<p>It looks like the OP might have taken someoldguy’s wise advice and backed away slowly. </p>
<p>However in case you are still here OP: my daughter was accepted to UCLA and we are also OOS. Believe me when I say she was thrilled and we were thrilled for her. Despite the fact that she received a small scholarship, the cost would have been staggering, and she has a younger sibling still in high school. </p>
<p>I too have a very hard time denying my D anything (that’s a whole different subject). I was relieved as can be when she decided to attend USC with some decent financial aid. You should thank your lucky stars UCLA not will allow your daughter to change her mind this year. If she is miserable where she is, let her come home, go to UDub, and plan to apply to UCLA for junior year. She’ll still have a degree from UCLA, and you’ll save 2 years of tuition, making it possibly affordable.</p>
<p>Not sure if OP is still checking the thread, but one thing her daughter could do is attend UCLA for summer school (assuming Pepperdine would accept credits earned). The UC campuses are open to all UC eligible students during summer sessions and some courses are taught by faculty. UC’s are very generous with AP credits, I wouldn’t be surprised if OP’s daughter has junior status by her second year of college if she attends summer school. Most UC kids refer to their graduation status ( freshman, sophomore …) separately from their chronological status, first year, second year etc. </p>
<p>Don’t be swayed by the low percentage of transfers from other colleges, most kids in CA community colleges intend to transfer to UC whereas very few kids at 4 year colleges apply to transfer because most end up liking their second or third choice campus. Definitely speak to an admission counselor at UCLA for the best advice. Good luck, and I hope your sweet daughter finds a campus where she can thrive.</p>
<p>Why not transfer to her own state’s flagship? The atmosphere would probably be very similar to UCLA…(large public flagship with very good academics, strong student body, etc)</p>
<p>UCLA really wasn’t ever an option if the family couldn’t afford it. Don’t know why the mom was even considering a spring transfer (not possible) unless she was desperate and was willing to eat PB&J for 3 1/2 years. BTW…UCLA is on the quarter system, not semesters. </p>
<p>I don’t see the justification of spending $150k on a school that the D thinks that she’ll like better than her own flagship…unless money is no object. The D could get to UCLA and find it cold, unfriendly, too big, etc.</p>
<p>The fact is, this mom’s/girl’s idea of transferring to UCLA is not going to be possible right now (and probably not ever). So it is time to let go of that idea. It ain’t going to happen. But she is unhappy right now. She’s been given a really great opportunity to attend a four-year college in a beautiful location, and she’s unhappy. I think a lot of freshman are unhappy the first quarter/semester. Some get past it, but some don’t. The mature ones stick it out and remember they are there to get a degree. For some others, they need more time to grow up a little and focus on the true purpose of college. I am speaking from experience. I was unhappy after my first quarter at UC Santa Cruz back in 1973, but it more to do with my immaturity than the university itself. I wish I had been focused and mature enough to concentrate on my studies rather than my social life. I had to work in a lot of crappy jobs before I realized how important college was to my future.</p>
<p>OP sorry you feel attacked. Please do realize that for us (if not for you) the answer wasn’t black or white (yes she can; no she cannot) but shades of grey (that you may or may not have already waded through). Best to you and your family.</p>
<p>Op,
So sorry that your D is unhappy at Pepperdine after 6 wks. Things to consider:
Many kids are unhappy at their colleges during the first year; most end up liking their college 4 years later; some still do not
I don’t know the rules for applying to UCLA as a transfer, but if you or she thinks that there might be a loophole, then she could just spend the time and money to fill out an application and see what happens. I think deadline is 1/31/14, but it might be rolling admissions. Check the website.
She could take a gap year or a gap semester while she regroups
She could go home and attend community college while she regroups
She could apply for a transfer to your public university; finish frosh yr at Pepperdine, do soph at local public U; apply to UCLA at a jr transfer.
Good luck to your D.</p>
<p>OP
Why not call UCLA first thing tomorrow and see if she can start right away as a regular freshman? I think the quarter just started last week, so there still may be time if she moves quickly.</p>
<p>HI WAMom- so sorry your D is unhappy with her choice. I completely understand what you are saying as far as her knowing it is not a fit. We live fairly close to Pepperdine and it is a quirky school, no doubt. While the campus and area are beautiful, it is in a fairly remote location with not a lot going on, especially if you don’t have a car. Malibu is pretty dead for that age group. Many of the students leave on weekends so the campus is often very quiet with little activity. It is quite conservative, which is something that may not have been so obvious to your daughter during any short visits. My kids would go to a CC before they would go there, even the one who loves to surf!</p>
<p>My D’s best friend attended Pepperdine for a year before deciding last minute not to return her sophomore year. She had been accepted to a lot of top schools and her dream school had always been USC. I think she felt a bit pressured to attend P because of the phenomenal financial package they gave her. While she is not a whiner, and really did throw herself into activities at P, she was clearly not happy. She ended up at our CC her sophomore year, and then transferred to USC for her junior year. She said it was the best move she ever made, even though she had always vowed she would never attend a CC. </p>
<p>It sounds like the UC’s are not going to be an option, although they did just start last week so maybe she could check into transferring in right away??? Would USC be an option as they might take her earlier than junior year and can offer some good financial aid? My son does not like the Greek atmosphere there, but that is an individual preference. Her other option might be to finish out the year there and then go to your CC while she decides what to do. Otherwise, she could finish 2 years there and then transfer to another school more easily. </p>
<p>I really sympathize with her situation and hope it works out for her!!!</p>
<p>“How long would you say is long enough?” - I think 2 semesters. (This is based on experience with DS, who decided in Nov of freshman year to transfer. It was probably the right choice. But I did notice that the original school had advantages not obvious until 2nd semester). </p>
<p>Per above posters, UCLA is not an option at that point. So if she continues to be unhappy after Christmas start hatching Plan B.</p>
<p>Finances are certainly a legitimate criteria for selecting a school.
Your daughter wants to attend a larger more liberal public as opposed to a conservative private.
Thats valid. It probably would have gone smoother had she realized that a few months ago, but she should be able to find something that better fits her revised outlook.
UCLA is $49,766 for out of state students. ( & sounds like isnt an option anyway)
UW is $23,387 for in state students.
Even though you are willing to take out the difference in loans, what about flying the whole family down for a vaca every year?
Youd still come out ahead!
;)</p>
<p>I think it’s entirely possible for a student to realize within six weeks that they’ve made a mistake. I know students who have been in this position. WAmomof2, it doesn’t surprise me at all that if UCLA was her top choice, that she’s unhappy at Pepperdine. Those schools are about as different as two schools can be, other than the fact that they’re both in southern California! It’s too bad that UCLA doesn’t allow for spring transfers but good luck to her, and you, in deciding what’s best. It’s hard to see your child in an unhappy situation when college should be a positive experience on the road to becoming an adult.</p>
<p>UCLA started classes this past Thursday. So as of today, they have had two days of classes. As a previous poster said, it may be worth calling first thing tomorrow and seeing if she can enter as a freshman. Maybe they’ve had some last-minute withdrawals and have a spot. It’s worth a call.</p>
<p>I’m guessing there was major scholarship money involved - possibly for athletics. As someone who is familiar with Pepperdine, let me chime in with the other voices who say it is understandable how someone could feel that they don’t fit in. It’s conservative Christian, yes, but with an overlay of Malibu glitz. There are great aspects to the school (such as their study abroad program) but we never for a second considered it for either of my children. I don’t think OPs daughter should try to tough it out.</p>
<p>If immediate admission to UCLA doesn’t work, I encourage OPs daughter to look elsewhere. What are the attractive qualities of UCLA? Perhaps those could ultimately be found in a different school as a transfer. </p>
<p>My question is, can she withdraw completely and then apply to other schools for fall of 2014 as a freshman?</p>
<p>Yowza.
( i was using the data from Kiplinger. At least I hope the UW figures haven’t gone up, the schools swore to give instate students a reprieve this year).</p>
<p>If the D is truly determined to attend UCLA, one road traveled is to transfer to a CC in SoCal. Most kids like Santa Monica College (CC) because it’s in the area of UCLA and there are many who attend who are planning to transfer to UCLA. With D’s AP credits, it may not take a long time to reach the units required to transfer to UCLA. It would mean she would need to find an apartment near SMC, get a car (or deal with less-optimal public trans), but it really is done all the time by LA kids who find their colleges not what they hoped for and move back home. Just a thought.</p>
<p>^^plus do you know what rents are in the Santa Monica area? Apartments for $2,500 - $3,000/month are not unusual. Many students opt for the less expensive San Fernando Valley and commute. But rent there is still around $2,000/month.</p>
<p>yes, I live in SoCal, so I’m aware of the rents. But I was not speaking of COL, I clearly directed my post at paying OOS fees (and tuition) to attend a junior college. </p>
<p>bluebayou, I am totally agreeing with you. I wasn’t clear; I was aiming my comment at the person who suggested going to CC in Santa Monica. I was kind of piggy-backing onto your comment. </p>
<p>juco in UCLA area = VERY expensive proposition all the way around. (Though to be fair, probably less expensive than a year at UCLA)</p>
<p>As OP said, her daughter is only 17 and is entitled to mistakes. But I don’t think the parents should compound those mistakes by allowing their family to be thrown into huge debt.</p>
<p>WAMomof2 … I HOPE YOU ARE STILL READING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE AN IDEA! I think it is still possible for her to withdraw from all her classes and reapply as a freshman in the fall! If she got admitted as a freshman, it’s likely she’ll get admitted again. Just make sure she doesn’t accrue ANY college credits between hs graduation and entering UCLA. I think it’s okay for her to have taken classes the summer after hs graduation, but don’t take any more!!!</p>
<p>She could resubmit her application from last year … it won’t even be a lot of work. Maybe see if Pepperdine will hold her spot open if she thinks there’s any chance she would want to go back. </p>
<p>I think this will work. What does everyone else think?</p>