I grew up dirt poor. I recieved grants, worked at nights, and took out loans. It wasn’t easy, and I did burn out by my senior year. I guess I could’ve gone to a community college and chose a cheaper school. But I dont have any regrets. So I can relate to the original poster in not having money. But I can also relate to the original poster about not feeling academically challenged. I had very good grades despite living in poverty. So I just want to offer another perspective.
1 Like
I know. We are are encourage air. Or transferring our own feelings onto others as if that’s how we hope people would have said to us when we were that age.
Sorry, Im new. Still figuring out this forum format.
IMO a school like UC Berkeley or UCLA will challenge a student more than Harvard or Yale because of their grading scale and professor attitudes. In fact I rather my S24 go to a private school than UC because I don’t think he will compete well.
I went to a state school too. It was still considered competitive though. UC Berkeley and UCLA are great schools. Harvard and Yale aren’t for everyone. It’s important to find the right school for the student and that’s going to depend on a lot of factors, not just the name.
I’m really sorry to hear you’re feeling this way. Honestly, it’s completely natural to have high expectations from a T10 college like that. It’s hard not to think ‘what if’ about your future if you had attended another college. It might feel like a loss, but remember, the grass might not have been greener on the other side)))
You need to decide what if right for you. You can get a great education at a state flagship and do well as a graduate. But if you are really regretful, consider transferring, and explain the financial aid situation to the school. A friend of my son chose a big state flagship over an ivy for similar reasons. He didn’t feel that his choice was the right one after he got there, so he submitted a transfer application, was accepted, and got the aid he needed. Best of luck to you!
1 Like
where r u now? can u update? all advices here came from people who lived Their Life, went to school in Their Time more likely with less pressure to go to college and less paranoidal obsession from their parents to see you in The Best brand name schools, and less Internet teasing:) And they r trying to guide u their best. They sound just like me to my kid - adults who lived. Old for u:) You r ur own person and You live Ur life in Ur time being excited about ur wonderful future and rights for mistakes. With no regrets that Never tried. Those things like transfer and changing majors, friends, activities, study abroad r variations and not mistakes. The huge debts u can bring urself in this is the biggest nightmare adults r trying to stop u from. I m guessing, ur school doesnt challenge u enough and u dont see urself in graduate school yet. Research on ur professors and have a conversation there. Or open debate among ur peers. Ask urself what bothers u the most. You r not alone. Is it the ‘crown’ u r promised by those schools or more? Dont know ur situation but not being happy is inside of us, whether due to high/faulse expectations/entitlements or wrong place/people we r in/with. U can change ur environment but the driver is still You
1 Like