<p>How do you know when it's just freshman blues or missing home or not feeling used to a place, and when it's a serious problem with the school and that you need to get out of there as fast as possible? And if you're unhappy as a freshman, how can you tell if it's the school that's the problem? When's a reasonable time to start thinking about transferring?</p>
<p>I'd say wait a year at least. If you have concerns over your safety, that might warrant a transfer decision your freshman year.</p>
<p>Wait for about 6 months or more..
I've had friends who hated their schools at first, they eventually grew to like it.
Try not to think too much about transferring, but think about how you will make the year a good one.</p>
<p>I made the mistake of only thinking about transferring, and it really made my first semester a pretty bleak experience, I ended up transferring later, but I realy think if I had given my school a fair shot from the get-go instead of thinking where i COULD have been, it would have made my freshman experience much better.</p>
<p>If you think it <em>might</em> be freshman blues or homesickness or not being comfortable with a place, then it's not time to transfer yet. (I was a transfer myself. But I was comfortable, happy and not homesick. The school just didn't turn out to be a match for my academic level or my interests).</p>
<p>So, if you think it could be any of the first items you listed, it probably is. Focus on getting past those. That could come from giving it time. That could come from getting more involved. That could come from taking advantage of counseling resources at your school - they're free, use them! You won't have that opportunity too often.</p>
<p>There are many, many stories of freshman who were unhappy at Thanksgiving time and certain they would need to transfer. By the end of first semester, they love where they are. So you have plenty of time. Don't panic. Most transfer apps are due in mid-March and you don't have to worry about them until January anyway. (My S was a "forced transfer" because post-Katrina Tulane eliminated his major and he didn't even find that out until mid-December. He had time to choose possible transfer schools, write essays, do the applications etc.).</p>
<p>If it is freshman blues or not being used to a place, you will just have that again, only it will be transfer blues and not being used to a place. So you don't want that.</p>
<p>I can barely think of any scenario where you would "need to get out of there as fast as possible."</p>
<p>You are asking the right questions of yourself. Give yourself time. Give your current school time. Do the academics there to your best ability so that you will have great options if you do decide to transfer. Get involved in things you love - they may be your answer. Or, they will be an assist in making you a strong candidate if you decide to move on.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I don't think it's really freshman blues, or not being comfortable, or being homesick. The place I picked... well, let's say I knew it was wrong when I picked it, but the price was right, and I thought I could get over whatever slight bumps there were resulting from the subtle discrepancies between my ideal school and my current school. But the thing was, I got here, totally ready to make the best of it, and it hasn't worked. I can't make it work, I'm not sure I'll be able to in the future, but I think I should give it more time because that's what everyone else says, and there are plenty of stories about people who were miserable for the first month or two and ended up loving it completely. But I'm not sure that's the sort of thing I'm capable of- I'm really depressed here, I even tried suicide, and I think if I stay here and don't get really happy really soon, I'll start failing my classes or doing drugs or something. But, I mean, I'm sort of stuck here till the end of the semester at least, unless something really bad happens, so I really am trying to make the most of it. Hopefully things will work out, and if not, well, lots of people transfer and are so completely glad they did.</p>
<p>eponymous - being really depressed is something that can be situational - where you are or what's going on right now in your life. Or it can be more innate. Either way, it needs immediate attention. Have you gotten help for this? If not, run don't walk to your health services/counseling services. Depression is something we now know how to treat, with talk therapy and medication. Depression is common among many age groups and especially with college age kids. I see glimmers of determination in your post, which shows what a strong person you are. But I also see scary thoughts - scary to me, so they must be to you. Please see someone so that you can get help for things to work out. I don't want you just hoping they will work out. Nor thinking that it's all up to you. You can get help for this and can feel much better, which you deserve. THEN you can figure out whether the school isn't right for you. There's plenty of time for that - transfer apps aren't usually due until March. Get help for your state of mind first, then we can work on the transfer question.</p>
<p>Please come back and tell me how it goes.</p>
<p>I strongly, STRONGLY recommend following jmmom's advice. I've had numerous friends with bouts of depressionl that without the help of therapists or school counseling services, they would not have become better. Don't hesitate and don't be shy, walk in and see them now.</p>
<p>Just wanted to revive this thread to update people that I will, in fact, be transferring. I want to know what you guys think as to how personal is too personal in my college app essay? What exactly can I say, and what can't I say? Please let me know!</p>