Full Careers
Please give words of advice and tips for a prospective UCSD student.?
I'm planning to transfer to UCSD for the fall '08 quarter as a biochemistry major. I completed the TAG requirements and got my acceptance letter about a week ago. I'm excited and proud for myself that I got this far but at the same time I feel scared and anxious because I don't know what to expect. It feels likes climbing a hill and being proud you made it but then you suddenly face Mount Everest in your path! I don't consider myself naturally smart and I had to bust my ass off to maintain a 3.7GPA. I keep hearing stories that everyone pretty much keeps to themselves and studies at the library all day (I heard 14 hour study sessions are normal!). I'm anxious because I've been doing a lot of reading and research about how competitive the environment is, how hard the major is, etc etc. For sure I'll try my best to enroll in the OASIS asap. I heard that joining clubs and the career center are very helpful too. I guess I'm afraid to completely let go of my social life to succeed...
Public Comments
- I was in a similar situation 2 years ago transferring to UCLA neuroscience with a 3.5 gpa. You have nothing to worry about. Trust me that you won't be surrounded by the geniuses or workaholics like you think. Some classes can be challenging, especially biochem. But it won't anything you can't handle. Be sure to take advantage of all the resources at UCSD outside of classes. There's plenty of scholarships and other programs. Don't be afraid to apply to stuff. When I transferred, the only major challenge was adjusting to quarter system. It will feel quite a bit faster, but you will adjust. Don't even worry about losing your social life. You'll find after the first quarter that a balanced schedule is very doable. Anyone studying 14 hrs a day chooses to do so. Hope this helps. Good luck!
