<p>Hi there, I am currently a freshman at UC Irvine. I had the highest of hopes for attending this university because it was my first choice (even though I didn't look much into the school other than its ranking on US News, which was a huge mistake). Now that I'm here, I am extremely disappointed and unhappy and I want to transfer after this quarter to Community College and get on the Transfer Admission Guaranteed Program to UC Davis. The reasons why I want to leave this university are the following: </p>
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<li><p>The overall student population: I read that the demographics at UCI are about 50% Asian and 50% other, however it feels more like 75% Asian 25% other. Although I myself am Asian, I come from a high school and hometown on the beach that is pretty culturally mixed, but generally most students at UCI come from high schools that have similar demographics to UCI or they are international students and being from schools with a general population of asians, people have a different vibe than from what I'm used to. Everyone seems to be on a different wavelength of interests and personalities than me. </p></li>
<li><p>College Town?: There is nothing surrounding UCI other than the University Town Center, which is a small plaza with various food places. Coming from a beach city in LA county, this alienation from the city makes me feel isolated and extremely bored. People typically don't venture outside of UCI, except for the occasional shuttle trip to Newport Beach, but I would prefer to be able to walk from my dorm to a cool downtown area with a unique atmosphere. </p></li>
<li><p>Only child and not very social: I didn't realize I would have so much difficulty living with other people my age, but I am having the worst time with it. Being an only child, sticking with a small group of friends, having attachment issues with my boyfriend, and having trouble with social anxiety, this was all an awful combination to have getting thrown under a roof with a bunch of kids my age. While I force myself to be outgoing and try to make friends, I am unhappy with the way I'm poorly putting myself out there and while everyone is getting closer and closer, I still feel like a stranger to everyone because I have trouble opening up, so I thought it would be best to spend a year and a half getting therapy and learning to trust other people and learning to enjoy being social. Also, the theme I chose for my hall attracted me for the visual arts aspect, while at the same time it attracted many performing arts students, so a lot of kids are extremely outgoing, loud, and confident, which extremely overwhelms me. </p></li>
<li><p>My grades: Since all of the above have been eating away at me and making me depressed, I am doing pretty poorly in my classes. Currently, I have a 2.0. I feel like if I do eventually adapt to UCI, a year will have gone by and I will at best a 2.5, which will be very difficult to pull up, so I thought it would be best to try to work out issues in community college, while still getting fairly good grades, since community college is generally easier (judging by what my friends enrolled at the cc I want to go say). Also, I have tried to go to a couple clubs, but I didn't really like them because I don't have a lot of time since school work takes so long for me to complete and I again I'm uncomfortable in large social situations.</p></li>
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<p>So why UC Davis? I love the town around it, the mentality of the general student body (judging by what my friends say who attend UCD), my best friend attends, boyfriend plans on transferring there and the one friend I got the closest to and have the most common with at UCI wants to do the same as me (transfer to cc then to UC Davis) and I'm considering taking up her offer to live in an apartment with her near the cc I want to go to, Davis is slightly better in ranking and academics, and since I've lived in socal my whole life and plan on returning, I would enjoy living in a different area for once (also, it's far enough so if I don't like it I won't be able to drive home every weekend like I currently am). </p>
<p>I still need to ask my academic counselor about whether or not I can go back to UCI (as a safety net) without having to go through the admission process again. Everything seems right to go to community college then transfer to UCD, but I'm afraid I'm doing all of this because I'm running away from growing up and learning to deal with things, but if my grades were better I would most likely try to stick it out, but since I'm struggling so much, I feel like I need to think of my academics first. Also, if I lived with my friend from UCI (and her bff) I will learn to adapt to living with new people at a slower pace and having more private space since apartments won't be as close as a dorm. Also, I'm afraid if I somehow can't get into UCD or go back to UCI I will have made a huge mistake if I have to go to a not so great university and I will regret this heavily. I'm sorry this was basically an essay, but if anyone actually took the time to read this please give me your insight!</p>