Firstly, I’m not sure where this post should go and am anticipating many negative responses. Hopefully this audience can relate or give me advice.
This is currently my senior summer and I’ll be attending UCSD as an undergrad in the fall. One would expect that this would be a low-stress time. I’m frustrated because I fear that many future paths and opportunities will close by not attending a top 5 school. I screwed up a lot in high school (especially as a freshman and sophmore) and I know that if I gave 90% of my effort I would’ve been able to attend a T5 school. I know UCSD is a great school and sure I can always transfer but I feel that it would have been much easier to get perfect grades in high school than getting perfect grades in college and having a fraction of a chance for acceptance.
I feel that screwing up early in high school is comparable to not attending a best undergrad college. I fear that this will only continue to create a skewed chain in the future and close many doors.
Then step it up in the next stage of your life, so that you do take advantage of everything UCSD has to offer, and so that you are well prepared for whatever comes afterwards.
My lowest GPA in high school was a 0.73, so I didn’t waste my time applying to 4-year universities, and went instead to a community college. I just finished my freshman year with straight A’s, and am on track to transfer to UC Berkeley. It’s been a great opportunity for a second chance and whatnot, and I’ve saved my mom tons of money on tuition, but I know I’ve missed out on the college experience immensely. I truly wish that I had my act together in high school, such that I could have been admitted as a freshman. Transferring is difficult, the process is physically taxing, and unless it is necessary or at least reasonable, it should be avoided. You, on the other hand, have the opportunity to attend a well-known, reputable university. Take advantage of it.
There will always be higher-ranked schools that you won’t be able to attend, more expensive cars than you’ll be able to buy, and so on. Embrace what you have. Ranking is minor, and it definitely isn’t everything. If you don’t believe me, check the Harvard Law admissions profile: http://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/undergraduate-colleges/ Numerous low-ranked schools are represented. UCSD is a highly-ranked school with multiple world-class programs. If you think that UCSD’s minor difference in reputation behind UCB, UCLA and the like will affect you, you have the wrong mindset. You will have a plethora of opportunities available to you. It is wholly up to you to make the best of the cards you are dealt - and you are wrong in thinking that your hand is not excellent.