I am currently a freshmen nursing major at a small university in Pennsylvania. I thought about transferring when I first got here due to lack of diversity in the people/classes. And I still want to transfer at the start of my junior year so fall 2021. However, since my school is super small (less than 2000 undergrads) and a Christian school, the community is tight. I appreciate this but I still feel like I don’t belong in a certain group. I have a group of friends which I am around most of the time but I don’t have the same interests as them and it makes me feel lonely even with people around me. So, I am so scared to tell my friends that I may be leaving to another school.
I am also scared to tell my advisor that I want to transfer. One of main reasons that I want to transfer is due to money/economic problems with my family. I live in NY where the rent is $4k+ a month, in a small apartment for 5 people, including me; next year, all my siblings will be going to college so $20-30k each for 3 people, my parents work life is not going to great). Also, because of the stuff I mentioned above. I fear that my advisor will judge me and rebuke me and make me stay (although I am just being paranoid). I plan to schedule an appointment with her the beginning of sophomore year b/c I am home due to COVID-19.
I really want to switch to a cheaper school and one that is close so I can commute. However, I don’t know what will happen. Any advice for this situation?