Hi, I’m currently a freshman attending UCLA for the fall quarter, but I’m starting to have doubts on whether I picked the right choice for my undergraduate school. I thought I could see myself going here for four years, but now, I find myself lost and confused. I’m starting to think that UCLA isn’t the right school for me, and I’m scared I won’t be as academically competent than if I were to go to UCI (for premed, I know GPA is important!). How would my chances of getting into medical school be affected if I were to transfer from UCLA to UCI? Also, is there even any way I can apply now to transfer to UCI for sophomore year? What would I need to do? Looking back, I probably should have picked UCI, because I had UC Regents and CHP. I also live in Irvine, so going there would be cheaper, and I can see my family once in a while. Please advise, and thanks so much for your help! 
You can only go UC to UC as a Jr.
You are weeks into the school year. Unless paying for room and board are killing your family, you should probably stay put. The campus is vast and can feel impersonal. It can be overwhelming but, you are there for a reason - you earned your way in. A parent of a current UCLA student told me, joining a sorority ‘shrunk his daughter’s world’.
You need to join things and engage in the community. It will take you a quarter or two to get comfortable.
@knkevinshin We’re in the same boat! Chose UCLA, regretted and maybe preferred UCI.
@NCalRent A few questions for you, if you would be so kind as to help me out:
Am I considered a transfer student if I enrolled in UCLA but haven’t completed any credits here yet? That is, if I withdraw now, could I be a freshman applicant for the UCI winter quarter?
Is there a petition to enroll as a “Late Freshman” if I was accepted to UCI as an incoming freshman for the 2015 school year?
I would be willing to complete the quarter with good grades or drop entirely and start from scratch but as far as I know I cannot live on campus for another four years due to personal and financial reasons.
Thank you so much for any feedback.
Also, @NCalRent Is there some sort of UC to UC petition form to transfer at quarter?
I saw on another post that it would essentially be possible to start over as a freshman if one does not declare college grades, or even have any college grades to report at all. Would this be possible beginning winter quarter at UCI?
The UCI page states “Winter Quarter is typically closed for new applicants.” Does saying “typically” imply exceptions based on some petition that I don’t know about? For instance given my particular situation?
Sorry for all the questions. I am just trying to explore all my options to make an informed decision before it is too far in the UCLA quarter to withdraw/ cancel grades.
I wouldn’t recommend it. The decentralized nature of UCI is a disaster.
Here is the UCI transfer admission requirements. No where does it say that they will consider any applicant under 60 semester/90 quarter units or offer winter/spring quarter admissions:
Basic UC Admission Requirements
• 60 semester or 90 quarter UC transferable units with a minimum 2.4 GPA; however, a competitive UC Irvine transfer applicant should have a UC transferable GPA of 3.0 or above.
• All 60 semester or 90 quarter UC transferable units must be completed by spring 2016.
• Complete the following seven transferable college courses (with a grade of a C or better in each course):
• Two UC transferable courses in English composition
• One UC transferable course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning
• Four UC transferable courses chosen from at least two of the following areas: the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, or the physical and biological sciences
UC Reciprocity
REQUEST FOR LETTER OF RECIPROCITY
Students who complete all lower-division General Education requirements prior to transferring to another UC campus are eligible to receive a Letter of Reciprocity from the School. . Students who have not completed all General Education requirements at the time of transfer must complete the General Education requirements subject to the regulations of the campus to which they transfer (ASR 502). The Letter of Reciprocity includes satisfaction of University requirements (American History and Institutions and Entry Level Writing Requirement) and lower-division general education requirements.
You should direct your questions to UCI admissions. No one on CC can tell you if a transfer is possible since they specifically state they do not accept lower division transfers (less than 60 units).
If you are so unhappy you cannot continue at UCLA for the next 2 years, withdraw now before you have any grades, take a Gap year and reapply.
@knkevinshin You can do an intercampus exchange for a quarter or two. You can find out about it here: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/beyond-campus/
It’s at the bottom of the page.