Between a rock and hard place.... Should I transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm currently a student at a small liberal arts college in New York State, however, this school was not my first choice.</p>

<p>Originally, I'd had my heart set on Carnegie Mellon University.</p>

<p>The issue here is trying to determine if indeed I should transfer.</p>

<p>My current school is amazing in terms of small class sizes and great teachers. The amount of support here is also astonishing to me, especially in the science department, I'm a Biochem major by the way.
However, this school's population doesn't match up to well with my type of personality. The amount of diversity here is really lacking, I'm one of about 10 hispanics in the freshman class. I was always around diversity, and this is a change I'm not too happy with. And, although the workload definitely feels like a college workload, the classes seem run as though one were in high school still.</p>

<p>CMU however, has a name I would be proud to wear every day I could. Here, while the other kids are proud to already declare they are from this school, I don't have that feeling. However, when I walk around campus, in my CMU hoodie, that feeling changes drastically. Also, the CMU name, I feel, would get me the opportunities to do what I want to do with my Biochem degree, whereas it seems tougher to get those same opportunities where I am currently.</p>

<p>This is the hard part, should I sacrifice the close attention of my current school for the name and happiness I feel I would gain at CMU? </p>

<p>Even if I don't get in there, I'd be content with staying here, but not as happy as those who had this school as their first choice.</p>

<p>Comments?</p>

2

<p>I think you already know the answer. Apply as a transfer to CMU. I am in a somewhat similar situation. My current school has a well known name and everyone i know is madly in love w/ it, but i just feel indifferent towards it, i like it but i won’t shout it form the mountain tops. U Chicago is where my heart is and that’s precisely why i ma applying for transfer.</p>

3

<p>OP–</p>

<p>Give yourself some time to become more adjusted to your school. You’ve realized that your current school is not 100% terrible, which is more than a lot of students can say when they don’t attend their first choice school. You should also realize that CMU is not 100% amazing… the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.</p>

<p>Talk to your professors after class or during office hours (you can tell yourself that you’re pruning your transfer recommendations, but you’ll also be building a network of support for yourself and you might even land a cool research opportunity!)</p>

<p>If the lack of diversity is getting to you, your college probably has an AMANDLA center (if it’s the “New York Liberal Arts College” I’m thinking of, the Amandla Center is just beyond the main entrance…). You could also talk to the admissions office about helping out with diversity initiatives-- I’m sure increasing diversity is important for them as well.</p>

<p>Anyway, once you start feeling involved and integrated in your school, you will probably like it a whole lot more. And if it still doesn’t feel right, then you can think about transferring.</p>

4

<p>I don’t think Marist has an Amandla center. </p>

<p>These decisions are always better made after the semester is over. Take some time and try to enjoy your new school. Make the grades and socialize. </p>

<p>There’s plenty of time to make this decision in the future.</p>

5

<p>

It sounds as though you have found a treasure. Don’t cast it aside so lightly.</p>

6

<p>well CMU has a really high rank so I would transfer there if I were you…</p>

7

<p>I am really grateful for the advice so far, now, I have another question.</p>

<p>As a science major here at, if you haven’t already figured it out, Marist, the lecture size is about 40 students, and the labs are 20 students. The fact that the class sizes are small is a real benefit for me, because I feel I can get personal attention much easier.</p>

<p>In addition, without the presence of Grad students in the science department, come senior year, if I remain here, the labs are my domain to perform my own research.</p>

<p>However, I know that at CMU, most lectures are in halls that seat 100+, and labs would have to be around 25 or so if I remember from my visit. And, since CMU has a very large amount of Grad Students, the likelihood of me being able to do undergrad research is lower than that of Marist.</p>

<p>As much as I am hesitant to sacrifice class size and attention, I am really looking for a school that will challenge me, and I know CMU will deliver on that. Even if I can’t do my own research, I will at least be able to participate in already ongoing projects within the department and with many high ranking professors and researchers.</p>

<p>Does this seem like a valid trade-off?</p>

8

<p>???</p>

9

<p>I know people who are unhappy at CMU. No school is perfect, and the benefits of Marist’s smaller size and undergrad focus won’t exist at CMU. Academic challenges can be found anywhere. If you do well freshman year, and get to know some of your professors, you may be able to volunteer your services to one of their pet projects. Since you are miserable, I think if you give Marist a chance, you’ll find your niche.</p>