Hi everyone, I know this sounds like a no brainer but hear me out!!! My heart is leaning towards UCLA but my brain is telling me community college 😓 it's like I'm choosing between something I like (UCLA) or something that's realistic (CC)
Context: low income, straight-A high school senior living in the Bay Area who is very family oriented (and plans to work in the Bay). Undecided on what I should do, but I got in as an Undeclared - Life Sciences major. I had literally 0 expectations of getting into UCLA, so I didn’t even consider UCLA throughout high school (but I'm super grateful and excited that I got in!!!!). I have put asterisks on the points that I weigh more importantly (*)
ALSO… I’m placing a high importance on being with my family bc they actually need my support and are reliant on me, and I value being with them too
UCLA
Pros:
- * More opportunities: can meet more people, exposure to different fields thru clubs & classes, recruiting cycles
- World class institution
- * Prestige
- Good food
- Got in already!!!!!!!!!
Cons:
- * Far from home (I'm very family centered, it is a big factor in my decision)
- Plane ride back is in 1.5 hrs, but I’m guessing it can take up to 3 hrs w/ airport transportation/ security + plane tickets can get expensive
- Profs are probably more focused on research instead of teaching
- * Very competitive (can lead to burnout/ imposter syndrome?)
- Everything is super new (new area, new people, new chapter) -> but I also feel like I can adapt
- * Grade deflation?
- Do need to pay a bit out of pocket (I am low income but it's within budget)
- Networking/ building my career at LA when i’m going back to the Bay Area after graduation
- Apparently very difficult to register for classes
- * Might risk a 5th year if I can’t figure out my major in time (which FAFSA can’t cover)
Community College
Pros:
- * Close to home
- Getting $$ back (4 figures)
- A lot of my high school peers/ friends are going too (I think 180/500 ish of the graduating seniors in my school are going)
- * Lower risk place to explore my fields of interest (interested in many fields - in order of preference: healthcare, business, engineering, finance, marketing)
- * Profs seem to care about teaching more
- Smaller class sizes
- * Can transfer to my dream school: UC Berkeley (currently waitlisted)
- * TAG Program (guaranteed admission to most UC’s; I also feel like it’d be fine if I attend UCD too)
- Has a selective program designed to help students with transfer/ CC route, and it also has a selective $10,000 scholarship for selected 20-30 students
Cons:
- * Significantly less opportunities
- Miss out on the college experience (FOMO)
- * Would have to apply all over again during sophomore year (which I dread since I don’t want to write PIQs and build impressive activities all over again)
- * Starting fresh (would feel like I did so much in high school for “nothing”)
- More students going CC route -> could get competitive
- Not sure if I could get into UCLA again (but I do mostly want to go to UCB)
- Also difficult to register for classes (but has priority registration)
- Missed out on registering for priority; now am unsure about what classes I can get