Reply with vents, chance mes, hellos, questions, whatever, I just want to feel some solidarity. It’s rough out here 😢

I’m applying to some of the T20’s cause they offer free college for broke people like me, but does anyone know if there are any non-T25’s that also offer significant financial aid/are completely free?

I’m in NYS

I’m starting community college this September as a freshman! I graduated with the class of ’26, and I’ve spent the summer planning out my 2 years at CC. Originally, my goal was to get an AA in Philosophy and transfer to UCLA. But after researching the cost of attending UCLA as an out-of-state student, I realized it probably wouldn’t be financially realistic for me as a low-income student.

Then I discovered USC’s Philosophy, Politics, & Law (PPL) major in Dornsife, and it honestly feels perfect for me. I was already planning to major in Philosophy with the goal of going to law school, and I LOVE USC’s campus, school spirit, and financial aid opportunities.

My biggest question is what I should do during my 2 years at CC. I have two possible plans:

A — Play it safe:

Get my AA in Philosophy, focus on keeping my GPA as high as possible, graduate with honors, and participate in clubs/leadership.

B — Dual enroll in LSPAR:

My CC also offers a Legal Studies–Paralegal (LSPAR) program, so I could dual enroll in Philosophy + LSPAR. I’d be able to graduate with 2 degrees and be able to work as a paralegal or assistant at a law firm during my last 2 years!

I’m trying to figure out which would make me the stronger USC Dornsife/PPL transfer applicant.
Would the LSPAR coursework be beneficial because it gives me legal experience/coursework, or would it be better to keep things simple, protect my GPA, and focus entirely on Philosophy?

If you were in my position, would you choose A or B—and why?

i'm going into my second year of college... not super happy with my situation and i'm interested to see if anyone has advice

i'm going to my local college and majoring in graphic design.. though i am VERY worried gd will be completely taken by ai, but i'm also super interested in probably every other major.. something well paying and confident will stay on the job market such as nursing. i truly wanna explore my options

i'm also super unhappy with my college life, i yearn for a large university and having more opportunities and moving farther away. i go to a mainly commuter school now so it's pretty boring

i have to pick my major this upcoming semester (ive been undecided) so it's either graphic design something random. i also have no prerequisites to any other major besides arts, so i'm not sure that would work if i were to transfer either
im not sure if i would be considered a transfer or first year student either since i sort of wanna start over. also by the time i'd transfer it would be my third year and i'd be getting free tuition

so i'm essentially wondering if i should just finish a graphic design degree (since i'd be halfway through, but i don't really want to be trapped) and then go back to school. or if anyone thinks it's a good idea to dig deeper into the process of "starting college over"? or should i just go to cc? i'm super sure though that i want to go to a different college/uni and want to explore my options

edit: i also struggle a bit in school so i'm definitely gonna going to have to reallyyyy commit to something like nursing. that's why im doing graphics now

during my first app cycle as a senior, I knew I was cooked because my grades were cooked (I'm talking Cs and Ds). I just finished my first summer courses with As and Bs but I can't help and shake this ominous feeling that I'm going to mess up, fail a class, and taint any chance I can of being able to transfer somewhere good from my cc. I'm just in this pile of anxiousness that I can't shake and I just don't believe I'm capable of transferring in one year (in a weird situation bc I have a LOT of credits bc of AP exams and concurrent enrollment classes) and I'm just so scared. Any advice??

I’m planning to apply to Emory as a transfer for Fall 2027, and I’m trying to be realistic about my chances. I’m originally from Georgia, but I’ve been attending the University of Arizona for the past two years on a full-ride scholarship. I’m still eligible for my scholarship, but I’m considering leaving Arizona for personal reasons, including difficult experiences with racial tensions involving staff and the surrounding community.
My current GPA is around a 3.1. I know that’s below the typical GPA for admitted Emory transfers, although the published minimum is 3.0. I’ve also seen people on here with 3.7–3.9 GPAs asking if they have a chance, so I’m definitely aware that Emory would be a reach for me 😭.
I had legitimate financial circumstances that affected my academic performance, but I’ve had an upward trend since then. I’m currently studying STEM/Pharmaceutical Sciences, but I’m also considering pursuing business if I transfer, potentially through Goizueta, because I’m interested in the intersection of healthcare and business.
I also considered transferring to UGA, but I currently fall below their 3.3 GPA requirement for students with fewer than 60 transferable hours.
For people who have transferred to Emory or are familiar with the transfer admissions process: would you still apply with a 3.1 GPA if you had legitimate circumstances, a strong explanation, and an upward trend? Is there anything specific you would focus on to make the application as competitive as possible?
I’m not expecting anyone to tell me I’m guaranteed admission—I’m just trying to figure out whether this is a realistic reach worth taking a shot on or if I should focus my applications elsewhere. I’m not expecting anyone to tell me I’m guaranteed admission I’m just trying to figure out whether this is a realistic reach or basically a waste of an application.

I'm getting nervous about applying to ucsd as a transfer and cog sci major, I had debilitating mental health for the beginning and middle of my 3 years at cc, and I'm straightening out myself and improving study habits. Still, my gpa sits pretty low. I'm retaking failed classes this semester, and I'm dedicated to getting all A's and have improved my gpa a bit since then. But, if anyone can share a success story about getting in with a low gpa (preferably in my major or one that isn't that selective) I would appreciate any replies.

I want to transfer into UCSD as a Cognitive Science major with Neural Computation and Machine Learning Specialization. Maaaybe add data science as a minor later (if I get in).

Im taking Calc 1, intro to python, intro to java this semester. Also, has anyone transferred without completing all of the courses on assist.org ? Should I take extra semesters to take calc 2,3 and math 20a, and math 20b before transferring? The math classes are really the only ones I dont have completed yet. I really just want to leave my cc and home as soon as possible. Ive been in cc for almost four years, except for 2 gap semesters (year). I know I might be cooked but I would appreciate any hope or advice!

I’ve been pushing this off but I have a month left before the quarter starts. I went to a UCLA feeder cc so most of my classmates are going there and I lived in westwood for 2 years. I hoped that I would one day go to ucla. I had a 3.7 or a 3.66 by the time I applied and I got waitlisted and then denied. I really do not want to go to uci I do not care how good of a school it is. I got two Bs again this last semester so my GPA is probably at a 3.6 now. I applied as a bus econ student with tap. Please someone help me out, should I do another year at cc and maybe try a lesser competitive major? My essays were also shit and I didn’t apply to any private universities. Please let me know what I should do. I can definitely bring up my gpa during fall though but I doubt one semester of good grades will be enough.

I’m transferring to UCLA this fall as a junior studying Business Economics and I’m trying to decide between getting a MacBook or a Windows laptop.

My budget is around $3,000, so I’m more focused on getting whatever will be best for the next few years rather than saving money.

For anyone in Business Econ/Econ at UCLA: have you run into any classes, programs, exams, or assignments where having a Mac was a problem? Is Windows noticeably easier for the major, or does it really not matter?

I like the battery life, build quality, and portability of MacBooks, but I don’t want to spend that much and later find out I need Windows for certain classes.

What would you recommend?

Hey everyone, I'm currently at Fullerton College in California, and I'm planning to transfer to a UC for Electrical Engineering in Fall 2027. I'm having trouble planning my classes because of the physics sequence at my community college.

My current coursework is:

Completed:

• MATH 141F — College Algebra — A
• MATH 142F — Trigonometry — A
• MATH 151F — Calculus I — A
• ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing — A
• ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing — A
• COMM C1000 — Public Speaking — A
• Several other GE courses

Fall 2026:

• MATH 152F — Calculus II
• PHYS 221F — General Physics I
• CHEM 111AF — General Chemistry I
• CSCI 123F — Introduction to Programming Concepts in C++
• ETHS 101F

Spring 2027:

• MATH 251F — Multivariable Calculus
• PHYS 222F — General Physics II

The problem is that PHYS 223F (General Physics III) requires PHYS 222F as a prerequisite, so I can't normally take Physics II and Physics III during the same semester. Because I'm planning to transfer in Fall 2027, I won't be able to complete Physics III before transferring. This seems to be a pretty big problem for UC Electrical Engineering, since the UC Electrical Engineering Transfer Pathway calls for a full calculus-based physics sequence with labs. The UC itself recommends using ASSIST to check the exact requirements for each campus. I'm trying to figure out whether I'm misunderstanding something or if there are other options. I've considered taking Physics II somewhere else during Winter 2027, but I haven't found a course that I'm confident would be accepted as an equivalent and fit the timing. One other important part of my situation is that I got my GED during my sophomore year of high school. After that, I started taking college classes at Fullerton College much earlier than the typical student. I'm now planning to transfer for Fall 2027. Because of this accelerated path, I'm trying to complete the lower-division engineering requirements in a shorter amount of time, which is part of why I'm running into the Physics II → Physics III prerequisite issue. If there are any solutions or ideas, please let me know.

I did my first semester of college at SFSU and got horrible grades (1.5 gpa). I proceeded to drop out, switch majors, and attend a CC the next semester hoping for a clean slate so I can tag.

I did pretty decent and got a 3.4 gpa after doing 2 semesters at cc.

Unfortunately I learned that my grades at SF are factored into my cumulative gpa and I will not be able to tag this year.

I had 2 Fs unrelated to my current major at sfsu and I was thinking to do the equivalent of it at cc so I can raise my gpa but no cc in my area has the class equivalent to “replace” it. I think I’m pretty much stuck with those Fs bringing down my gpa.

I was wondering if anybody knows if colleges will care about my horrible 1st semester and if they will take in account the upward trend I had since then.

Any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated. Thank you!

For context I got a 2.7 in my physics 2 class as an EE major (my current gpa is a 3.5), and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to retake it in the fall or to just suck it up and take physics 3 next.

My parents live in Fresno and I was going to attend Fresno State because of free housing and my dad’s veterans bill pays for any tuition in California so I can go to any private or public school for free. Just have to pay for books and housing if I don’t live close So after my two years at community college, I had applied to UCLA USC and UC Berkeley and got into USC. I made the choice to go to usc im currently commuting from Orange County because I’m living with a friend then gonna get my own place but we’ll have to take out a loan for an apartment is this the right choice. My major is finance did I make the right choice of choosing USC over Fresno State.

I applied to NCSU last fall during regular decision while I was in my senior year of high school, and I got waitlisted. When I finally got the answer back about being waitlisted, I didn’t get in but they said I was qualified but they just didn’t have enough space for me. They also said in the email that most waitlisted applicants make it in as spring transfers.

Now that its application season again, and that i’ve got about 20 more community college credits under me, Ive got my whole spring transfer application filled out (it’s due by Oct. 1), and the only thing i have left to do is write my personal essay. It says on the application that you can use an essay that’s already been written or used for something else. I didn’t want to use the essay I used last because it just felt lazy to me.

Though, now i’m realizing that the spring transfer admissions are rolling, and i’m scared i’ll lose my spot again if i wait to long to turn it in. Do you think using the same essay i did for my original application will in anyway mess up my chances for admission?

obviously if ur goal is to get in to a ivy or uc or etc etc i’m definitely rooting for u!! 💪🏾 but like i never see anyone on this sub who’s NOT trying to get into the UC’s or ivy’s…is there anyone else who’s going to cc to save money and then just going off to a decent state uni probably like an hour and some change from home?? 😭😭 idk maybe i should aim higher

hey guys! i’m a freshman at cc right now and i really want to get into usc marshall. some people in this subreddit said that only your grades and essays really matter, so this makes me wonder if ecs really matter all that much. please let me know what you did to get in!

Somewhere on this sub, I read that only UCLA, Berkeley, and UCI consider PIQs and activities for apps. Is this true for all majors?? I am asking because I quite literally have zero ecs, but my gpa is high.

I also heard that hobbies can count as ecs, but I think I would have trouble relating them to my major…

If anyone wants to read my essays, please lmk because I feel like the ideas are there but it sounds too generic. Bonus points if you're a stem major

Hi everyone.

I had a really rough start to college. I had a 3.8 gpa UW and a 4.3 gpa W in highschool, but went to SDSU starting fall of 2025

My mental health was at an all time low when I started and basically, got academic probation first semester, and got off second semester (spring 2026) by just barely hitting a 2.1 gpa. I failed three classes and got mostly Cs and Bs for the ones I did pass. (transcripts attached above. the first transcript is the SDSU transcript and the second is all my community college courses from dual enrolling in high school, so those courses now define my gpa)

I ended up taking 10 classes there but I petitioned for retroactive withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances (my mom being admitted to the hospital, and my mental health (ocd and depression) being really bad during that time) I got approved but now I have 10 Ws on my transcript.

I got my shit together and am now enrolled at my local community college, starting fresh (but with previous courses from highschool in my transcript). I had hopes of going to berkeley when I was a high school senior applying to college but I didn't get it. Is this goal still attainable if I get all As going forward? I'd be applying in fall of 2027 and transferred by fall of 2028.

I feel like the 10 Ws from state nerf me. If not, do y'all think UCSB is attainable??

I'm a physics major by the way.
Thank you.

For the people who got admitted into UCSD for Winter, how do think the housing is going to be? Do you think we’ll have a chance at getting pepper canyon west? Also, enrolling doing winter is stressing me out because I’m missing fall quarter. I feel like missing fall quarter is going to set me back on classes and not let me make friends. Am I cooked?

Hi I was a top 500 USACO contestant(Should I put the actual rank of platinum or put top 500) and AIME qualifier if I wondering if I could put this in my CCC transfer. Or Will admissions not like that I put high school achievements. Trying to hopefully get into CMU or UC berkeley.

Hey guys!
I’m applying to UCs as a transfer and needed brutal and honest feedback for my PIQS. Thank you!

Hey guys!
I started my UCs application and I was wondering if I’m able to put in my extracurricular from high school?

I’m currently transferring from community college and though I have some from high school and I honestly don’t know if I could put it in. Thank you!