How do you know when it's right to transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Greetings, CCers --
There's probably been a thread like this on here somewhere, though I don't think it's gotten much action lately (also, I've been using CC for awhile but never actually got an account until now), so here goes....</p>

<p>I'm currently a freshman at a small, all-women's LAC and have not adjusted as smoothly as I had hoped. I chose this school because of it's rigorous academics, sense of "community", proximity to a city (Philadelphia), and a reasonable merit scholarship they offered me upon admission. When I visited campus for the Admitted Students' Day, I got a good enough feeling from it and could definitely see myself going to school here.</p>

<p>However, after my first month here, I'm still having a lot of trouble finding my place, whatever that means. I guess I just haven't met anyone that I really connect with. Of course, I've definitely met people who are nice, intelligent, and generally very cool individuals. I've gotten involved in a few ECs as well, but I have just felt very out of place. My classes have been fine -- I can't complain but have nothing to rave about (but what can I expect from intro classes?). </p>

<p>One of the main things I'm having trouble with, I think, is the general culture of stress here. I'm all for working hard and putting in my best effort, but most of the students here seem to ALWAYS be studying. This is definitely not a bad thing, of course, but it just really isn't for me. Even as I've tried to ignore the constant talk of workload, there just seems to be an inescapable pressure to always be studying. Again, I enjoy school, I plan to work hard, but I like to have some balance in my life, too. I've found myself feeling unnecessarily stressed, guilty, and uncomfortable in this sort of environment. </p>

<p>I apologize for this essay of a post. I guess I'm just wondering -- Are these just pains of adjustment or legitimate grounds to consider transferring?</p>

2

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<p>They could be either.</p>

<p>Since transfer apps are generally due in late winter/early spring, my recommendation is to not even think about transferring until Christmas break. For now, try as hard as you can to make it work, then reassess after this semester. You will need prof/TA LORs for transfer apps and you can’t ask for those until close to the end of the semester anyway, so it’s not helpful to spend time worrying about transferring when you could be trying to make it work instead.</p>

<p>If you find you are still unsatisfied at Christmas, start working on some transfer apps then. You still have another semester to see how your current school works out as you don’t have to make a decision about transferring until late spring.</p>

3

<p>entomom might be correct but as I understand it you could call another school that you were accepted to now and possibly enter that school without a formal application process and likely the same FA offer that they made you before you declined. So you may want to make a call or two now to check your options. </p>

<p>That being said - I agree with entomom that you should put yourself wholeheartedly into seeing if your current school is a bad fit or your just having first semester gitters. Single sex schools are not for everyone and that might be part of what you’re reacting to.</p>

<p>In any case I’m sure that you will find your fit. Best of luck…</p>