I’m currently a sophomore at a top15 university. I’m incredibly unhappy here and would like to go somewhere closer to home (Southern California). I did pretty well in high school to earn a spot here at my university (3.95 GPA, 2200+ SAT, 13APs), but I haven’t done nearly as well in college (3.6 GPA, economics and political science double major with decent extracurricular activities). I honestly feel like I’m really homesick at this point and it’s getting really hard for me to finish my next two years of college. I’m unsure what to do because I feel like I would be much happier at a school like USC or UCLA, both of which admitted me as a high school senior. Currently, however, junior transfer applications for most schools have closed and I don’t know if I should take a year off and apply or what to do. I’m having such a hard time at my current school; so many things about it make me miserable. Coming from Southern California, the weather here (Midwest) is terrible and I haven’t met that many like-minded people and I’ve exhausted my options (joining different clubs, joining a sorority, etc). I feel really lost because I’ve worked my whole life to end up where I am now, and I can’t stop feeling like I want to leave. For the past few months, I’ve just sat in my room and cried while forcing myself to attend classes. Is a transfer to any decent school near Southern California possible considering my current grades? Also, if transferring isn’t a feasible option, is there anything else I can do?
I’m sure you could transfer to either UCLA or USC with your stats and given the school you’re currently attending. Nothing too bad happens if you do that, both are fantastic schools and not much of a “drop” from where you are now as far as rankings/prestige/whatever are concerned. It might be best to take a gap year and do something productive with that time to figure out what you want to do. As you note, transfer deadlines have come and gone and if you return to your current school next year transferring will no longer be an option.
No matter options you come up with, get thee down to the counseling center. Holing up in your room and crying for months is just plain not good for you, and doesn’t leave you in a place to make sound decisions (obvious: example- you didn’t manage to get any transfer applications done).
Also, fwiw, college GPAs don’t tend to be as high as high school- depending partly on your school your 3.6 may be quite respectable, and it’s certainly enough to get you into a decent Econ PhD program.
Take collegemom3717’s advice and see a counselor.
And… shoot, if you’re this miserable, it doesn’t hurt to call UCLA or USC and ask about transfer possibilities for next fall. The worst they can say is, you missed the deadline. OTOH maybe there will be wiggle room to squeeze you in. (I’m thinking USC in particular since as a private they have more flexibility with admissions.)
I agree that 3.6 is a fine college GPA, totally transfer-worthy.
Good luck. And go to the counseling center!
And on the way back from the counseling center, stop by the study abroad/student exchange office. Find out if there is any place sunnier and warmer where you could spend a semester or year on exchange.
I’m sorry to hear that this is happening to you. You have a good shot at transfer admissions given your stats at your current school and the fact that you were accepted as a freshman at USC and UCLA. Even though you can call them and ask for an extended deadline for fall transfer (as previous posters have suggested), you won’t have enough time to submit a decent application (essays, rec letters, etc.) since the committee is making decisions as we speak. USC happens to accept spring transfers, so your best option is to assemble all the necessary materials now, take a semester abroad next fall (somewhere warm), and apply for spring admissions to USC and other schools in California. I hope you find a place that’s right for you (-:
You’ve received some great advice from the posters above. Now, work swiftly on yourself, those emails/calls, and those applications and get back home to Southern Cal! We need our smart Cal kids back!
And perhaps you don’t need to limit your chances to those two schools? They are many more great schools in Southern California besides USC/UCLA!