Can't Choose: Transferring vs. Not Transferring

<p>I am currently a freshman college athlete at a small private college and so far it has gone pretty well. I walked on the team, have a group of friends, and have been getting acceptable grades. So why am I posting about transferring school? I am still baffled by this, because things have gone, in some people's eyes, "Ideally." Honestly, this year has felt so very dry. I am not looking for advice to transfer, because I am homesick and want to be closer to home, because I am currently about 900 miles away from home, and want to move to a school that is also many miles away. </p>

<p>You see at the college that I am debating to transfer to, is also a small liberal arts college, with d3 athletics. I know this college because my best friend, who is currently finishing up his 5th semester goes there. There is something about his school/group of friends/education that is just, in contrast to my experience, colorful. Before I get into this, let it be said that i know he is going to have better developed friendships he has been there for almost 2 and a half years, but I still have a desire to transfer. His professors seem so personal, his group of friends and what they do are much more me. To be as honest as possible, I envy him. It seems at my campus with all my group of friends, we just play video games, watch tv, drink, and do homework and that is our life, and work out, which I do everyday and enjoy. </p>

<p>I understand, that many find it pointless or inconvenient to transfer (my parents) I just know that because I lived with them for 18 years, I haven't even talked with them about this and haven't decided what I am going to.</p>

<p>I understand the athletic burden of transferring, which I am willing to endure, because where i am at one won't play until junior year, unless you were very highly recruited.</p>

<p>I don't know what to do yet, and thought I could get some good advice from you guys reading it, I know it takes time to settle into a new place, but it is something I have never experienced, and that is coming from someone who lived in Austria for 9 months without seeing any friends or family from home for the entire 9 months. I enjoyed everyday of those 9 months, and to think I was only 16 years old.</p>

<p>THanks, I hope i get some good advice.</p>

<p>It seems to me that you are content at your current school but the experiences your best friends has makes you wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. As a transfer student myself, if I had all that you had at your current school I would stay. Transfer only if you are unhappy. No school is perfect and also note that the experiences your friend has is his not yours. It will be different for you especially coming in as a transfer.</p>

<p>I’m in a kind of similar situation: My school is ok, I have friends, but I still want to transfer closer to home. </p>

<p>Only you (and your parents) can decide if the pros of transferring outweigh the cons, but I will say that you’re in a much better position to decide whether or not to transfer than someone who never adjusted to their school. You’ve adjusted, but its just not for you. </p>

<p>First I would talk to your parents though, especially if they are the ones who pay for your college, because you’ll need their approval. Hopefully they will understand. </p>

<p>I also understand the travelling a lot thing. I traveled a lot early in high school, being gone for up to 2-3 months a summer with bare minimum contact with my friends and family. I thought because of I enjoyed those experiences I would enjoy going to school far away. But being abroad is just different than being at a college far away from home, for whatever reason.</p>