Hello, I am an incoming freshman to Cal state university, Monterey bay. I initially enjoyed the school but as we approach move in and the beginning of the school year I feel less and less excited. The people I’ve interacted with don’t seem kind, social, or like they want to achieve much. I really value my education and I feel that I originally didn’t get into UCLA because of my GPA, I was struggling mentally my junior year and lost my will to do schoolwork. I am typically a very high achiever and I feel like I’ve really let myself down, is there any way I could reapply after a year at Monterey bay and make it into UCLA? I’ll take all the classes and do all the activities recommended please just let me know.
Demographics
- US domestic
- State/Location of residency: California
- Incoming freshman to csumb
- Other special factors: first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete to cheer
Intended Major(s) Biology (preferably human), public health, wanting to go to med school after undergrad.
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
- Unweighted HS GPA: 3.7
- College GPA: don’t have one yet
List your HS coursework
(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)
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English: AP literature and Lang
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Math: AP Statistics
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Science: AP Biology
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History and social studies: AP US history, AP world history
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Volunteering
-Special needs prom (1 year)
Clubs
-Black student union (4 years) treasurer, secretary, president
-Link crew (1 year)
-CSF (2 semesters)
-Health Occupations Students of America (1 year)
Sports
-Basketball (3 years varsity)
-Track (4 years varsity)
-Cheer(2 years, 1 varsity)
Awards
-Academic achievement (3x)
-Student representative for OLPA
-Universal Cheer Association All-American
-Tri-county conference second team
-Coaches’ award (varsity basketball)
-College Board National Recognition Program
Student government
-Freshman &sophomore class president
-ASB executive vice president
-ASB Executive President
Leadership
-Envolve training attendee (1 year)
-Area c conference attendee (3 years)
-CASL attendee (2 years)
-CADA attendee (2 years)
-CASL Leadership development attendee (2 years)
-Students of color leadership conference attendee (4 years)
Activities
-Medical academy
Employment:
-NJB scorekeeper (2 years)
-Adventist Health physical therapy student intern
-A precious glimpse (ultrasound clinic) receptionist and student ultrasound technician
Essays/LORs/Other
I would guess pretty strong, writing is one of my strongest suits and I had my PIQs proofread beforehand
Schools
UCLA- with some scholarship
Feel free to recommend another school, preferably one with strong social aspect, strong academics, and not too cold (I’m immunocompromised and quite susceptible to illness)
Please let me know if there’s anything I can do I am feeling quite strongly that I made the wrong choice.. 
One has to have junior level standing/60 credits to transfer to UCLA from a CSU. CCs to UCs are first priority, then UC to UC, then CSU to UC. See full requirement transfer info here:
Regarding CSU MB, I am sorry you aren’t feeling it’s a good fit right now. Did you have other acceptances at schools that may still have openings? For example, if you were in the top 9% of your class, perhaps you had a UC Merced acceptance? You might consider your local CC too, although you would have to spend two years there before transferring to a UC.
I would encourage you to give CSU MB a try, you may end up liking it, meeting good friends, enjoying classes, etc. But only you can decide what’s best for you. If you didn’t go to college next year, what else would you do instead?
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If eligible, UCLA offers good need-based financial aid to CA residents. Merit scholarships are available but are few in number and not guaranteed. Run the Net Price calculator before applying.
I also agree to give CSUMB a chance. If unhappy after a year, attending a CCC and then transferring is a better plan. If you are able to complete 30 semester/45 quarter units by matriculation, you get CCC transfer priority.
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My first reaction is that biology is a major for which some form of graduate school is very likely, whether medical school or something else. Students at a wide variety of graduate schools in general come from a huge range of undergraduate schools. Thus going on to a higher ranked school is definitely possible if you end up in any type of graduate program.
My second reaction is that you do not need to attend UCLA to do very well in life, and that UCLA is going to be a tough school to transfer to. If you really do end up wanting to transfer, then you should probably aim at a school for which acceptance is more likely. Perhaps UC Merced, UC Riverside, or a different CSU would be more likely (I am assuming that you are a California resident).
My third reaction is that if you want to go on to medical school, or to any highly ranked graduate program, then you are going to want to do very, very well at CSU Monterey Bay. You should make a very strong effort from day 1. Attend every class. Pay attention. Keep way ahead in your homework. You might want to start your homework the day that it is assigned. That way if you have any uncertainties or anything that you do not fully understand, you will have time to get it right before the homework is due. You will want to be among a small handful of the strongest students in your classes, particularly any class related to “premed”.
And don’t panic if you do get a few B’s or even a C. Premed classes are tough. Make a huge effort to do as well as you possibly can.
And I am pretty sure that you will find some premed students at CSU Monterey Bay who are serious students.
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If I were in your position, I would take a gap year.
Work to save up some money, because med school is very, very expensive. Then reapply to the UC’s and to: San Diego State, Long Beach, Fresno and San Jose State. There is no guarantee that you will get into UCLA. Your grade point average is your grade point average. They have a record of your high school transcript.
As mentioned previously, you need 60 college units to transfer to a UC. You can also go to community college for two years because you need to build up a college transcript. And then, apply as a transfer student.
Did you apply to Davis?
Davis has a phenomenal record for getting students into med school. They have a phenomenal health advising center.
Plus, because they’re in the middle of farmland, there are a number of clinics for farmworkers and the medically indigent that provide really good opportunities in working with low income ; sponsored by Davis students and local physicians.
At UCLA, every other student is a hopeful med student. The UC‘s are loaded with high GPA, high -SAT students. It’s extremely competitive, as are all the UCs and elite CSUs.
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