<p>Okay, so my sob story. I graduated last spring, and had my choice of a bunch of schools, and picked UC Berkeley (purely for financial reasons, it was the only one i could really afford).</p>
<p>Anyway, after 2 months there this fall, I finally admitted to myself how much I hated the school, and withdrew. (Call me impulsive, or dumb, or both, but it was a long thought out decision, and i was completely unhappy there.)</p>
<p>Anyway, now I'm stuck. I'm back home, and was planning on just doing a semester of junior college, and applying for fall to other schools. However, having been home for two weeks, I'm itching to escape my parents' reign again! My question is...what schools accept spring applicants? I'd be applying as a freshman, i wasn't at Cal long enough to get grades.)</p>
<p>If I were in your boat, I would call the admissions office of several of the schools that interest you. Explain your situation and see if they have any open slots for a spring admit. </p>
<p>My guess (and it is only a guess) is that smaller, private liberal arts colleges may offer you the best prospects.</p>
<p>What type of school are you looking for? What did you not like about UC-Berkeley? What are your academic interests? This kind of information would be helpful in order to provide you with specific suggestions.</p>
<p>Thanks, I'll take your suggestion of calling admissions offices to heart :)</p>
<p>What I didn't like about Berkeley? How huge and impersonal and uncaring it was. My smallest class was 400 students, so even when I went to office hours half a dozen times, my professors still didn't know my name. Or better yet, i'd show up, and the T.A.'s would be MIA, so I'd wait an hour for nothing. I think part of my problem is I was an engineering major, meaning everyone is just -that- much more competitive, so it was a very unfriendly, non-fun atmosphere...not what i wanted out of a school.</p>
<p>Academically now, I'm interested in econ or business. It's hard, 'cause since about junior high, it's been "Karen's going to be an engineer", so I've never thought twice about a second career. Having experienced Cal engineering though, I definitely need a break. I guess I'm looking for a really broad school, with lots of different choices, so i can flicker around and find "my calling".</p>
<p>Karen,
First, I think you made the right decision - don't beat yourself up for being HONEST with yourself. Just remember that a huge number of people transfer at some point - you're just doing it a little sooner. </p>
<p>Icemaker has given you some excellent advice about calling a few schools and seeing if they have slots open for the spring. Some west coast schools you might want to call:
Occidental, University of Redlands, University of San Diego, Santa Clara U, Whitman College, Willamette U, St. Mary's College of Calif., Claremont McKenna, Scripps College</p>
<p>Of course, there are thousands of other schools out there as well, but these would give you a good starting point.</p>
<p>Karen, look for schools with 3-2 engineering in case you change your mind. Also, engineers need math, physics, English, social science credits, so if you concentrate on general education you haven't lost much if plans change again.
It is the rare person who doesn't change their mind a couple of times, and you may find yourself gravitating back to larger universities eventually - I personally don't think those big classes are best for most 18 year olds, but 20 year olds may appreciate the diversity of a large school.</p>
<p>Are all the Cal States big? Down here in the South, the 2nd tier state universities have classes that generally top out at no more than 75-100, even smaller for math. Most of them don't have engineering, but they do have arrangements similar to 3-2s, where you can do some pre-reqs, then transfer into the engineering schools - it takes a little longer, but is popular because it is cheap, people stay at home and commute for 2 years.</p>