Ok, parents, I could really use some advice. So right now I’m an environmental health major. (For those who don’t know it’s basically like a health inspector) and I am a sophomore with a 3.4 gpa at ECU. I’m not exactly very happy here. I was planning on transferring to NC State for a more prestigious school and a urban environment. The problem is that the closest thing nc state has to an Environmental health major is environmental science. While I could still technically getsome Environmental health jobs with a science degree, an EH degree is more specific with what I want to the do. So to wrap it up, what’s better… A so-so degree from a good school, or a perfect degree from a so-so school? (Ps. I would loose some money and time because some of my courses don’t transfer and I would have to basically start over.)
Er, I’d find the prospect of starting over and spend more money more worrisome than either the school or the major thing. Is it really true that environmental health majors have an edge in recruiting for those jobs? Is recruiting based on prestige of your undergrad degree? I don’t know enough about environmental health as a discipline to say for sure, but based on my time here I think college students generally tend to overvalue university prestige in recruiting. I’m not saying that transferring to NC State is a bad call, but are you sure that the prestige factor will really make that much of a difference when you’re trying to get a job?
@DmitriR Thanks for the response and help. The reputation of the schools isn’t the only thing. I am actually rather unhappy here at ECU and am not a fan of the town/student body. I could really picture myself at NC State and would love to go, but I LOVE the major I’m in here with Environmental Health. I’ts a really tough situation.
That definitely changes a lot. I’m not sure whether or not prestige or reputation matters in recruiting for your field, but if you would enjoy NC State more then that’s definitely a check in favor of that school. Are you comfortably (personally and financially) with starting over?
One thing that might help is talking to someone at NC State in the environmental science program there. It may turn out that there is some kind of concentration or recommended sequence of courses that they have over there (possibly combining the major with a minor?) that kind of approximates what you have at ECU. This isn’t really the same thing but I do know one person at my undergrad who wanted to major in quantitative finance but hated the school he was at. He ended up transferring to my school, taking a finance major with two minors in math and computer science. It wasn’t exactly the same thing but it did provide him with the skills that he needed and he ended up graduating with an offer in hand for a job at some kind of analytics company in Northern Virginia.
That might be an approach that works for you if you do end up moving to NC State - maybe combine the environmental discipline with bits and pieces of other programs at NC State that you miss from the ECU program.
Also look at the Food Science, Bioprocessing Science, and Nutrition Science department…they do researchin Food Safety.
http://fbns.ncsu.edu/state-of-the-art-research/food-safety-foodborne-disease-prevention/
Can you talk to someone about a “make your own major” and combine food and environmental classes?
Would a Public Health degree be close to what you want?
I think that the major is more important than the prestige of the school. Maybe ECU isn’t the school for you, that does not mean that NC state is either. Look for a school that has the major you want, in a location that is good for you.
I have to say . . . I took a look at the ECU program, and also at some Environmental Health programs elsewhere, and the Environmental Science and Public Health programs at some other North Carolina colleges. The ECU program is pretty unique and impressive – much more rigorous and comprehensive than other, similarly named programs I saw, and with a lot more health content than any of the general Environmental Sciences programs (and way more environmental science than any public health program). You are going to have a hard time duplicating it elsewhere.
If this is really the area that interests you, it may be worth putting together a strategy that makes ECU and Greenville at least tolerable for you. After this semester, you only have four semesters left – that’s about 16 months. People have had deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan that long . . . .
thanks for all the advice everyone it’s helping a lot 
Could you do a semester somewhere else? Aboard or in DC or at another campus? That might help. Also, can you graduate early? If you can finish one semester early and go somewhere off campus for a semester, that only leaves one year.
If you were unhappy and could find a major you loved elsewhere, I would say go for it. But if this is what you want to do, it may well be worth staying there for the next couple of years. Are you active in any activities on campus? That could help too.
I agree in that staying put at ECU is probably the best option. It seems a bit silly to start over unless you are absolutely miserable there, and I wouldn’t worry so much about the prestige.
However, I would like to point out that NCSU has a minor in health; a minor in health, medicine, and society; and a minor in nutrition (if food is your interest; environmental health is a lot broader than that, of course). I’m having a hard time accessing the course listings at NCSU, but the courses in the EH department at ECU might be replicated through courses in food science, agricultural science, nutrition, and/or health at NCSU.
Is there any way to make your current school more of a pleasant experience all around? The major really does sound perfect and assures you of a job, so although you may be less happy now, your may be more happy after graduation than you would be after graduation elsewhere, meaning you will be employed in an area you are interested in
Have you considered talking with a counselor about strategies to make your current school work socially and emotionally? I am not suggesting that you yourself are having “problems,” only that talking to someone who knows the school and the area might be helpful in terms of suggestions.
Do you have practicums or internships that will involve you more in the local area? Can you volunteer or intern?
Are there activities you could join or interests you could pursue that might make things better?
Would living off campus work better for you?
Sometimes all you need is a couple of good friends and/or an activity you enjoy.
I know a young man who left a school under similar circumstances and had to “start over” and he really hasn’t gotten back to where he was. If you can stand it, for just two more years, it might be worth it in the long run.
Are you really sure you’d be happier at NC? It may be one of those instances where the grass only looks greener-especially when it’s tough at the school you’re at now. I would try and look at what is giving you the most satisfaction at ECU, and focus on bringing more of that into your life. Especially since the major at ECU is what you want to be doing.
What are your reasons for being unhappy? Two more years staying where you are and you can be done. Find employment doing what you want. Why seek to have ultimate happiness in college? You can finish up and move on. If you switch colleges now, more time and money is spent starting over.
Please don’t be offended when I ask you to question a few things. Are you the type person who is always a bit discontent with your circumstances or surroundings? Have you switched gears like this before with other things in your life? The reason I ask is because my son is that way! Always thinks he has to be searching for something better. Complained about college tho was doing well there. Wanted to move to another apt tho he had a great place where he was, ect.
Sometimes you learn very good lessons by staying the course. This is not the rest of your life you are spending here. It is just two more years. You’d be surprised how fast that goes.