help with a tough choice...

Transfer Students
1

<p>Well, to give you a short background on myself, I go to ASU on a national merit scholarship, and am in my 2nd year. Right now I am a Classics major, but am doing the premed requirements, and plan on applying to med schools at the end of undergrad. In my 2nd year, I have over 100 credits, although I can't technically graduate in a semester or so because I need to get the pre med reqs done. Anyway, here is my dilemma. I was supposed to go play soccer in college, but a broken leg kinda ended that my senior year. Now, I have never been crazy about ASU, my life is fine and all, but I don't have the circle of interesting friends I had hoped for, classes are pretty boring, and I just don't feel a sense of community here, like I'm involved with the school. So I have always been in love with Oberlin College as a school, and I have talked with the soccer coach on a number of occasions and he still says that he would love to have me come. And I would really love playing soccer again. Most importantly, I think the switch would just offer me more of the "college experience". I'm not as happy as I could be here. Now, the argument for staying at ASU goes something like this: I only have two more years left, I am getting a 4.0, and plan on keeping it, and if the goal is to get into med school, would the transfer really benefit me in the long term? Besides, I would have to pay for Oberlin (I think, if the money issue were taken out of it, I would transfer). Okay, so I know I'm the only one that can make this decision, but I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation, or could offer any bits of advice to me....okay, and one last thing....that sums up all the really necessary information, so feel free to not read the end of this. But I would like to hear some input on this as well:</p>

<p>Last year, I met a girl. We dated for over a year, and I fell head over heels in love (as far as I know what love is). She has always been my friend before my girlfriend. I know this sounds corny and all, but in truth, I have never felt like I have connected with someone in the same way, and I feel like she can bring the best out of me. As James Taylor would say: I feel fine anytime she's around me now (hah I couldn't resist). Anyway, over the last few months, she's found a new guy, they have started dating, and we've had our inevitable problems about it. But somehow we're still going strong. Like she can still tell me everything about their relationship, and I'll always listen, and it has just proven to me how close we really are, apart from a relationship. Anyway, I couldn't imagine leaving her. Am I completely insane? I may be, but it would break my heart. I know that I can't make a choice for someone else, but has anyone been in such a situation. I know this sounds like the stupid boyfriend complaint that has been disastrous for many before me, but I don't know, she's just my best friend. I couldn't imagine waking up and not having the prospect of seeing her everyday. Okay, I'll shut up....Any advice on my decision one way or the other??</p>

2

<p>If you can swing the finances, I'd say go with Oberlin.</p>

<p>As for the girl issue, if the two of you are still close and care about eachother, then going to Oberlin will not change that. Going to Oberlin (provided you do well), will help with grad schools more than ASU will.</p>

<p>Just my two cents.</p>

3

<p>i can only comment on the girl thing........ i had a best guy friend who lived 3k miles away for 3.5 years, right now its going on 5 years and we are engaged, still 3k miles apart b/c i am in ucla and he is in new york for law school.</p>

<p>What you two share is going to go beyond X amount of miles, if what you say is truly there. Eventaully, after graduation, if she shares what you share for her, nothing will keep you both apart. </p>

<p>It does take one party a bit longer to come around to the fact that feelings are legitamate and mean more than friendship. Friends make better lovers in th end anyways.</p>

<p>In regards to the schools, i do not know anything about ASU or Oberlin, but i would say that if you want to go to med school, your GPA (and MCAT score) are a lot more important that what school you went to.</p>

<p>How confident are you in your ablity to maintain a high gpa at Oberlin? Meaning could you with confidence maintain atleast a 3.7+. If not, then i would stay at ASU. </p>

<p>Also how confident are you in your choice to go to med school? </p>

<p>Also, you know your ability to maintain that 4.0 at ASU, but once the premed requirments keep coming, i am sure that there is a chance you might drop to 3.8+.......... but atleast with your current 4.0 you know that at the end of the 4 years in a worst case scenario you can still count on something in the vacinity of 3.8....... at Oberlin, you will be doing mostly upper level courses, and your premed requirments, you really can not count on that high gpa until you alteast complete a semester there and see how you do.</p>

<p>Do you know how much more difficult/ if at all Oberlin is than ASU?</p>

<p>Also, your on a scholarship, if Oberlin provides a scholarship for you then i would say its a real consideration, if no scholarship you really have to consider the amount of debt your looking at upon graduation. If your parents would help you pay for oberlin, you should consider that the money they may have may be put to better use by being saved for Med school. I would say money is a big factor if you want to go to med school, you want to minimize your debt AS MUCH as possible in undergrad b/c your really not going to be able to minimize all that much for Med School.</p>

<p>with aims of med school, i would probably stay at ASU b/c based on what you said it appears to be the easier choice, and Med school is very numbers oriented, you seem like you would have more of a chance to spend your summers studying for the MCAT and an easier time keeping a 4.0...... with Oberlin you would have give yourself a decent amount of time for adjustment, then with additional school activities and etc, you probably will not have as much time for the MCATs. </p>

<p>I would just try to really focus on Med school b/c that would seem more important in the long run if that is what you really want. And it just seems you have a better chance of making yourself look excellent on paper at ASU.... once again b/c it just appears it would be easier for you.</p>

4

<p>I have no way to assess the whole money situation, but otherwise, go to Oberlin. You plainly state that you're not as happy as you could be; do something about it.</p>