So, recently, I found that I got accepted to UC Davis School of Engineering, which I was quite surprised about because I am not particularly intelligent. To put it into perspective, I got a 1290 SAT (out of 1600) and (when I did Calc AB, I got C’s both semesters) during junior year.
Now, I’m a senior in HS taking Physics 1 at CC to try to get ahead. My question is, should I go to UC Davis or should I go to CC, which would take me 2 semesters & 1 summer in order to transfer?
Here are the positives and negatives that I am weighing of going straight to Uni:
Benefits/Negatives of Uni:
-I will likely improve my personality because currently, I am a non-voluntary recluse and have been forever. I don’t think that I will be able to speak to the female gender or anything because I can’t socialize but I could probably get a few friends eventually for humor and conversation.
-I would have gone to a school that is known.
Benefits/Negatives of CC:
-can transfer in 2 semesters & 1 summer
-the 3’s that I have on my AP tests would transfer over
-Negative: I would probably not be able to get into as reputable a school. I would probably settle for a state school.
-I would remain a social recluse, friendless, and dependent on parents.
-I’m just not sure whether I am intelligent enough/have the work ethic for uni.
I would go to UC Davis. You’ll eventualy need to make the jump and you are already in and only need a 2.0 to stay in the major. There’s no telling you’ll be readmited as a transfer. UC Davis is awesome my sister just got in and my dad is an alum.
Given that money is not an issue, go to UCD for the reason given in reply #1.
However, if you have AP calculus credit that is allowed to skip ahead, try the old final exam from UCD (e.g. https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/files/9913/7529/4834/21A-FQ07.pdf ) to check whether you really are ready to skip ahead. If it is too difficult, start in the first calculus course (Math 21A).
Go straight to UC Davis and get out of your comfort zone. The college is filled with both introverts and extroverts and everyone in between. If you got in to engineering, the college thinks you have the background to succeed in the program. Good luck, Davis is a great school and city.
I’m with the rest, go straight to UCD. SOME CCs have good prep for engineering at the university level, but most don’t. The only reason to do CC is to save money, and as a CA resident, it won’t be much.
You may also want to look up the book Quiet by Susan Cain. It’s an interesting look at the introversion/extroversion spectrum and clarifies introversion from shyness. It’s a very useful read.
Go with UCD. They would not have admitted you if they’d thought you couldn’t handle it.
You may want to request the Engineering or stem living learning community, or a quiet floor for a dorm. This way your odds of being with fellow introverts will increase.
Join the anime club, see if they have clubs related to what you’re interested in - lots of quiet types there, too.
Do you speak a Foreign language? Join the language table for their weekly dinner.