<p>I am currently a Freshman at Elon University in North Carolina. I chose to attend Elon because it is fairly well-known as a "school on the rise" and it has a beautiful campus. I also heard good things about its Communications school, which is what I am really interested in studying.</p>
<p>Since arriving at Elon, I have noticed that I do not really fit the mold of the typical Elon student (i.e. upper class, preppy, Greek). I have also noticed the campus is not very diverse and the social life is pretty boring, with the only nightlife options being typical frat parties and the like. I consider myself more of an individual and I don't really have any interest in joining a fraternity (not that there is anything wrong with fraternities or Greek life in general). I just feel like I do not really gel with the average Elon student. However, I have made a decent amount of friends that I get along with well, but they have all pledged sororities and fraternities and I feel like I'm going to be left out eventually.</p>
<p>I have made strong efforts to get involved on campus. I have joined multiple clubs and organizations that align with my interests. However, these efforts have not paid off well as I have yet to meet others who share similar interests as myself and I have not had a truly "rewarding" experience.</p>
<p>My family is not extremely well off, so I had to get a fair amount of student loans to attend Elon. I am worried that if I stick it out here, I will regret my decision to attend this school as I am paying off loans for years to come.</p>
<p>I am starting to think I would be better off at a larger, public school. I am from North Carolina, so my best options for transfer would most likely be the in-state public schools. I have narrowed down these schools to two options: UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State. UNC was my number one when applying for Freshman admissions, but I ended up on the wait list and was ultimately not admitted. I have multiple friends that attend NC State and when I have visited them, I have enjoyed that school's large-campus feel and diversity.</p>
<p>Is Elon's reputation worth sticking it out there? Is the whole transfer process worth undertaking? Your comments and opinions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Both UNC and NC State are ranked higher than Elon if I’m not mistaken.
But the important thing is that YOU DON’T FEEL AT HOME.
You should go where you feel accepted, appreciated, and vice-versa.
If you have good scores, try UNC.
In fact, everything you said here can be put in the transfer essay.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response Matisyahu. I really think I would do better at a bigger school, I’m just worried that I could possibly be giving up a great opportunity here at Elon.</p>
<p>If you are truly unhappy then of course you should try to find a better fit. I do not, however, think you should discredit your friends. If they are truly your friends they will not abandon you simply because they have joined fraternities/sororities. View this similarly to you branching out and joining clubs/organizations. </p>
<p>“True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.”
<p>I think the key statement you said was you had to take out a lot of student loans to stay at Elon. While Elon is a good school so are the others you are considering, and especially if you don’t feel it is a good fit for you, why keep adding to your pile of student loans for a school you don’t really like?</p>
<p>If you want to transfer for Fall 2012, you are running out of time… deadlines are fast approaching. Look, you seem a little confused. If you are not happy, then apply as a transfer student to the schools you like. By doing all the leg work, you are pro-active and this is positive because it mentally gives you other options and you won’t feel trapped. If you get accepted to say, UNC or NC State, that’s great. You don’t have to accept if you change your mind and decide to stay at Elon. The thing is, give yourself choices. These schools are all different and all good.</p>
<p>I need help!! I am currently a freshman at American University in Washington, DC. In my senior year of high school I was very unsure of where I wanted to go, and I picked AU because I got a freshman internship and the city, and new it was a good school.
My first semester was good and bad, I found a group of friends, who I always hung out with and went out with. And we were all in the same dorm in a close family type of dorm, a little off main campus, with only 125 students. But now (second semester) I feel like I am losing the friendships, and it is awkward with my roommate most days. I feel like I do not fit in with the mold of this school, at all. Second semester I moved on to main campus with my same roommate, which I thought would be easier, and give me the ability to meet new people. But I have not found a close nitch of friends or anyone who enjoys the same things I do, or has the same interests. The campus is very small, and everyone seems to have his or her own group of friends already, also, I do not fit in with the typical AU student (preppy, very wealthy, and Greek). Both of my good (girl) friends both joined the same sorority (not my thing) and I feel left out when they go off with their new sorority friends.<br>
The campus is very diverse and a lot of international students, who tend to stick together. The nightlife at AU is pretty boring on campus, just frat parties every weekend that can get lame and repetitive. There are bunches of clubs, and bars to go out in DC but they cost money, and you need to have a fake I.D. or go to an 18+ place.<br>
I have joined an intramural basketball team, work at AU for events, and an internship with AU for sports marketing. But still nothing has not paid off and I have yet to find people that I click with. And most times I get down and feel very depressed, and lonely. I also, am very unhappy 24/7, nothing makes me happy anymore and it makes it harder to be outgoing. And right now I am not finding the good in college.
I am starting to think I really want to transfer, is this a good decision? Also, I am a very indecisive person and have been thinking almost too much what is the right thing to do. But another thing that I think about is I do not know where I want to transfer too, because I am scared the same thing will happen (socially), not the right fit, not the right college experience. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>RVA892, I completely understand what you are saying. I feel like I have made really good friends that would never intentionally leave me out, but it does stink the be the only one not involved in Greek life. If I do transfer, I am going to miss the friends I’ve made very much, but I don’t think they are reason enough to stay if I am truly unhappy here. Am I wrong to think that?</p>
<p>And ClaudineK, I have applied to both schools and am waiting to hear back, I am not 100% set on transferring yet so I am waiting to hear back from both to make my decision.</p>
<p>As I’m sure you know, students transfer a lot these days. It is far more common than when I was in college decades ago. I went to the wrong college and knew it from day 1, and I’ve always been sorry to have “stuck it out” instead of seeking a better, happier fit.</p>