u/Alternative_Cat3704

For reference, I am currently a second year student at a T40 4-year school. I have a lot of gen eds done already, but could probably squeeze out a year at CC due to failing some classes. My grades right now are bad (failed classes lol). I am originally from California, took 7 APs and have 5 courses at a CCC due to dual enrollment in high school (All As). Would it be possible to transfer to a UC if I got good grades for a year at a CCC? Would they judge me for bad grades at a previous institution? Or only look at my CC GPA?

So this year I failed a few classes and my average was almost low enough that I would be forced to withdraw. When my first failing grades came out and I realized that my biggest fears might end up coming true, I started to think about what I would do if I actually did end up failing out.

I would move back home, enroll in community college, and hopefully be able to continue my degree at a different 4 year university. When imagining this, I suddenly felt so much relief. I would be forced to leave the school that I hate, the job that I hate, the extracurriculars that stressed me out, and start over from scratch somewhere new. The idea was so freeing that I almost started hoping I would fail out.

Alas, I think I will just be put on academic probation for now. I know it sounds weird that I was kinda hoping to fail, and it's probably unlikely that any "good" 4 year schools would take me as a transfer after seeing so many Fs on my transcript, but just imagining a different reality where I could've escaped this school made me happy for a second.

I would never intentionally fail, and I genuinely tried my best this term, but all the pressure and sadness caught up to me in a way it never has before. Has anyone else experienced this before? Do you think it's better to stick it out at a school you hate, or risk it all to go somewhere you'll be happier?