I am a freshman at a tiny liberal arts college about 1.5 hrs from home. I’m almost definitely transferring schools next year for a few reasons.
-I do not like the size or location of the campus. It only has 1,100 students and is located in a residential neighborhood with absolutely nothing around besides a small downtown. The campus itself is also tiny, and it takes only 10 minutes to walk the entire campus. I thought I wanted a small school but I feel like I’d prefer medium (3-10,000).
-My current college has no business school and does not have the major I initially wanted. Since it’s a LAC, it offers either Econ or Business, and one of those degrees cannot compare to Finance (which is what I initially wanted to do) in an actual business school. They are also approached as social sciences because the school is liberal arts.
The only thing is, I feel guilty. I have an uncle from California who loves my current school and flew out here in August for the sole purpose of helping me move in. He also came to see the campus in April once I made my decision and was blown away and extremely proud of my choice. My grandparents also love my current school and couldn’t believe how beautiful the campus was when I showed them around one day. None of them know yet that I’m transferring, and I feel guilty because of how disappointed I will be. I applied to 2 top notch business schools and 2 less prestigious, but still good, ones, but I still know they’ll be sad and disappointed in me leaving. Especially my uncle, since he went completely out of his way to help me move in and adjust to life at my current school. I’m afraid he would be so disappointed in me leaving and feeling like he did all that stuff for me for nothing. I would be commuting to 2 of the schools I applied to because they are only 20 minutes from home, but I feel like it will add to his disappointment if I go to one of those 2 and live at home. Parents, do you have any advice for me? And do you think I’m being paranoid about how my uncle will take the news? All of the schools I applied to are in urban areas with a lot more to do on and off campus than my current school as well, so I know they are better fits for me.
Guys, not meaning to be rude but please respond! I know I have a lot of views so far, but no posts. There is also nothing to do on my current campus on the weekends besides drinking (which I don’t do) because all of the non drinkers go home since they live so close, and I have joined clubs, but they never meet because they have such small enrollment.
This is your life and you should leave this college if it is not what you expected or desire for your academic and career goals. You don’t mention anything about costs. Will the cost of the new school be the same or less? If so, you needn’t worry. And who pays the costs of your college–your Uncle or grandparents? If not, again no need to worry about hurting their feelings. This is about your college education and your life! If they can’t support you after you explain your reasonable rationale for transferring, then it’s their problem, not yours. They should be empathetic and understanding.
My family has their favorite schools, but ultimately would be happy wherever I went if I was satisfied. Im sure yours will feel the same way.
Don’t bump after less than an hour. Regarding your relatives, unless they are paying, you owe them only a polite note or email letting them know that your current school isn’t wotking out as well as you hoped, and you are transferring. That said, I guarantee you that there ARE students there that don’t drink heavily, and Finance isn’t all it is cracked up to be as a major or lifestyle.
@intparent I still don’t really want to study business in a liberal arts environment. I believe that a business program would give me much better preparation. And there are students at my school that don’t party, but they either go home every weekend or just want to sit in the residence hall all day.
@trackmbe3 the costs for 2 of the schools will be a little more or the same as my current school, and my parents will be paying, and they are fine with it. My parents actually don’t like my current school either.
If your parents are paying and they are fine with it, transfer. Your grandparents and your uncle are not attending the school, you are.
Good luck to you.
@beachguy20, when I was young I made way too many decisions based on how I thought (or feared) others might be affected. Try to put this into perspective: even if your relatives are disappointed, their disappointment will be a small blip on their screens, not really affecting their lives in any way, whereas, your college decisions affect you pretty much every minute of every day that you are there and to an extent afterwards. It seems they care about you, so I seriously doubt they would want you to make a decision based on your trying to please them through your choice of school. Also, the amount of effort your relative spent to help you settle into school (though a wonderful thing) pales in comparison to the importance of your going to a school that is a good fit for you. I’m sure you appreciate the help you were given…that’s the important thing, but I don’t think a requirement of you is expected beyond communication of your heartfelt appreciation. Spending a year at this school is not a waste…it’s still a learning experience; you can voice aspects of the school positively to your relatives while letting them know you still needed to make a change for your own growth.
I also spent my freshman year at a tiny LAC and transferred to a medium-sized university. It was an exhilarating change. I think LACs are great for many people (and I might have liked a different one so I’m not knocking them by any means) but I can’t imagine having stayed where I was.
@inthegarden I agree. They’re just not our type of school.
You may still feel guilty but that should not stop you from making a change. The guilty feelings mean you are afraid to disappoint your family. Being thoughtful of how others feel is a good trait. However, sometimes you will disappoint others and and have live with those guilty feelings for a period. Those feelings will pass. Do your research, present a well thoughout plan, and prepare for possible contingencies or objections. Good luck.