC schools, with a replete set of majors, and excellent depts. With that said, SJSU is good also. Don’t feel badly, enjoy your experience at either place.</p>
<p>Oh, get real. </p>
<p>I think you’re being, frankly, childish thinking you’re “overqualified” for U of O. It’s an excellent school that - yes! - sends many graduates to top grad schools. If you have concerns about being challenged, apply to their Honors program where you’ll be surrounded by ambitious, high achieving students. </p>
<p>But I think the real problem here is that what you REALLY want is a UC, in which case going to U of O won’t make much sense. For your sake, I hope you get off the wait list at Davis. Because otherwise, you’ll have to decide whether going to a UC is worth spending the first two years at a CC. If you were my kiddo, I’d want you to have a traditional 4 year college experience and I’d say, go Ducks.</p>
<p>Is getting a degree from a UC that much better than getting one from U of O? On a larger scale.</p>
<p>It depends what you’re studying and what your post graduation plans are. A job? Law school? Med school? Business school? Certainly in terms of employability, a degree in computer science from Cal will trump a degree in medieval studies from Oregon. But a degree in computer science from Oregon will also trump a degree in medieval studies from Cal :)</p>
<p>What are your intended or possible majors?</p>
<p>It does look like your application list did not include any safeties that you truly like.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about being challenged at U of Oregon. There is plenty of rigor there. I had no problem getting accepted at several grad schools. What mattered was my GPA, my GRE, and letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>If you are really set on a UC, then you will always consider UofO to be a step down. Frankly, I think you are a bit mistaken on this ranking, but you are certainly entitled to want to attend a UC. </p>
<p>If a UC is indeed your objective, then seriously consider transferring in 2 years from a community college.</p>
<p>Of course, how anyone could turn down the opportunity to be a Duck is beyond me! Go Ducks!</p>
<p>I would be majoring in biology or microbiology and then possibly minoring (or double majoring) in business. </p>
<p>A UC was my objective, and had been the objective in the back of my head throughout high school, so to not get in was an unpleasant surprise and is probably the reason I’m so set on going to one right now. Would it be worth it to go to a UC over U of O?</p>
<p>“worth” in what way?</p>
<p>Worth the prestige of graduating from a UC, and worth the education I’d get at the UC.</p>
<p>UCs are overcrowded and under funded. Cal and LA are prestigious, the others, not so much for undergrad. I’d go to Oregon.</p>
<p>I have no idea why you say you are overqualified for Oregon. The stats for UCR are actually lower than Oregon. You have the choice of starting at a CC and potentially transferring to a UC or going to another school with an open mind. You might actually like it!</p>
<p>“Would it be worth it to go to a UC over U of O?”</p>
<p>It would be worth it – IF you didn’t have to spend the first two years at a community college. Just my opinion but I think you’d be missing out on a lot of fun. So much goes on in those two years: making friends, really getting to know the school, enjoying sports and events that just won’t be available at a community college. It’s harder to really make friends as a transfer student since most people move off campus by then. </p>
<p>And it’s not like going to a UC is THAT much better than U of O. Unless you’re talking about Cal or UCLA (obviously the biggest “names”) or some specialized program (like physics at UCSB, for example) I think they’re pretty equal in terms of offering you a good education and opportunities.</p>
<p>Why it is hard to transfer to a UC from SJSU? Since you are “overqualified”, you should have no problem maintaining a near 4.0 GPA. Going to SJSU is financially sound since you are in-state.</p>
<p>p.s. Did you get rejected by Merced too? That’s hard to do since it admits almost 90% of its applicants.</p>
<p>Overqualified? I have no idea what your impression of college is but there is rarely such thing as “overqualified”. Even if you’re smarter than the average student there, I can guarantee you that you will NOT be the smartest person there-- not even close. Most of the top ten kids in my private school will be going to an instate school ranked much lower than Oregon because of financial reasons, so count yourself lucky that you even have a chance to go there.</p>
<p>Besides, this is high school where it’s up to the teachers to “challenge” you. If you don’t feel challenged, double major, spend some time studying abroad and see how easy it is to learn the same material in a foreign country, get a job. Anything extra you can manage to do will be helpful to your future career.</p>
<p>You are not overqualified for anything - you have a great opportunity to get an outstanding education - get some perspective my friend. Of your choices I would opt for Oregon if you’re parents can easily afford it. If not San Jose State is a fine choice. Of course if Davis takes you off the waitlist then go.</p>