Accepted to Berkeley but I feel unworthy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feelings of self-doubt and unworthiness experienced by a student accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, for a chemical engineering major after being rejected by UCLA. Participants explore the challenges of transitioning from a community college to a prestigious university, the implications of academic competition, and the emotional aspects of acceptance into a top-tier institution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses fear of not being able to compete academically at Berkeley, feeling that their previous success in community college may not translate to the university level.
  • Another participant congratulates the original poster and emphasizes the prestige of Berkeley, suggesting that it is a great opportunity that should not be turned down.
  • A different participant shares their own experience of being rejected from Berkeley, encouraging the original poster to seize the opportunity if they truly want to attend.
  • One participant reassures the original poster that their acceptance indicates they are capable of handling the coursework, suggesting that their self-assessment of asking basic questions may be misguided.
  • Another participant encourages confidence by stating that others who succeed are not inherently special, implying that the original poster can also succeed.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of hard work and taking advantage of opportunities at Berkeley, referencing an essay about the challenges faced by disadvantaged students and how they can succeed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the original poster should consider attending Berkeley and that their acceptance indicates potential for success. However, there are varying perspectives on the challenges of transitioning from community college to a prestigious university, with some expressing confidence in the original poster's abilities and others acknowledging the difficulties that may arise.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference personal experiences and external resources, such as essays, to support their points, but there is no consensus on the specific challenges or strategies for success at Berkeley.

member 392791
So yesterday the admissions for transfer students from california community colleges were released for UCLA and UCB. I got rejected from UCLA but accepted to UCB.

I am a chemical engineering major, and two schools I got into that I cared about were UCSB and UCB. I am afraid though that if I go to Berkeley I won't be able to compete, since I am fully aware that being a "big fish in a little pond" at a community college doesn't mean anything there. It's hard to imagine how I got accepted, given that the questions I ask on this forum for physics are fairly basic.

Both schools are good for my major, UCSB is #8 in the country and UCB is #2. Do I just go for it and go to Berkeley?

My main worry is that my GPA will be really bad at Berkeley since the level of competition will be so high
 
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Wow! Well I just wanted to say congratulations! Berkeley is an insanely awesome school especially for chemistry, math, and physics. If money and commute aren't issues, I would be hard pressed to find a reason to turn down Berkeley. If I hadn't gotten rejected from Berkeley myself for freshman admissions I would have gone there in a heartbeat. Once again, congratulations :D!
 
Thank you! I wish I was a college freshman who knows graduate level general relativity like you though! Then the decision would be a lot easier to make
 
You should go. It was my dream to go to Berkeley, but I was rejected yesterday. However, I'm the opposite of you; I was accepted to UCLA (for math) but rejected by Berkeley. If you really want to go, do it! Because you could just not have the chance at all.
 
If it is any consolation, I'd like to ease your worries about the transition to UC. I am a California Community College student as well and I have already been taking honors math courses at a UC (via cross-enrollment) and would like to let you know not to worry that much. It is a lot harder than community college classes, but if you were accepted to Berkeley, I'm going to suppose that the CC classes were not a struggle for you. With hard work and lots of discipline, the UC classes are very manageable. I actually did not meet prerequisites for the courses and I received an A. You can do it!
 
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Woopydalan said:
It's hard to imagine how I got accepted, given that the questions I ask on this forum for physics are fairly basic.
If Berkeley accepted you then certainly they think you can handle it. From what I've seen, the questions you ask here are certainly not basic. I'm not sure where you got that idea but be more confident in yourself! Good luck!
 
Think of it this way; other people can do it, so why can't you? Are they special? No. They're human beings just like you are.
 
The admissions department at Berkeley clearly thinks you are worthy, and frankly, I trust their judgement more than I trust yours. :smile:

Go, work hard, and do your best!
 
if they took you, you can make it, if you work hard, and take advantage of the opportunities there.

i suggest you read the essay by Uri Treisman on success at berkeley by disadvantaged students.

"studying students studying calculus".

http://www.utdanacenter.org/downloads/articles/studying_students.pdf

this concerns why students from poor preparatory schools can fail at berkeley, and how they can succeed.
 

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