<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>So I SIR'd to UCLA on May 1st and just recently my appeal was approved to UCSB (I was on their waitlist).</p>
<p>UCLA
Pros: Perks/Fun things at Los Angeles , Prestige (I don't know what this entails but whatever), Research University
Cons: Traffic, Concrete Jungle (the city makes me a bit sad), Grade Deflation, No Priority Registration, Anxiety</p>
<p>UCSB
Pros: Research, Less of a Curve, Potential Honors (Priority Registration), Takes More of my APs
Cons: Less Prestige, More Isolated</p>
<p>I feel very anxious and scared that I won't do well at UCLA. The competition for grades and research just seems overwhelming to me and I just felt lost in the crowd. I'm scared I'll do really bad and get **** grades. I'm more Grad School bound than Med School.</p>
<p>At UCSB, I feel really relaxed and I LOVE the ocean and the weather. I heard it's a bit easier to get research and grades will be a bit better to maintain.</p>
<p>I feel more comfortable at UCSB, but I feel so much pressure to go to UCLA... thoughts?
I want no regrets :(</p>
<p>Also, I have to get a 3.0 unweighted/no more than one C my senior year or I'll get rescinded from UCLA.
I'm going to be getting my 2nd C in AP Calc, and I have all Bs except for that C... so I might get rescinded...</p>
<p>What happens if I SIR to two schools?</p>
<p>Don’t SIR to both schools.
You won’t be rescinded, but try to bring up your grades.
Traffic doesn’t matter if you don’t commute.
You can get into research at either university.
Priority registration isn’t as important as you may think.
You’ll need to work hard at either university. You don’t want to go into UCSB thinking that since it isn’t as competitive, that you can slack off. It sounds like you’ve made up your mind to go to UCSB though. It doesn’t really matter though, wherever you end up. </p>
<p>It really sounds like your heart is at UCSB. My older son was in a similar situation as you two years ago when he had SIR’d to UCSB, but was on the waitlist at UCLA. By the time he was admitted to UCLA, he realized that he really felt more comfortable at UCSB. He loved the environment, the people, the ability to ride his bike everywhere, etc. He also realized that the “prestige” factor at UCLA really didn’t hold that much weight for him. He is now finishing his second year at UCSB and he absolutely loves it there. No regrets about the decision he made. My younger son, however, also SIR’d to UCSB this year and then was admitted off UCLA’s waitlist a few days ago, but he has decided to attend UCLA. He is very different from his brother and he loves the LA environment because it’s so different from where he grew up. We live in a beach community and he wanted something different. So, my point to you is, you need to really think about where you’ll be happy living for the next four years because at the end of the day both schools are part of the University of California system and if you plan on going on to grad school, where you go for undergrad really doesn’t matter. Good luck with your decision! </p>
<p>One more suggestion I have for you has to do with trusting your initial instinct because it’s usually correct. The question I asked both of my boys when faced with this same dilemma was…Where would you have SIR’d on May 1 if you had been accepted to both schools at that time? Again, good luck and please post what you ultimately decide.</p>
<p>You’re the only person who can really gauge how you feel about both schools, but to me it sounds like you’re favoring UCSB for the academic safety. You said that you’d be more comfortable there-- is that the same as feeling at home, or just comfort knowing that the academics would be easier?
Most of the pros you mentioned for UCSB–low curve, priority registration, taking APs-- are really short term benefits. Looking back in 10 years, are you gonna like that you chose a school because it took your AP scores and you got to sign up for easy classes early? Again, I have no idea how you truly feel about these two schools but judging from what you wrote, that’s my opinion. Good luck!</p>
<p>UCLA wouldn’t have accepted you if it didn’t think you could handle the academics. If you put in the work you’ll be fine, you’re more than capable. That being said, IMO where you go for undergrad doesn’t make a huge difference, at the very least make the most out of it and enjoy it without feeling miserable or worrying all the time. UCLA does have unparalleled resources and a top neuroscience program that’s multidiscplinary/interdepartmental but there are great opportunities at UCSB also. If you get involved, take advantage of the resources, and make connections I think you will be just as well off and prepared for grad school. </p>
<p>narcissist: Nice icon, I was first introduced to Vampire Weekend a few years ago when I watched the music video for Holiday…</p>