Help with a Decision.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Alright, so right now I attend the University of Rhode Island. I was really pushed by my parents to attend and everyone around me told me it was the best option for me to go to. I live in Northern CT and it is about a good hour and a half away. I wasn't all that excited applying or even going to college which kind of worries me. My teachers, friends and parents would ask me aren't I excited and I found it difficult to even fake enthusiasm. But I was assured URI was the best choice for me. </p>

<p>I can say with confidence that I am not happy here. I have made a good group of friends, mostly with people in my dorm, but I still am not happy here. The school to me seems like an extension of high school for the Rhode Island kids. With RI being so small all the in-state students are home all the time. It is empty on the weekends. The lives of the in-state kids didn't change at all with them being so close to home and because of this the school kind of lacks any real college environment. And I don't really feel like I'm being challenged in my classes. As long as I go, study for a little bit, and do my homework I will get an A. I just don't feel the school is a fit for me. So I applied to the University of Connecticut and I got in for Spirng 2011.</p>

<p>I have always liked UConn but I didn't apply because everyone told me to go "away" to college. UConn is 30 minutes away from my house but a lot of kids from my high school do go there. I know the environment at UConn. I know that their is plenty to do if you stay on campus on the weekends, I know there is more of a "college feel", I know the academics are harder, I know I'd be closer to home and I know I would enjoy myself there. But I can't bring myself to decide. I don't want to be "that kid" who couldn't handle going away to school, but I don't also want to be unhappy during what should be a great time of my life. </p>

<p>Everyone told me go away for school, but maybe I simply am a home person. I love my friends and my hometown. And my family has owned a business in town for 50 years and I plan on keeping it going and taking it over when I finish school and enter the workforce. So even after URI, I would plan to move back home permanently. And it's not like I'd be commuting or going to a community college, I'd just be living and going to a school thats only 30 minutes away.</p>

<p>I know no one here knows me personally, but if anyone would like to help me out and give me some insight on if I should make the move or not, I would really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Oh and PS...UConn is ALOT cheaper. I'm not going to go into detail about how much I am paying for school, but it certainly would be a lot less money for me to be attending UConn over URI.</p>

2

<p>Sounds like you know what to do already. The most important things about college is that you are learning to stand on your own two ( not listening to what everyone says is best for you) and that you have good time while being academically challenged. AND you would save some money in the process so being a Huskie is sounding pretty nice to me. I don’t know your world or whatever but from what you said, it sounds like UConn is better for you. Plus in terms of prestige UConn sh*** on URI. BTW, in exchange for the advice can you go flip off Brown and JWU for me ? Lol</p>

3

<p>Dude, I will give you an advice that the pros always give out “you don’t play the cards, you play the persons and the positions”. Mmmm … the poker pros actually. lol</p>

<p>But life is like that. People’s opinions are like cards that are being dealt to you. You will never be able to control them. You only know what is good and what is bad. What you really have to concentrate on is your position and your own person. That’s the only way to win when bad cards come. Don’t be afraid of what people will tell you (that kid can’t stay away from home), play it your way, dude!</p>

4

<p>UConn has better academics and the atmosphere that you’re looking for and is less expensive…seems like a no-brainer to me! It’s well into the time that you should be making decisions based on what’s best for you and your future, without regard to what other people think in situations like this. Except for your parents of course…but they’re likely to have your best interests at heart and will come around (if they haven’t already) if you can explain the rationale behind your decision.</p>

5

<p>Believe in yourself! You are not wanting to transfer because you can’t handle “going away to school.” You have very intelligent reasons for wanting to make the change - personal, social and academic.</p>

<p>30 minutes away, living on campus, is in fact “going away to school.” My S went to school over 1000 miles away; but because of Katrina he spent one term 45 minutes away. It was just as much away! He still only came home for holidays. (You may choose to do that more, and that is fine as well).</p>

<p>The fact that the cost will be substantially cheaper is a wonderful fringe benefit and could, in itself, be a valid reason for transfer - you went where everyone suggested, you gave it a go… it’s not worth the $$! </p>

<p>And it’s not worth the regrets.</p>

<p>Enjoy UConn :).</p>