I am a freshman studying cognitive science at a top UC this year. In the first quarter, I received horrible grades because I was extremely unhappy and confused at my new school. I’m studying cognitive science because my dad wants me to work in tech, and my current college is the #1 school for my major in the country. I felt really trapped. In addition, student’s morals contradicted my own, and although my school is rated the best public university for social impact, I believe this is because it allows students from low-income backgrounds to pursue a STEM career and rise in social mobility. The social impact aspect is more of a by-product than a direct result of student involvement and activism. For several reasons, my time at college has left me thinking about taking time off, going to cc, or transferring colleges.
I am interested in pursuing psychology and a future career in public interest advocacy.
My dream college is and always has been Barnard College. However, the school I go to currently has a very different atmosphere than Barnard. My question is, what will it take for me to become an attractive transfer applicant to Barnard? If a year off and real-world experience will make me more attractive, so be it. At this point, I’ll do anything to get in.
My high school GPA was 3.7 and my SAT was 1a 360. My college GPA is lower but I can retake classes and strive for 4.0 for my Sophmore year and transfer as a second-semester Sophmore. At college, I work at the LGBT Center as a counselor and on a design team creating a mental wellness app. I also founded a mental health non-profit that mentors students in high schools. What more should I do? I have many interests but I don’t want to seem confused or scattered in my ECs.