<p>Okay, so I am a high school senior. I never thought of myself as the best student nor the worst student. I always took honors/AP classes, I maintained a 3.8 GPA, and I got a 32 ACT score. I had some mediocre EC, nothing out of the ordinary. I took AP Calc BC, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Sciences, and 11 Honors.
I knew that I wanted to apply as an engineer. I realized this was impacted, and while i'm above the stats for my ACT score and such, I thought my GPA was a little low. I didn't realize how badly applying for this major would affect my admssion rate.
I applied to all the UCs this fall, and the Cal Polys. I really wanted to get into UCI, UCD, UCSD, UCSB, or UCLA. I got rejected from all of them. It's a little tough for me. However, I managed to get into UCSC, and Cal Poly Pomona. Now those schools aren't bad, in fact CPP is ranked #14 for engineering which is the major I want to study. UCSC is really only in question because it is a UC. I know that for my future, CPP is probably the ideal choice, as I want to pursue engineering, and it is ranked at the same levels as UCI, UCD, UCSD, and UCSB. However, I can't shake the fact that I wasn't admitted, and while it is higher ranked, I don't know what to do. My dream is to go to a UC (and I don't think UCSC works for me). So i'm wondering, should I go to CPP and then try to transfer to graduate school for engineering? Should I go to UCSC and make the best out of it? Should I go to a CC for two years and transfer? Is it even easy to go to Cal Poly and transfer to a UC after getting undergrad?
At this point, i'm really confused. I know that it's much harder to get into anywhere as an engineering major, but I would really appreciate if someone can help me figure out what to do.
I'm leaning toward going to Cal Poly and finishing my undergraduate school, and applying for graduate school at a UC (although I don't know very much about the process).
My parents are basically scoffing at the idea of a CC, so I don't believe that's likely. Money isn't really an issue for tuition either.
Anyways, if someone can help me figure out some thing I can do, that would be great.
I'm currently appealing to the UCs, hoping I can try to get in as a non-engineer.
Any input would be great!
Also if you know a lot about Cal Poly (I got into the Kellogg Honors Program) or UCSD, let me know any pros and cons!
And If you know anything about graduate school after CPP, that would be great.</p>
<p>Is your 3.8 gpa weighted or unweighted?</p>
<p>I don’t know too much about either school, but many on CC seem to think that if you want to work in the Silicon Valley that UCSC is ideal because of its location. </p>
<p>Mainly I would encourage you to visit both schools (even if you already did so once before applying). And during your visit, try to keep an open mind about the favorable or positive aspects of each school. Both of them may feel different this time around when you know that you’ve already been admitted and that it comes down to choosing between the two of them. One may feel more like “home” than the other one.</p>
<p>Keep your head up and hang in there. You’ll get a great education at either school.</p>
<p>Listen up. I feel as if you are going to make a mistake. If you want to become an engineer, you go into an engineering program. I think UCSC is underrated and even by those standards you are underrating it. CPP is a good choice as well, and getting in honors is a nice plus. Take either of these offers before going a CC route. I would also do that over going to another UC as a non engineer if you want to work in engineering. Personally I prefer UCSC for the location and for the UC system approach. </p>
<p>In general</p>
<p>CSU - professionally oriented, with the Cal Poly’s ‘learn by doing’ approach
US - research oriented, preparation for grad school</p>
<p>But at either, you can seek out experiences for research or internships. You can go to work or grad school from either. Have you gone to the website pages yet for the departments and read about what is available?</p>
<p>You will learn about grad school as you go through college. You might go directly or you might work a couple of years first. But it is not the time to decide that path yet.</p>
<p>Well, my story is decades old, but it may still be pertinent. I did average in HS, but applied myself in community college. Did very well. Transferred to a UC school and ended up getting accepted to medical school. This was no easier back then then it is now. I am a doctor now. Community college served me well. </p>
<p>The CC is the only way to be SURE you can transfer to a UC. UCSC might also allow you to transfer to one of the other UCs after two years, but it is not sure. If you can’t graduate from a different UC which would you rather be at for four years?</p>
<p>I personally would probably go to UCSC and try to transfer if I still wanted to after two years, but I can’t evaluate it as an engineer.</p>