Dean's List, First Honors, and Why I Still Transferred (Yes, Really)

In 2021, I made the Dean's List at National University.

First Honors. Rank 4 out of my entire batch. A 3.64 GPA that my parents proudly framed and probably showed to every relative within a 100km radius.

Six months later, I transferred to a different university.

People thought I was crazy. They might have been partially right. 🤷

The "Perfect" Situation

On paper, everything was ideal:

• Prestigious private university ✅
• Strong IT program ✅
• Dean's List recognition ✅
• Clear path to graduation ✅
• Bank account: 📉💀

So why leave?

Because then the pandemic hit. And locked-down Philippines changed everything.

The Real Reason: Financial Reality

Here's what nobody talks about when they discuss academic achievements:

Money still matters. Shocker, I know.

Being stuck in lockdown during the pandemic wasn't just boring—it was expensive. Private university tuition doesn't care about global crises. The invoices kept coming like they were on auto-pilot.

Did you know? Private university tuition in the Philippines can cost 10-15x more than state universities for the same degree. The paper you get at the end says the same thing: "Bachelor of Science in Information Technology." The difference is the font and the debt.

I couldn't sustain the financial responsibility:

• Tuition fees kept climbing (because apparently pandemics don't come with discounts)
• Family income was impacted
• No part-time jobs available during lockdown
• Online classes didn't justify the premium pricing (paying Zoom University rates for a Yale-tier education? Sir, please.)

Something had to give.

The Math That Made the Decision

I sat down one night and did the actual calculations:

Option A: Stay at National University

• 4 more semesters × ₱80,000 = ₱320,000
• Plus stress, debt, and existential dread
• Plus COVID-era online classes that felt like watching YouTube at 0.75x speed
• Result: Diploma + trauma

Option B: Step away, freelance, fund my own education

• Gap year learning actual marketable skills
• State university tuition I could pay myself
• Real client work that paid real money
• Result: Same diploma + portfolio + sanity

I chose Option B.

My relatives stared at me like I'd announced I was joining a circus.

Did You Know?

Trivia: The average Computer Science curriculum is 3-5 years behind industry practices. By the time you graduate, the "cutting edge" tech you learned is already legacy code somewhere being maintained by a developer who hates life. Sometimes the classroom isn't where the real learning happens.

The Freelance Sabbatical

I didn't transfer immediately. I took what I call my "freelance sabbatical"—a year of building real projects for real clients while figuring out my next move.

During that year:

• Built 5 client websites (some of which are still running!)
• Learned Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind (the holy trinity)
• Made enough money to fund my own education
• Realized that learning by doing beats learning by listening
• Discovered that imposter syndrome doesn't care about your GPA

It was terrifying. No degree safety net. Just me and my laptop and clients who expected results. And Google. A lot of Google.

But it worked. I was actually learning faster outside the classroom than inside it.

Turns out, "figuring it out" is a valid curriculum. 📚

Bulacan State University: The Pivot

When I enrolled at Bulacan State University, people were confused.

"You're leaving a private university for a state school?"

Yes. Yes I am. Here's why:

1. Affordable tuition — I could pay for it myself. MYSELF. Revolutionary concept.
2. Practical curriculum — Professors encouraged building actual projects instead of memorizing theory from 2005
3. Hungry community — Students who were learning on their own, not just checking boxes
4. Web Development major — That ACTUALLY taught web development (imagine!)

And most importantly: I could sustain it financially without developing an anxiety disorder.

Did you know? BulSU's IT department actually encouraged students to freelance and build portfolios alongside their studies. Try doing that at a "prestigious" school that treats side projects like cheating.

The Result: Magna Cum Laude

Three years later, I graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Not just academically—I was building real applications. Contributing to open source. Interning at AI companies.

The transfer wasn't a step backward. It was a strategic pivot.

Also, my relatives finally stopped staring at me like I'd lost my mind. Progress! 🎉

What I'd Tell Past Me

If I could go back to 2021, here's what I'd say:

1. Prestige doesn't pay bills. A fancy university name won't cover tuition when you can't afford it. Landlords don't accept "but I went to a private school" as payment.

2. Pandemic pivots are valid. Sometimes external circumstances force better decisions than you would've made otherwise.

3. Self-sustainability is freedom. Being able to fund your own education changes everything. Nobody can hold "I paid for your school" over your head when YOU paid for it.

4. You can outwork a "better" education. Self-learning + real projects > passive lectures about outdated technology.

The Dean's List Certificate

I still have it. Framed. On my wall.

Not because I'm proud of ranking 4th at a school I left.

But because it reminds me that achievements at the wrong time don't always translate to the right path. And also because my mom would be sad if I threw it away.

Leaving National University during a pandemic was the hardest—and best—decision I ever made.

To Anyone Stuck Right Now

If you're struggling financially and wondering if your current path is sustainable—

It's okay to pivot.

It's okay to choose affordability over prestige.

It's okay to hustle your way to a different destination.

The pandemic forced my hand. But looking back, I'm grateful it did.

Because sometimes being pushed off the expected path leads you exactly where you needed to go.

And sometimes your relatives eventually admit you weren't crazy after all.

Eventually. Give it a few years. 😅