Dartmouth Dilemma

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm not sure if this post really belongs in this category, but we'll see...</p>

<p>I'm a freshman at Dartmouth-- an international student (from a bunch of random countries) on full financial aid. Basically, I'm being paid a fifth of a million dollars to be here. I know how lucky I am. There's no way my family would have been able to afford all this on our own. But I want to transfer. To Australia, or possibly New Zealand. The University of Sydney, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, or the University of Auckland... And I would have to take out a loan and start my life in debt in order to transfer to any one of these universities, because even though they are cheaper than Dartmouth, they don't really offer financial aid to international students. Also, I've been told that in most countries, American degrees earn more respect and attract more recruiters. And I have never been to Australia or to New Zealand. There's no particular reason for me to go there.</p>

<p>Those are the reasons why it would be crazy to transfer.</p>

<p>But, since coming to Dartmouth, I've realized that what people really value here is thinking outside the box, outside the American framework, and having experiences-- real experiences-- in other countries, not just being smart academically. And... I already have that. Staying in Dartmouth actually brings me *away *from that. It's isolated, it's small, and I'm kind of sick of people assuming I'm American. It seems-- limited. Going to university in a totally different country would be the best way of embracing what Dartmouth constantly preaches, if you look at it logically.</p>

<p>I had a lot of culture shock the first term. I'm getting over it, but I'm also getting restless. I'm not UNhappy here, but I'm not happy, either. It's like being in limbo. Completely neutral. I appreciate the opportunities that are being handed to me; but I can't help thinking, it might be worth it, to leave these pre-paid college dorms, leave the frozen outdoors, leave all these cheerful, friendly people who don't quite understand me-- and pinch and scrape every penny, struggle to make ends meet, just to take a chance to be happy, somewhere I've never been before.</p>

<p>Stupid reasons, really. I wish I had concrete reasons, like: I don't like the classes, or: I don't like the drinking culture. (It's true I don't like the drinking culture, by the way, but it doesn't really affect me.) That would certainly make it easier to explain to my parents.</p>

<p>I guess the main reason is that I don't feel my mind opening up and embracing new ideas, the way it's supposed to in college. I just feel slightly disillusioned. The only things making Dartmouth worthwhile at the moment are: my friends, the fact I'm saving money, and the hope that after I graduate I'll have good job offers. But those are terrible reasons! Friends shouldn't hold me back. Money shouldn't be enough to keep me somewhere I don't want to be. And job offers... all the universities I listed above are actually ranked higher than Dartmouth on the international scale. Maybe in the US it's different, but I don't think I want to work in the US, anyway.</p>

<p>So what do you think? Play it safe and sensible and stay in Dartmouth? Or take a chance? It might go badly wrong. If I knew for sure that I would be happy in Australia, then I would go without a second thought. But I really don't know if I'll like it or not. I do know that I don't particularly like Dartmouth, but I don't hate it outright, either. I could make it through the next few years. But I don't want to have to hold my breath and get through it... I want to enjoy my college experience.</p>

<p>I also know that this is a very personal decision, and really I'm the only one who knows what's best for me. But I would like some feedback and advice. I can't talk to my friends about it, because they'd only beg me to stay. My parents will probably advise to stay too, because they'll look at the financial aspect of it. So I need objective advice. Is Dartmouth really so prestigious? I'd never even heard of it before coming here. Personally, I lean towards the option of moving to Australia. I've always wanted to live there. But the idea of taking out a loan is making it harder for me to decide. Anyone?</p>

2

<p>By all means leave and make space for some young person that can at least lease a clue.</p>

<p>Dartmouth and no debt is way better than you deserve. By all means plunge into debt to chase a half formed and poorly formulated fantasy. With the current world economic situation you should have no problem paying off your loans. </p>

<p>It is really a shame that the Dartmouth adcom didn’t spot your incipent insanity. They could have invested their money in someone else that would be happy to be there.</p>

<p>Don’t be a total tool.</p>

<p>If you do embark on this ill advised, poorly considered, badly planned and generally stupid endevour, ask for a leave of absence so you have at least some chance of returning when you find that the problem is not the school, it is you.</p>

3

<p>Have you considered doing a study abroad in New Zealand? You do realize that there are study abroad programs in Anthropology/ linguistics where you can go for a term giving you the best of both worlds.</p>

<p>I am not even going to address the part as to whether you should stay or go, as there are other people like BigG who would essentially give a limb to be able to get a virtually free Dartmouth education. What some people (especially international students) would love to have your "dilemma.</p>

<p>However, if you really want to leave there will be plenty of people hoping to get your spot as a transfer.</p>

<p>It you are getting full aid at Dartmouth, suffice it to say that you do not have the resources at hand to go to school in Australia and who is going to loan you the $$.</p>

4

<p>I agree with post 2…although not quite as mean lol.</p>

5

<p>I say sleep over it. If you feel the same way tomorrow, go for it. Happiness is a very personal thing.</p>

6

<p>I would make very certain to spend significant time wherever you’re planning to transfer. It’s incredibly hard to believe there will be a more mind expanding experience at a college in Australia or NZ, but I guess anything is possible.</p>

<p>You need to figure out if what you’re looking for really exists. Great all around if it does, as others have said, most would kiss the ground daily for what you’re getting for free. Easy come, easy go.</p>

7

<p>Why not consider (as someone mentioned above) studying abroad? This way you can experience what aus/nz has to offer and also still be in dartmouth should you decide to stay.</p>

8

<p>OK. I was so outraged by the OP’s proposed action that, in addition to recommending a leave of absence, I neglected to suggest the study abroad option.</p>

<p>This was corrected by subsequent posters.</p>

<p>Good job guys. Kudos to sybbie and 3point.</p>

<p>Back in the ancient days, many of the ivies had study abroad money for scholarship students. Ask around.</p>

9

<p>He could go on multiple study abroads, all on Dartmout’s dime. My Dartmouth son is doing 3, unfortunately all on my dime!</p>

10

<p>“I had a lot of culture shock the first term. I’m getting over it, but I’m also getting restless. I’m not UNhappy here, but I’m not happy, either. It’s like being in limbo.”</p>

<p>I would agree that you are mid-way through the culture shock, but you still have a long way to go. You appear to be smack in the middle of the hating-it-here stage, it is just that your personal version is a totally-blah-about-this condition. It isn’t a big surprise that you feel a bit itchy, and would like to go somewhere else or do something, anything else.</p>

<p>The cure for this is to continue to power on through until the end of the school year without making any drastic life-changing plans. Right now you understand the differences between your current environment, and previous environments, well enough to sense where those differences are uncomfortable for you. You need to give the situation more time, so that you get to know your current environment even better. It is as though you have only about half of the information that you actually need to have in order to function well where you are. Exchanging Dartmouth for another university right now will just force you through another Culture Shock curve before you have even come out of this one.</p>

<p>Go to the International Students Office. Ask if they have a copy of “The Art of Crossing Cultures” by Craig Storti. If they don’t, get it from Amazon. Read it. Test out Storti’s model for cultural adjustment. Draw your own cultural adaptation curve on a sheet of paper and be totally honest with yourself about where you are on that V shape. I’m betting that you haven’t got to the upswing yet. You aren’t going to be able to be comfortable where you are if you don’t give yourself enough time to creep up toward the top.</p>

11

<p>It’s free for you, why would you want to change and take on more debt. Think of it this way, it’s the American experience for you. How about finishing Dartmouth and apply for graduate school to those universities.</p>

12

<p>wonderer22 -</p>

<p>Just want to add that while you are at the International Student Office asking for their files on Culture Shock, ask them for whatever information they have on Third Culture Kids (TCK) and Global Nomads. This should be really useful for someone with your background.</p>

<p>Dartmouth has essentially hired you to provide more diversity in the student body. Your contract is renewable for up to four years. Only you can ultimately decide if the benefits you receive from this contract are greater than benefits you could receive elsewhere. The potential “Prestige” of the degree you might earn is only one factor. Some other factors include whether you can study a major field you want, whether the university helps prepare you for a career that you could be happy in, and whether you are growing as a person through your social relationships. There is a lot of stuff to consider here. But, if you decide you hate it there, there is no shame in leaving. Lots of people drop out of college, lots of people transfer. </p>

<p>You can make a good life for yourself anywhere you land.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

13

<p>HappyMom gives very down-to-earth advice and specialized info on how to cope with your feelings in your particular situation. Do what she says. Every adjustment process has a ‘I-can’t-stand-this’ phase. </p>

<p>Sybbie suggests that you take full advantage of the study-abroad options your free ride at Dartmouth affords you. This could offer you the best of both worlds. </p>

<p>Another poster suggests you seriously consider waiting out these feelings you have, as there is a very huge chance that you would have equally unpleasant feelings in NZ or Oz. </p>

<p>Big G hits the nail on the head, in my opinion. </p>

<p>I think you should thank your lucky stars, finish at Dartmouth, and apply to graduate schools in the countries you are considering. I think that you transferring into an unknown but huge financial debt situation for UNDERGRAD is like jumping from a wonderful hot tub into an active volcano. It just makes no sense at all, at all. </p>

<p>I doubt that any adult would tell you to ‘follow your bliss’…especially in your pretty-wonderful situation. That’s got to be a teenager. This is a perfect example of when NOT to look the gift-horse in the mouth…</p>

14

<p>Hey wonderer,</p>

<p>I guess this post is pretty old, and you may very well have decided already. I am a student in New Zealand, and it was just interesting to read about your (then) dilemma. </p>

<p>I know several people who went to University of California as exchange students for a year from University of Auckland. For them, being an exchange student, they only had to pay the Uni of Auckland course fees, which adds up to be considerably less than UC’s fees. </p>

<p>For you, I am not sure if you want to do an exchange program, and I do not know if Dartmouth has any connections to New Zealand universities. However, the calibre of Dartmouth means that it will have exchange programs all over the world. So why don’t you ask around at the college to see what your options are?</p>

<p>I guess this may be too late to be of any help, but yeah, message me if you have any questions.</p>

<p>Victor</p>