When your school just doesn't "fit"
Mar 13 '00 (Updated Feb 21 '04)
The Bottom Line The decision to transfer schools is not one to be taken lightly; however, in my experience it was the best decision I could have made.
Transferring universities after my Freshman year caused a whole lot of headaches, stress, and sadness as I left my friends; nevertheless, it was also probably the best decision I could have made.
When one is unhappy at her present academic institution, she frequently begins to wonder whether she made the right choice. I am of the opinion that a 17- or 18-year old is too young to really know what is best for his or her interests and career path, anyway, as evidenced by the frequent change of majors and the large group of students who transfer schools each year.
There are many occasions for one to consider transferring schools. Based on my experience, I will attempt to list them below and provide my own critique and suggestions how to combat the problems. As this will take up a lot of space, I will write another epinion (very soon) which deals with the actual act of transferring itself. My list is as follows:
1) Unhappiness with the social environment. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just feel like you do not belong. We all have that feeling, and while it should not be trivialized, it should also not be one's chief motivating factor for transferring schools. There are many routes you should take before making the decision to transfer. First, you should really make an effort to know everyone on your hall. If you don't like to go out, I'd suggest sucking it up for a night and asking some hallmates out to dinner. You may be surprised at who you get to know, and you will likely find there are people with your same interests. Second, you should also attempt to become involved in some activity or sport. Many colleges offer intramural sports, which are a great way to meet people. In addition, there are many clubs, fraternities, and sororities. Think of something which suits your interests, and join! I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity, and met over 70 new people. While you may not feel you have the time or energy to join an activity, I feel the benefits outweigh the fact it may put a cramp on your time. Often, one's best friends are those who participate in an activity with them. If you have tried the above and are still unhappy with the environment, you could pursue a transfer; however, there is no guarantee that the social scene will be any better at your new university.
2) Inability to afford the present institution. If one is on scholarship or financial aid, and this money is not renewed for the next year, it poses an extreme financial problem. This happens more often than not (I knew two people my freshman year who did not re-qualify for scholarship assistance). There are definitely other options you could pursue before making the final decision to transfer. One is to visit your school's financial aid office. Sometimes, if the financial aid officer is informed that you will be leaving if you do not receive some sort of assistance, he or she will make an extra effort to put together another aid package for you. At the very least, the office will have applications for government loans, loans from the private sector, and scholarship opportunities. Look at www.fastweb.com for thousands of postings for annual scholarships: while many are geared only toward incoming college freshmen, there is a significant amount for students of all ages. One other factor to consider is that many schools deny aid to transfers, or offer meager aid packages. This is because they have to offer aid to incoming freshman first. Therefore, if you're transferring to an institution with a cheaper tuition rate, but they do not offer any aid, it could pose a problem if you're extremely limited in funds. Investigate!
3) Incompatibility with academic program. This is the reason which motivated me to transfer schools. I entered Indiana University as a journalism student. I soon realized I was not cut out for the degree program, and I switched to Public Policy, which was another interest of mine. Again, the program was not a great fit, and I was able to discern that I would rather study international affairs and foreign policy. Unfortunately, Indiana University did not offer such a program, which mandated looking elsewhere. In my opinion, there are no options to this dilemma. You should not stay at an institution that does not offer a degree program you completely love, period. I could not imagine wasting 4 years studying something that did not interest me, only for the sake of staying in a comfortable environment where I had lots of friends.
4) Homesickness. While this is also a sentiment which should not be trivialized, you must also weigh the pros and cons of transferring schools to be close to home. If a family member is sick and you feel the need to be nearby, by all means, transfer. Only *you* know what is right to do in this situation. However, if you just miss home or a boyfriend or your friends, transferring schools may not be the best option. For example, you must consider whether the new school has an appropriate academic program for you, and whether you would be able to afford it. Just as in #1, joining new clubs and activities may help you meet people and take up more time, and feelings of homesickness may fade away by the time your first year is complete.
I hope I have not left out any possibilities. Surely, there are more, but these are the main ones I have encountered in my own experience and in talking with fellow transfer students. Transferring schools is not an option that should be taken lightly; it involves a lot of extra work and much stress. If there is another option for you, by all means, explore it... but keep in mind that often we can make an effort on our own to make the university more tailored to our needs. Best of luck in making a decision that could change the rest of your life :)
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Krissieliz
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: Washington, DC
Reviews written: 104
Trusted by: 287 members
About Me:
I'm a lawyer who loves to laugh, nap and watch bad TV.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.