To quit or not to quit...

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey guys, I’m a bit confused as to which path I should follow for my last semester at my community college. Please tell me which option you would choose and why. *I also posted this in the transfer forum but I want to get opinions from people familiar with grad school as well. Perhaps, you guys will offer a more holistic perspective. </p>

<p>Option A-Continue all my extracurriculars from previous semesters (ASG student trustee, voluntary teachers assistant, honors program) for my last semester. List these ongoing extracurriculars when I apply for transfer to Stanford as super reach. In this option, I will probably not have much time to writing fiction (which is what I intend to obtain a concentration in during my undergrad and what I intend to study in graduate school).</p>

<p>Option B-Resign/Quit from all my extracurriculars. Devote the time gained from the resignations (which will probably be around 20+ hours) towards reading and writing short stories. Try to seek publishing. Give up on applying to Stanford as a transfer and instead just go to the top UC that accepts me (amongst CAL, UCLA, Davis, SD, SB, Riverside). If I get some minor publishings going, I could use these as something to put down on graduate school apps. Focus on getting into top graduate programs by beginning to study for graduate exams and seeking extracurriculars that are more major specific.</p>

<p>So which option would you choose and why? </p>

<p>For reference, here are my stats</p>

<p>College-37+ honors units (most in school history) with gpa 3.8-3.9 (upward trend in grades), one leadership position (Student Trustee), tutor two subjects (English and BioPsych), summer internship with insurance company, AGS, PTK, strong personal statements, decent volunteering, stellar recommendations, dean’s list if that counts for anything.
High School-3.3 gpa, very few extracurriculars, downward trends in grades. 1240 SAT (650v 590 m).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance everyone!!! I will seriously base my final decision on what people have to say here.</p>

2

<p>“I will seriously base my final decision on what people have to say here.”</p>

<p>Aye carumba! PLEASE don’t put that much weight on what anyone says here!!!</p>

<p>It sounds like you have thought about your options… and it really sounds like it has to be a PERSONAL decision… I don’t think anyone here will be even
remotely qualified to advise you on what to do in this situation. They may be able to tell you what they might do in this situation, but really that is IRRELEVENT FOR YOU… there is no right or wrong choice, just what is the BEST FIT for YOU… other people may make a different choice than you, but that does not mean it is the best choice for you…</p>

<p>Dig deep with your soul-searching… only you can decide this.
Good luck.</p>

<p>P.S. Nothing prevents you from applying to both Stanford AND the UCs, despite what you do extracurricular-wise. And the top UCs are just as good as Stanford (despite what the prestige-obsessed might say).</p>

3

<p>I agree with harvard<em>and</em>berkeley. I wonder how much this decision will affect your chances at Stanford, or other schools. At this point, I would imagine you are either in, or not, for the most part. Also, it might be better for you, for various reasons, to not go there. </p>

<p>You’re concentrating on grad school fairly early. This might be good, but it might take away from other things which you will never have the option of doing again. Also, I’m pretty sure only Stanford and UC Riverside have pure creative writing programs available, while the others have a more concentration-within-English-program available. </p>

<p>I would advise you do what is best for you, and it is probably some option in between A and B.</p>

4

<p>I would suggest a middle road as well. Keep the ECs that look the best (honors and student trustee, I would think), and then concentrate on getting published, more than writing.</p>

<p>If you already have some pieces written, concentrate on selling the hell out of them (so you can put your published status on your apps). Also, see if you can get a position related to writing (perhaps publishing something in your school’s magazine, if there is one, or starting one if there isn’t). Your ECs seem to be a bit spread out (insurance, biopsychology). Try focusing them on two things: leadership and writing.</p>

<p>And I would still apply to Stanford and your other reaches. It’s a $60 lottery ticket—why not buy one and see what happens?</p>