RafuSS
New member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2026
- Messages
- 9
I was a big fish at my community college. Top of my class. Teachers knew my name. I got A's without trying too hard. Then I transferred to UCLA and discovered I was actually a very small fish in a very large ocean.
My first finals week at UCLA nearly killed me. Not exaggerating. I had a panic attack in Powell Library at 2 AM. A stranger sat with me until I could breathe again. I never even got his name.
Here's what I learned about surviving exams at a big UC:
The quarter system is BRUTAL. At CC, I had 16 weeks per class. At UCLA, I have 10. Everything moves faster. By week 3, you have midterms. By week 8, you're panicking about finals. There's no time to fall behind.
Class size matters. My CC classes had 30 people. Here, my intro lectures have 300. No one notices if you're struggling. You have to advocate for yourself. I didn't learn this until I failed my first midterm and had to go to office hours in tears.
Office hours are essential. At CC, I never went. Here, I go every week. Not because I'm struggling (though sometimes I am). Because it's the only way professors know I exist. I've gotten extensions, research opportunities, and one very helpful "you're studying wrong, here's what to do instead" from showing up.
Study groups are survival. I found other transfers in my classes. We meet weekly. Share notes, share stress, share snacks. Knowing other people are also drowning makes drowning slightly more bearable.
Imposter syndrome is LOUD. "You don't belong here." "Everyone else is smarter." "They made a mistake admitting you." This voice is lying. It lied to me every day my first quarter. It still lies sometimes. I've learned to talk back.
It gets better. Second quarter was easier. Third quarter, I got my first A. Now I'm applying to grad school. The fish got bigger. Or maybe the ocean got smaller. Either way.
My first finals week at UCLA nearly killed me. Not exaggerating. I had a panic attack in Powell Library at 2 AM. A stranger sat with me until I could breathe again. I never even got his name.
Here's what I learned about surviving exams at a big UC:
The quarter system is BRUTAL. At CC, I had 16 weeks per class. At UCLA, I have 10. Everything moves faster. By week 3, you have midterms. By week 8, you're panicking about finals. There's no time to fall behind.
Class size matters. My CC classes had 30 people. Here, my intro lectures have 300. No one notices if you're struggling. You have to advocate for yourself. I didn't learn this until I failed my first midterm and had to go to office hours in tears.
Office hours are essential. At CC, I never went. Here, I go every week. Not because I'm struggling (though sometimes I am). Because it's the only way professors know I exist. I've gotten extensions, research opportunities, and one very helpful "you're studying wrong, here's what to do instead" from showing up.
Study groups are survival. I found other transfers in my classes. We meet weekly. Share notes, share stress, share snacks. Knowing other people are also drowning makes drowning slightly more bearable.
Imposter syndrome is LOUD. "You don't belong here." "Everyone else is smarter." "They made a mistake admitting you." This voice is lying. It lied to me every day my first quarter. It still lies sometimes. I've learned to talk back.
It gets better. Second quarter was easier. Third quarter, I got my first A. Now I'm applying to grad school. The fish got bigger. Or maybe the ocean got smaller. Either way.