I am going to guess and say you are about the same age as my daughter who is 17 and applying to colleges. She was also rejected from one of her top choices and was really, really upset about it. I know she didn't want to hear it at the time, but I told her that everything happens for a reason and that better opportunities await in the future. She had the same reaction as you -- she just said well it sucks for now and retreated, depressed, to her bedroom. About two weeks later she heard from another college and was accepted and also received a full tuition academic scholarship. While she is not yet committing to that college (she wants to wait until she hears from the other schools she applied too), she did come to me and tell me that she shouldn't have let the rejection letter get her so down (she pretty much isolated herself in her bedroom for the whole weekend and part of the next week). And that my talk with her -- about everything happens for a reason -- was right and that she should've listened to me and kept her head up.

In your case, I think you are right by saying you can enter the local branch first of the college and then transfer in later. It will mean way less stress for you and an opportunity to get some of your other issues worked out before the stress of attending a top notch college brings you completely down.

I would love to know what you decide to do! feel free to PM me if you want to share your college choice with me! Take care,