<p>I'll keep it short: I'm from Southern California and I was stubborn when choosing schools to apply to (only applied to UC Davis, UCSD, and UCSB ... wait-listed and never accepted in UCSB, rejected from the rest). I also applied to West Texas A&M as my BACK UP PLAN at my parents' urging (my mom is from TX) ... what do you know, I needed it. I was much too cocky in applying to very few (and very impacted) schools in CA. Basically, not loving it here ... I have family in town, which makes it better, but they're 10 miles away. I hate the bible belt, I hate the "scenery" (flat and brown with a chance of dusty), I hate hearing again and again how there aren't many research opportunities here, and I hate how there isn't much to do. I've talked to older students similar to myself and they are ready to get out of here. They say it only gets better as you get closer to graduation because you know you're leaving soon. My major is Biology and Biochem and I hope to go to medical school (ideally UCSD's).</p>
<p>THE PROBLEM ... it's only 11k a year for me to go here, for everything. I'm interested in transferring to NAU in Flagstaff for the spring because I love the area, which would be about 12k for me + the cost of living (which is high, but still less than CA). I'm also interested in trying to transfer to UCSD after two years. I have free tuition there because my dad is a retired, "disabled" veteran of CA. (Again, cost of living in SD is very high, so it would still be expensive). Oh, and I'm only a Freshman ... but to be honest, I've put a lot of thought into it and have asked around a bunch. Another good thing about WT is that there are a ton of jobs, because my parents want me to become financially independent in the next couple years ... in Flagstaff and SD, not many jobs. Any ideas? Should I stick it out, even if I'm not happy? Or would it be worth it to transfer and to which school (open to other school ideas, obviously I like the view from the cities I listed)?</p>