I think that your reasons make a lot of sense — but even more important, you don’t have to decide right now. All you need to do is get your transfer application in on a timely basis. Given your desire to attend a small directional U, you probably are pretty certain of admission. But you can make your final decision in the spring - or even attend the summer session you mentioned and transfer in the fall. Or not, if at the end of the school year you decide that you have a different view of things.
I think you should maximize the opportunity you have now at Northeastern – taking the sort of courses that interest you but wouldn’t be available at the local state u.
Make it your own education. If you end up spending a year at NEU, and getting your degree from Podunk U… you will still be a person who has had that year at NEU … so optimize that opportunity for yourself.
My son graduated as a transfer to a directional state U, after having spent 2 years at a more elite and expensive private LAC. He doesn’t even list the first school on his resume. His reasons and time frame for transferring were difference than yours, but he had a very positive experience at the state U., certainly more impactful on his life than anything he did or could have gotten from the private LAC. It’s not the name of the school that counts – it is what you make of it. I do remember my son mentioning that a lot of the students at the state U. were planning on going into teaching, and he felt that the coursework in other classes was strongly geared toward meeting their needs. So in the end, you may find that the directional U. is a better fit as well as being a more economical choice.
But bottom line-- because you don’t have decide whether to actually transfer until the spring (or even later --you can always put down a deposit to hold your space while you continue to weigh options) — there is no good reason I can see not to move forward with the application process. At this point, all you are doing is creating another option for yourself.
My daughter has wanted to be a math teacher since 5th grade. We counseled her to major in math, and then get a masters in education. This way she has flexibility in her career path. She is currently a HS Math teacher.
I also know of a daughter of a friend who wanted to be a teacher for ever…she was in Future Teachers of America club in HS, etc. But when she started student teaching she found that she didn’t like teaching after all.
So I would make sure you have flexibility in your future career path.
Agree with @wis75 that if you want to teach in the Midwest, paying a lot more for NEU makes zero sense. As for the prestige/name; maybe NEU has that in the Boston area–certainly not in the Midwest.
And honestly, if you decide that you want to change careers in the future, going to a brand-name school for a masters in the future may make more sense. Hopefully by then, you would have been able to save up a little or get tuition reimbursement or attend part-time (teachers have lots of time in the summer; which means you may be able to work then as well).
I think this is very smart – to consider the university where you attend in relation to your cost and whether it fits well with your plans for the future. It is very difficult to figure this out prior to enrolling, but you have the experience there and actual cost of attending.
As others have said, you are on the right track. Apply to where you might want to go, and then continue to think about this as the year goes on so that when it comes time to make a decision you are ready. I would recommend that you end up with a cost/institution comparison (NE for $25K vs. X university for $?), and then you can line up the pros and cons of each one.
Thank you all for some incredibly helpful advice! I’m definitely not going to make a final decision until I have a direct cost comparison, and that won’t be until the spring. But I’m getting everything ready to apply so that the option is there if I want it. I’m leaning toward transferring right now, but we’ll see as the year goes on if I can resolve any of the issues here.
Again, thank you to everyone! I’ll be sure to come back and post an update when it’s relevant.
Things worked out… not so well with the financial aid office. After two attempts at an appeal, and an appeal of the appeal, my aid actually decreased. Just don’t ask me how. But that’s the final word, and I wouldn’t be able to get any adjustment to that until the middle of next fall.
But anyway, moral of the story is that I’m planning on transferring. I’ve worked out a budget, and I don’t want to go too in depth here, but I save a significant amount.
In the end, I’m really glad that I’m having this first year “college experience” but I’m also happy that I’m going to be saving for the long run - so that I don’t spend my first years after college missing it.
Thank you to everyone who offered such good advice!
My next question is - how do you all think would be the best way to go about telling family members (and random others) who placed a lot of emphasis on my accomplishment of going away for college on a scholarship? Also, I have a feeling it may come up at some HS alumni events (and eventually people will notice that I’ve moved) and I’m not so sure I know how to handle the perception of it looking like I failed and came back home. Usually the “it was too expensive/couldn’t afford it” shuts people up, but I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with that being my standard response.
ARen’t you transferring in part because the new school is a better fit for your career plans? You say “I’m transferring because I’m changing majors and this school is better and a lot more affordable. Northeastern was great, but this is better.”
@whitespace as for alumni events… in a few short years, a lot of the who went where and when and how and why … well that all gets blurred together. People figure out that life happens and the details are just not that important. I wouldn’t give any thought to alumni anything.
I think your best to stay at NE. That is a fantastic school for what you have. You said your FIN AID package allows you to attend with no loans. That is such a fantastic deal that you should not leave. The whole reason people pay so much to attend NE is because of the quality of the school and its Co-op. Many, many of your classmates are graduating with $50-60k in debt. You will have a NE diploma for no debt! Unbelievable.
I know students who gave up full ride scholarships to attend NE (and go into debt) because of the famous co-op program. You are basically guaranteed a job! How do you beat that! You will slide right into the workforce with no debt.
As far as your masters degree goes, if all you have to do is borrow for your masters then your still ahead. You will have a huge jump on your classmates and peers.
I disagree with you Mass… The OP wants to teach and his current school does not offer that undergrad major. Northeastern does NOT have the same reputation out of its area, I had never heard of it until CC and I’m sure many/most in other areas, especially the Midwest with its great public U’s, will not be familiar with it either. Go to the Midwest as the OP wants to and NE will not be a known entity. In education experience then a masters sounds more like the way to go- all theory and no in the trenches knowledge does not sound like the teacher I want for kids.
@whitespace you are not moving back until next May so why bother with these discussions at ulumni events or with family already? Don’t talk about it yet. Have you even applied to your directional? I honestly think you should have tabled this decision in your head until spring so u can enjoy your remaining time at NEU without already being in “exit” mode. You have been there only 2 months and remember how things change really quickly (just 3 months ago you were dying to get away from your area and exert your independence from your family). Have you spoken to your NEU advisor?
@MassDaD68 I would also slightly disagree, I’m not “guaranteed” a job… and to participate in co-op, especially as a non-STEM major, actually takes significant financial investment. The choice is between no loans, but spending all of my money, or transferring and saving several thousand dollars each year.
@wis75 Thank you for the comparison between NE/Midwest, that makes a lot of sense.
A lot of the co-op positions in social sciences, arts, humanities, etc. are not paid or are on a “stipend” so you’re stuck with the financial burden of supporting yourself working a job, but without the pay or school financial aid.
As far as I know, the only scholarship that supports co-op (besides smaller ones from GEO for writing about it) is the Presidential Global Scholars, and that’s only for international co-ops, which aren’t likely to be paid anyway.
Same reason internships are skewed toward kids from families who can support months of unpaid work.
Maybe I should just step back and ask why you picked NE in the first place? Here in New England people select NE because of the Co-Op program. In fact people are willing to pay $10-20K per year more for that program. The expectation is you will walk right into a job at graduation. Nothing is guaranteed but NE allows one a high probability of landing a job.
But your point is well taken that some majors lend themselves to a paying co-op better than other majors. That however would be nationwide and not particular to NE.