Advice needed on transferring!

Hello everyone, I’m in desperate need of some help so any and all advice would be appreciated. I am currently a freshman at NC State studying computer science. Ever since about my sophomore/junior year of high school I had been obsessed with attending State because of their prestigious engineering program. I refused to tour or look at any other school because I wanted to go to the best school I could get into. I think that this was a mistake. I’ve been here for roughly a month now and I do not like it. I have 1 friend who went to the same high school with me, but he went Greek and now I spend most of my time alone. I believe I want to study computer science but I don’t want my life to continue this way. My girlfriend and several other friends go to Appalachian State, and I was thinking to transfer there next year. However, I do not know if this will be a mistake or not. I love App though, whenever I go visit its so peaceful, small, and nice. I prefer the atmosphere over the atmosphere at State; the big noisy city is not for me. The only thing that would keep me here in Raleigh is the prestige of the program. I just wanted to know if where I get my degree from matters. At App I would get better grades and probably be a lot happier. BUT, if I transfer I may feel regret for the rest of my life for not staying at NC State. I do not know what to do. I know that if I get a degree from State, I may have better job opportunities in areas such as the research triangle park (which I do NOT care about at all). My goal in life is to just get a nice job in a city such as Charlotte, Winston-Salem, or Greensboro because they are all closer to home. Does it really matter where a degree in computer science comes from? Especially if I don’t want to live in a big city far away from home, and would much rather get a simple job in a relatively small city?

Thank you so much for any and all advice!

You need to get out of your room and go meet some people. Counting on your one friend from high school to be your only friend at college was not a smart move. There are clubs for you to join, study groups for you to participate in, and concerts/movies/plays/athletic events for you to attend - both on and off campus. Raleigh has a lot to offer you if you are willing to explore the larger community. Put serious effort into your classes and into making social contacts and getting to know the area where you live.

You cannot count on your girlfriend and your friends at Appalachian State being able to devote all their social time to you if you transfer there. When you visit them, it is like being on a vacation. That isn’t real university life. You also have no guarantee whatsoever that you would make better grades at Appalachian State. Comp Sci classes are challenging wherever you take them!

For some majors where you get your degree does matter. Spend some time in the Career Center at NC State, and find out where Comp Sci graduates end up. Ask specifically about placement in the cities that interest you. You may find out that investing four years in the research triangle will be worth it in the long run.