Should I just throw away my UCs and CSF to go to community college?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>A tad on the overdramatic, but I have a high D in a class and right now I’m on panic mode and think I won’t graduate and they’ll rescind acceptances. </p>

<p>I’ve been accepted to UCI, UCSB, CSF, and have been waitlisted for UCSD. </p>

<p>And of course, I have no CLUE what I want to do. Adding more to my anxiety, I always hear of classmates discussing their plans to be doctors and computer engineers and know exactly what majors they’re going to take. And then there’s me, not wanting to be either some kind of a doctor or computer engineer or programmer, not knowing what career there is for me. </p>

<p>My GPA is reported as 3.68 right now. I’m taking AP Economics, Government, Psychology, and English, and Physics Honors and Calculus CP. I’m overwhelmed by Economics, which is at a D. I thought I was supposed to challenge myself and was somehow misled to believe that AP Economics was a relatively “easy” class. My SAT is 2110.</p>

<p>I don’t know what I want to do. I did some brief research on Business (which EVERYONE in my family is pushing me to go for), and a little in Political Science, determining that (correct me if I’m wrong) they are very versatile majors with a wide berth of career choices that can stem from them. </p>

<p>I want to make money, obviously. Maybe my attitude will change later. </p>

<p>I like Psychology A LOT, but it seems that everyone ESPECIALLY my parents look down upon Psychology, and are against me going for it at all. </p>

<p>I enjoy creative writing and have considered Journalism as a major with disapproval once again. </p>

<p>Money is an issue. My parents try to pretend it isn’t but it is. I don’t want to swamp them with crippling debt. My father is nearly blind and unemployed and my mother only makes around $70,000 a year. </p>

<p>I’m scrambling for scholarships right now. I’m in the Honors program for UCSB but due to living costs I don’t think I can go. </p>

<p>Should I just go to community to figure out what I want to do while saving money?</p>

2

<p>Have you gotten the financial aid offers from the various schools, so that you can figure out the net price for each school, and how that compares with what you and your family can afford?</p>

3

<p>Only from UCI. The other schools have been silent and I have until May 1st to make a decision!</p>

4

<p>Well, see if you can get them to tell you any financial aid information before you have to decide. Is UCI affordable after applying non-loan financial aid?</p>

<p>In any case, try to do as well as you can to avoid getting a D grade, so that your admission won’t be rescinded (although that may be moot if none of the schools is affordable and you have to start at community college for cost reasons anyway).</p>

5

<p>It is quite normal for teenagers to be indecisive about their career plans. </p>

<p>Assuming that you are attending public school system, does your school district offer free tests for assessing one’s aptitudes, interests, values and personality? If so, it might be worthwhile to take the tests to gain an understanding of your strengths. The tests may reveal some insights that may help you select appropriate majors in college. For example, if you love psychology and creative writing, you may be able to combine training in business (marketing) to enjoy and be successful in sales and marketing (function). </p>

<p>In the meantime, focus on:</p>

<p>(i) As others have mentioned, obtain financial offers from each of the colleges that you have been admitted to in order to perform a fair comparison of costs. Assess the costs for 4 years, and possibly 5 years, because increasingly students are taking longer to graduate. </p>

<p>(ii) discuss with your family what they may be able to afford, and decide if one of the 4 year colleges or a 2 year community college is the way to go. Should your family and you decide on CC, make sure the CC has an established pathway to enroll at one of the state universities. </p>

<p>(iii) Try to pay extra attention in economics and bring up your grades. Khan academy’s free online courses is one way to gain a better understanding of the subject matter.
<a href=“https://www.khanacademy.org/science/macroeconomics/gdp-topic/econ-intro-in-macro-tutorial/v/introduction-to-economics[/url]”>https://www.khanacademy.org/science/macroeconomics/gdp-topic/econ-intro-in-macro-tutorial/v/introduction-to-economics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck and breathe easy!</p>

6

<p>In my experience, those who are unsure of their career plans often don’t do well in CC. You wont gain more insight into what you want to do when you are at a CC compared to at a UC. </p>

<p>Once you consider the costs/financial situation again, if it is affordable, it would likely be better to go to a UC immediately.</p>

7

<p>Agree that attending a 4 year UC is better than the 2+2 route. </p>

<p>Based on career test results, and with input from career counselor, assuming that OP’s aptitudes & interests yield meaningful career options, OP can start taking the prerequisites required for an appropriate occupation.</p>

<p>When finances are tight, and if one can not afford to pay for 4+ years at UC, it is better to attend a CC that has a pathway (guaranteed??) admission to one of the UCs, provided the student meets the requirements. Sometimes even the parents may not qualify for the loans, if there are other financial commitments. Obtaining some marketable skills in 2 years and moving onto a 4 year degree would ensure that OP is able to address any financial risks, should OP’s parents not be able to provide financial support in future. </p>

<p>Yes it requires determination & drive on OP’s part to be able to make the transition from CC to a 4 year college, but it may be worth taking this route given the situation.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, that’s what I did… got into some UC’s in high school but decided to attend community college for 2 years… I’m currently in my last semester here at CC and I’ve saved up money compared to others that went to UC’s… I was worried about the loans too… and besides you could take all of your general courses here at CC and transfer</p>