<p>"Caltech</p>
<p>turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life."</p>
<p>...I could imagine</p>
<p>qx3kbenzene,</p>
<p>Sorry to hear that. Why did you pick UVa over Caltech? You seem like such a science nerd (and I mean that as a compliment - science nerds are cool!) Though I love UVa, if science was my thing, Caltech would have been hard to turn down. Also, I realize that no college can make everyone happy, so why didn't you transfer to Caltech or MIT or another school that may fit your needs better? </p>
<p>Lastly, chin up. From reading your posts, I know that you've had a challenging year. Hey, for what it's worth, it's never too late. You can still go to Caltech or its equivalent for grad school. Other top schools respect a UVa degree. In fact, a lot of my UVa friends went off to other awesome schools for their masters/Ph.D's: Harvard (Law / Education / Psychology), Yale (Law / Architecture / Business), Princeton (Architecture), Brown (MFA Creative Writing), Stanford (Business / Engineering), Johns Hopkins (Medicine / Engineering), Columbia (Law / Business / Education / Dentistry), UVa (Law / Darden / Medicine), Penn (Law), and Michigan (MFA Creative Writing).</p>
<p>Man, thinking about my friends and compiling this list, I realize I hung out w/ a bunch of smart people. Now, I feel dumb. It almost makes me want to go to grad school too. LOL! ;)</p>
<p>cavalier302: well, I started Umich as a freshman (although I transferred away after freshman year)....I don't think I could go back. it's, well.... michigan.</p>
<p>I chose it over USC simply because USC accepted me well after I accepted UVa's offer.</p>
<p>A&M: I can't see myself going there....honestly.</p>
<p>UT: no particular reason.</p>
<p>After I was accepted to UVa I visited the school the next weekend, and I fell in love with the university and charlottesville. I know the engineering school might not be quite as prestigious as Umich and UT (in some areas), but it's not far behind and, I think, building momentum.</p>
<p>-Mike</p>
<p>M.Mom: well, maybe our girls will meet! Mine is very excited about her decision now that it's final. I think she's about to join a very special community.</p>
<p>Globalist: After reading your posts for awhile I'd say you can hold your own with your brainy friends. Thanks for all your helpful insights.</p>
<p>Globalist:</p>
<p>Thanks, your message was kind and encouraging. Having smart friends should make you feel smart not dumb. I once read about this study that showed how children gravitated toward other children with equal IQs in the playground. </p>
<p>I'm currently transferring to Caltech, even after 4 years at UVa to study physics. It's been a difficult year. Since I decided to give up on becoming a doctor this past summer (I did everything from fulfilling all the requirements to taking the MCATs), my parents were extremely disappointed and angry with me. I think mostly they were offended that I rejected their money and definitions of success and happiness. </p>
<p>I guess it's just hard to have both your parents not getting your motivations at all and so much uncertainty in your future, occurring at the same time in your life. </p>
<p>According to them, I'm a girl and am not smart enough to study physics. In a provincial and stereotypical sense, they are right. </p>
<p>So right now, I'm waiting to hear back from Caltech about their decision. It's a bit sticky because the last day to revoke my graduation diploma from UVa is May 15th. </p>
<p>P.S. I tried sending you private messages but I think your account is full or something.</p>
<p>qx3kbenzene, good luck with the caltech decision. I know that transfer admissions there can be rather difficult. Why'd you back out on medicine? Just not for you? It seems like are area where you could integrate your interests in physics, especially when it comes to research. Whatever you do, it sounds like you'll be most successful if you do what you feel is right, not what your parents seem to think is right, in what (I'm presuming) is a somewhat distorted view of the world...</p>
<p>Cosmopolitan, I agree....I think UVA has so much to offer. Who knows? Our daughters may be neighbors in the dorm. :-)</p>
<p>unc chapel hill, university of georgia, clemson</p>
<p>qx3kbenzene,</p>
<p>Good luck! I always say go for what makes you happy. Paraphrasing "The Donald" [Trump that is], he said he's never met anyone really successful who isn't passionate about what he/she is doing. If Physics is your thing, go for it. I'm sure you're smart enough to study any subject you put your mind to. Your parents will come around, especially when you win your first Nobel Prize. ;) </p>
<p>Once, I met w/ a recent grad who played football at UVa. He wanted to go into television, and kept on lamenting his missed opportunities or in his words "dropping the ball." I told him that when you drop the ball during a football game, that sucks and might cost your team the game. But the game we're playing spans 40+ years (that is if we retire at 65). You will drop and catch many balls, make field goals - even touchdowns. The point is not to quit. You may not know exactly what you want to do, but that's okay, so long as you have a general idea of what you want. Also know that there are many ways of achieving your goals. For example, to get from NY to C'ville, you don't have to go down I-95 - there are more round-about ways that still get you to the same place. Plus, if you miss your exit, no worries. You can either turn around and get on that exit or just take a different (and possibly more exciting) way. It's funny how living life and driving have so many parallels.</p>
<p>On that note, here's a link about Professor Edmundson's speech he gave at Convocation last year. I don't know if you were there, but I think he says some really awesome things about having a "ghost resume", "second acts" and the importance of failing in order to succeed. (I also think it's funny how he and I both turn to football as motivational examples.)</p>
<p>I also suggest listening to the audio stream of his speech. It's pretty good. After hearing it, I wish I had taken an English class by him. (When you go to this link, scroll down near the bottom of the page, and you'll see another link for the audio stream.)</p>
<p>globalist, you are right. you don't have to go down i-95. but i-81 is frickin 100 miles longer and sucks major cooch.</p>
<p>Hahaha.....</p>
<p>Chose over Carnagie Mellon, W&M. </p>
<p>Cheap + Location + Quality = CHOOSE. </p>
<p>This said, it's been a tough year (last year was easy by comparason) . To say i've been challenged is an understatement, let's just say that this year has had its ups and downs. No regrets on my decision to come here (I shall be halfway done on monday), but i just don't think the college life is for me (my grades certainly aren't that good)</p>
<p>chose over Richmond, William and Mary.</p>
<p>VTECH: Engineering</p>
<p>George Mason Honors</p>
<p>Virginia Commonwealth University (w/ over $2000 scholarship money and increasing)</p>
<p>William and Mary</p>
<p>William & Mary w/ full scholarship, Boston U, JMU, Mary Washington w/ $2000 scholarship/yr</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin-Madison...I wish I would've applied to more schools, but at the same time I think UVA is the perfect school for me. Can't wait to get started...</p>
<p>Emory, VT, Lehigh, UR</p>
<p>Off waitlist, im going if i get financial stuff figured out by end of week, UVa over Wash U (sent deposit there), Carnegie Mellon, Case, UMD</p>
<p>I'm into UVa engineering, hopefully i can get into McIntire down the road. You may ask why i didnt choose Mellon engineering....well i HATED the school, and UMd isn't as good overall in case I wanted to switch out of engineering</p>
<p>Why do you hate Mellon Engineering? It's a fabulous school!</p>
<p>the second post at this thread says: it'd be a real hard decision to make if i were accepted at NYU!
I am? what to do???
NYU or UVA?</p>