“I have to go to a UC.” This is the typical answer when you ask teenagers where they want to go to college. However, the ubiquitous desire to be admitted to a University of California can lead to feelings of intense competition and pressure among students.
Most of these universities have relatively low acceptance rates, with UC Berkeley having an 11.6% acceptance rate and UC Los Angeles having a rate of 8.8%, according to the 2023-24 freshman admit data provided by the University of California website.
Some students put UCs on a pedestal compared to other schools, such as community colleges and California State Universities (CSU). Because it is a common desire among students to attend a UC, these schools are dignified and more students feel obligated to apply there to prove themselves successful. In actuality, each person’s career path is different and the college one decides to attend does not deem them a failure or a success. Choosing a college should be a personal and uninfluenced process, rather than being based on what route others are taking.
Hive mentality, which “is when a person has a strong tendency to fall for group decision-thinking,” according to WebMD, often has an influence on individuals when entering an unfamiliar stage in life. As adolescents, thinking about and entering college can be daunting as there are a vast amount of possibilities. Some students may feel inclined to enroll at a UC since that is what most of their peers are striving for. Thus, lower achievement tends to be associated with going to a CSU or a community college, causing some students to avoid considering these options.
Although some may argue that UCs unequivocally offer better education and lead to more prosperous careers, success can be equally achievable when attending other colleges. Many factors can lead to a successful future, including internships, extracurricular activities, and rigor—not simply the college one goes to. According to the BestColleges article “UC vs. CSU: How do the two university systems compare?” by Genevieve Carlton, “UC schools were meant to emphasize research and theoretical subjects. In contrast, Cal State schools were meant to train learners in practical topics with focused career paths.” The title “UC” is associated with prestige and status, which plays a role in how students tend to view themselves and others depending on the college they attend. Nonetheless, CSUs and UCs are both promising choices for certain individuals depending on their personal preferences and ideal career paths.
Another alternative is community college, which tends to carry the stigma of being a last resort. The U.S. News article “5 reasons to consider community college” by Andrew Warner states that the benefits of community college include flexible scheduling, which allows students to work or tend to other areas of their lives, and focused workforce training. “From culinary arts to automobile mechanics, community colleges offer a broad selection of professionalized coursework that four-year universities often do not,” Warner said. Additionally, tuition fees for CSUs are generally much cheaper than UCs while community college tends to be free, which is an advantage for those who are looking to save money.
When many students strive to attend a UC, it tends to be put on a pedestal, and other options are disregarded. CSUs and community colleges being less frequently discussed and considered lower in value can be misinforming. In essence, the type of college a student decides to attend should be based on personal needs and preferences, rather than what their peers aspire to do.