Not accepted into college

[Diapers7]

I've been at a Junior college for about 3 years. After meeting with a counselor last semester. She told me to apply to the university that I wanted to go to and that I met the criteria. I went ahead and applied and didn't get in. I'm so absolutely frustrated. This is the first time in my life when I do not know what I am going to do. I know that I can re apply for next year, but that's a whole year away. What am I supposed to do for a year. I'm sick and tired of Junior college. It's a joke and I've been there long enough. I gave up the job that I had so I could take more units. All that hard work and sacrifice for this? I'm just confused. Sorry for the rant. I just need to vent.

[WakkoWannaBe]

Meet with the adviser again, go over all the stuff you sent in (like essays and stuff) with that adviser and any teachers or other friends/advisers.

[Eir]

Apply for SEVERAL universities, not just the one you want.

[Sticks]

That wouldn't happened to have been a State College that you applied too, would it?

[WakkoWannaBe]

Apply for SEVERAL universities, not just the one you want.

[Cute_Kitten]

This!

[Darkfinn]

You must be in the UK or something. Over here in the States they'll let anyone into college, it's all a money racket and they want more $$$.

[Diapers7]

I'm in California. I looked into it more and I guess I'm considered a lower level transfer student and the csu's rarely accept lower levels. I should've applied to more but I got my heart set on one school and one school only. I guess all I can do is apply again next year

[Eir]

^ May I have some fries with that?

[Diapered Jason]

You must be in the UK or something. Over here in the States they'll let anyone into college, it's all a money racket and they want more $$$.

Not if you are trying to get into a good school.

[kevindhca]

Going to school is only one of the ways to gain knowledge.

You could view the situation as a incentive to try a different path to your future.

Perhaps self-taught or online learning could deliver the info you need.

You could look into an apprentice type situation and get an job in the field you want to study. This will also provide insight into the working conditions.

Both of these options will be considerably cheaper than school, and you can earn income at the same time.

[Bettypooh]

When you limit your options, you limit your chances to succeed I like Ben and Jerrys, but I'm OK with Mayfield, Haagen Dazs, or any other 'premium' brand The main thing is that I get my Ice Cream when I want it and that it's good

[Darkfinn]

Not if you are trying to get into a good school.

[Diapered Jason]

Ivy League schools have stiff requirements, yes, but unless you are going into a very specialized field a degree from one college is equal to a degree from another. The job market is so flooded with college grads right now that a four year degree is virtually worthless anyways... employers treat them just like high school diplomas now.

[Bettypooh]

The value of the school can make a difference in some fields, and there are schools whose degrees are viewed as being worth less because of their curriculum or testing being lower than usual. But in general terms, any 'better' college's degree is worth no more and no less than any other. Just avoid the 'junk' degrees from low-grade schools and you'll do fine. In certain fields an "Ivy League" degree will open doors for you that are closed to others, but if you're going into those fields you already know that.

[Darkfinn]

In general terms, any 'better' college's degree is worth no more and no less than any other.

[Bettypooh]

Good advice right there.

[Darkfinn]

Good advice here too. I think Medical is still going to be good because even with an influx of new people, there is a large part of that field which needs experienced specialists. And even the unspecialized GP builds to a good level with time. As with any service-related field, the same goes for here: people will always need fixing as well.

[Diapered Jason]

There is also a shortage in the STEM fields. Medical research is a big driver. Even what I do is partially motivated by medical applications, but there are many challenges we need to overcome both technological and social. This can range from anything to education reform and clean water production to energy storage and production. My best advice is to pick one you really care about, find out what you can do to help fix the problem, then persue it and you should do well. Employers are really looking to hire principle driven people, not mindless cogs in a machine trying to get the big bucks or just scraping by to get to tonight's pleasure, despite what you look like on paper.

In summary, always begin with the end in mind with what ever you persue.

[Diapers7]

Is like to thank most of you for the positive feedback. Although I was disappointed at first, I met with another counselor, found out I was 2 classes from getting an associates degree in general studies, and am only 3 units short of meeting the csu requirements. I thought I had it at the time I applied but found out one of my classes was not transferable. So I'm just going to do those 2 more classes, reapply to several colleges this time, and get into a csu to get my bachelors. All in all I would say this has been sort of a blessing in disguise

[Bettypooh]

Glad you've found your pathway forward