Advice for a lost soul??

Transfer Students
1

<p>Here's the deal. I am currently a freshman at Boston University. I've lived in this area all my life, but I've quickly learned that being in the city 24-7 is not for me. From the amount of people to just the plain unfriendliness of most people, I've quickly become turned off by the school. Problem is I'm here on a full scholarship. </p>

<p>In my original college search, I was accepted to my perfect match school: The University of Notre Dame. In the end, though, my parents convinced me to do the reasonable thing and take my scholarship to BU. I can't explain it, but I feel like I made a horrible mistake by not going to ND. I have now begun to entretain transferring to ND. My other option is commuting to BU next year (which is definitely a possibility). I'm concerned somewhat about the money, especially should I decide to go to grad school.</p>

<p>So, what would you do? Should I throw away the money and go to Notre Dame (where I think I would be much happier) or gut it out here at BU and take the free education?</p>

2

<p>Wow....tough call. My first thought is that its too early to be so sure you want out. Give it a chance, get to know some people and your department better before jumping. A full scholarship means that you are wanted by your school and that they will go out of their way to make you happy. You probably will be more likely to get opportunities because of your status. These are huge advantages for a student. You will have no money problems, can take unpaid internships if you wanted, not have to work while in school and have immediate respect from your department. Graduate debt free and go to grad school..........at ND.........where you will get a paid fellowship because of all the opportunities you took advantage of as #1 student ay BU.</p>

<p>I don't know. How happy will you be $90,000 in debt? Give it some time, look into transfer statistics and process so you can figure out how much time you have before you have to decide. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Dude the grass is always greener if you make yourself think this way. I think your want to go to ND has made you you resent BU. You probaly heard this already but you have an oppurtunity people would kill over. I say you try to make the best out of a situation that isn't that bad to begin with and just go with it. Hell, it's freakin' early I mean it's september so I say you take your time and and try your heart out in every aspect at BU from academics to social endevours for a couple od semesters and if things still ain't working try to transfer to ND. Good luck and just try to like BU you might end up having a blast there.</p>

4

<p>Well, first off, I am a BU senior, and I, too, thought a lot about transferring. I also commuted for part of a semester, and I would highly advise against that.</p>

<p>Before I weigh in, have you figured out what you want to study yet? Are you entertaining any thoughts about graduate school?</p>

5

<ol>
<li> Who would be paying for Notre Dame?</li>
<li> I do not believe there is such a thing as One Perfect Match school. I don't mean this to disrespect your feelings or the appeal ND holds for you. But it might help you to question whether this is really a valid notion.</li>
<li> If you would be paying for Notre Dame and would have something like the $90K in debt that the above poster suggested, what other things might you do with even a small portion of that money - either now or later? Travel during the summer? Take a semester or year abroad and travel extensively while there? Etc, etc?</li>
<li> Transferring might be right for you, but I think you should consider these angles and those others have suggested.</li>
</ol>

6

<p>Thanks for the input guys. I actually am taking all these angles already, but I was just throwing this out there for some other opinions. By no means I have decided after two weeks that I am absolutley throwing the money away. To answer a couple questions, I am currently undecided on a major. Second, ND had originally offered me a pretty generous aid package, so I am hoping the debt would be in the 30-40 K range (especially at 3 years instead of 4). Also, I feel forced to commute a little right now, not because I can't live away from home, but because I find being in the city 24-7 impossible. I think that's everything that was asked. So again, I have slowly taken steps to look into this and I am not jumping into anything prematurely. I plan on taking the trip in March and then deciding sometime shortly after that if I really want to pursue this. Thanks again.</p>

7

<p>I don't even think 30-40k is worth going to a great school for free. You just got there, don't know your major and still sorting yourself out, slow the hell down and relax. You are just making it worse for yourself by telling yourself you can't live there and that ND was the perfect, etc, etc. </p>

<p>It's really in your mind and I think you'll be able to get along in BU just fine and learn to love it.</p>

8

<p>Well, my suggestion would be as follows:</p>

<p>1) Do your best to get the best possible grades you can. The worst thing you can do is get discouraged, and perform poorly academically. A sub-par college transcript will preclude you from transferring, even if you were admitted as a HS senior. </p>

<p>2) You do not even know what you want to study, so the notion that you have a perfect school out there is probably illusory. What are some of the fields you are considering studying?</p>

<p>3) Make sure, in the process of getting good grades, that you get to know at least two of your professors. It is never too early to swing by office hours to say "hello." You will need two faculty recommendations to transfer, so bear this in mind. Also, note that you'll have to give them a month or so warning, so be sure to keep your eyes open as far as deadlines go.</p>

<p>4) What makes you think that you'll be much happier at Notre Dame? I assume you've visited it, and really like the campus. However, keep in mind that you are clearly going home with a fair amount of frequency. You will be unable to do this out in Indiana, for sure. </p>

<p>4a) Are you sure it's the city you cannot stand? It's not uncommon to be, well, a "lost soul" during your first few weeks in college. I know I for one got accustomed to the city pretty quickly. It was loud dorms that irked me.</p>

<p>5) If you're heart is set on it, send out the application. You will regret it if you don't, but give it at least 3 more weeks before you commit. I personally sent out transfer apps to some pie in the sky schools, but ultimately decided not to pull the trigger, largely because of geographic concerns, and because I gained an affinity for my academic department in the interim between applying and enrolling. </p>

<p>I am glad I applied, and I am glad I stayed. I have doubts sometimes, regarding graduate placement, but in the final analysis, I think I made the right choice.</p>