I don't want to be a freshman all over again!

<p>I made a mistake. I wanted to major in fashion design and was dead set on it. I was convinced I was never going to change my mind. My dad told me "90% of college students change their majors". I ignored him. I went to SCAD. I could only see myself doing one other major there besides fashion design, but it was a young program. Come spring quarter, I take my first fashion class, involving sewing. Sewing on a deadline turns out to be torture. I skip meals, sleep, hanging out with friends, and exercise in order to turn in projects a class late. The teachers are rude and mine is not available outside of class. You have to do all work at the fashion building, which is hard to do when you know, classes are going on. I'm finishing out the year and applying to transfer colleges and change majors, during finals week, fun fun fun!</p>

<p>I want to do something in liberal arts probably, maybe marketing. I took English Language, English Literature, Psychology, and Calculus AB APs. I scored 3s and 4s on all of them. I know I am applying to colleges kind of late in the game and may not get into the colleges I want to go to in the fall. Truth be told, I'm kind of devastated by all of this. It was my dream to do fashion design. I'm a little apathetic towards other subjects, and really only slightly interested in the ones I listed above. I don't know if I'm ready to throw myself into a totally new environment. U of Cincinnati even made me declare a major! I don't want to be stuck in large lecture halls with freshman and in a freshman dorm just because I went to art school. What can I do to avoid this?</p>

<p>Community college until you decide what you want to major in “for real” this time. Smaller classes and less pressure. Give yourself time to explore what you what to do instead of jumping from one high pressure situation to one that is not satisfying.</p>

<p>Oh no! Freshmen!</p>

<p>since you like (or sort of like) marketing, what about fashion PR? it’d fall under communications, but you would be able to integrate marketing, your English skills and your interest in fashion. my school (NYU) has a really good communications department that consistently sends students to internships at fashion magazines and fashion companies.</p>

<p>but yes, i would also recommend going to a community college and getting some of your general requirements out of the way while you figure out your next move. it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and you’re only a freshman so you have plenty of time. not all schools are large lecture halls and segregated freshmen dorms.</p>

<p>how can community college = less pressure when there is a $24,000 tuition attached to it? I only want to transfer one more time and it has to be for good! can’t I just casually take classes over the summer at and transfer those credits without making a huge commitment and going through so much red tape? What would it take to graduate 3 years from now?</p>

<p>OP- IMHO from your original post you seem to be all gung ho and dead certain until you hit an obstacle then you jump ship. You set unrealistic goals and set yourself up for failure. How can you expect to graduate in 3 years when you are changing your major, transferring into an academic university from an arts school? You need to talk to an academic adviser familiar with students in your situation. Better hurry, the school year is almost over.</p>

<p>As a second semester freshman, you would still be considered a transfer student and not go to the new school as a new freshman. You don’t have to live in freshman housing if you choose not to. I don’t know your stats or what type of school your looking for, but consider a university with a good range of majors so you can continue to explore what you would like to do. You may want to apply as undecided and take your core classes and some electives to get an idea of where your interests lie.</p>

<p>Well, in my humble opinion Batllo, you are very judgmental. I’m changing majors to something else because my current major wasn’t working for me. What was I supposed to do? Spend over a hundred fifty grand on a degree that would make me miserable and give me a very uncertain future? I’m actively looking for a different avenue in life. That’s not “jumping ship” or quitting. That’s being mature and smart.</p>

<p>OP- Best wishes on your future. No one has the right to comment on what you do with your life. Sorry and good luck.</p>

<p>Where are you from? If you do community college for a year (including summer school), as someone previously suggested, you can get some general req credits out of the way while getting a better idea of what you’re interested in. Community college is great for people that aren’t completely sure of what they want to do because they can take a variety of classes for much cheaper than at a 4-year school, without the same degree of commitment… for example, if you decide to get a job or do independent fashion design on the side, you can take classes part-time. The flexibility might suit you well. Then, after a few semesters, you can apply to a normal 4-year university (as a sophomore or junior transfer).</p>

<p>By the way, I don’t think you should be too anxious about not graduating in the next 3 years. Plenty of people take a few extra semesters to get their degree, it really isn’t looked down upon! Take some time to really figure out what you care about… it’s worth it, you don’t want to be stuck with a focus that makes you unhappy. You’ll be just fine!</p>

<p>I know community college has its good points, but my parents aren’t too thrilled with it anyway. I’m from the Chicago suburbs, and one of the ccs I looked at had a tuition that was eight times as much as Illinois state university. That worries me. I also don’t really want a fragmented college experience. It’s really hard to say goodbye to all my friends here, and the best part of college imo is getting that community feeling. I don’t know that I could do so well as a junior transfer socially. I’m trying to keep an open mind here, but aren’t community colleges for commuters, people who didn’t do so well academically in hs, and people who are just too afraid to go away for college? ISU has 20,000 undergrad. Can I connect with my profs…or TAs…outside of class with that size student body?</p>

<p>uh, you ARE in a transfer student forum. i think you just offended a large amount of people on this forum with that community college comment. </p>

<p>“I’m trying to keep an open mind here, but aren’t community colleges for commuters, people who didn’t do so well academically in hs, and people who are just too afraid to go away for college?”</p>

<p>i didn’t fit into any of this. i was an honors student/AP kid in HS. i had to go to community college because of MONEY, pure and simple. my parents didn’t want to help me out (after they said they would) because i didn’t want to go pre-med. i went to a CC because they had low tuition, and i eventually transferred to NYU. </p>

<p>so maybe SOME people fit into those categories, but i’m betting there are a lot that do not. </p>

<p>and you can connect with your professors. i did, and they wrote the recommendations that helped me get into NYU. go to office hours, hang around after class and talk to them and just put yourself out there.</p>

<p>community colleges only cost $20 per unit so they are super cheap compared to all other colleges. If you don’t know what to do then go to a CC or waste money at the college you are at now.</p>

<p>and btw CC students tend to be the brightest students and how missamericanpie said, it is all about money. I won’t be in a huge debt when I graduate from college as most of my friends will be.</p>

<p>You might still be considered a sophmore depending on the school you go to. I was in a similar sitatuion. I had the my heart set on fashion, went to fashion school and changed my mind. I transferred as a Spring transfer though and just finished last week. Even though I only have one semester of academics, I’m still considered a sophmore for next year. Most schools should transfer some of your classes such as drawing (if you had to take any). You can always take summer classes to catch up and even if you are considered a ‘freshman’ you can still catch up and even graduate early if you rack up enough credits.</p>

<p>I didn’t mean to imply that cc students were not bright. I just know people who went to cc because they did not get good grades in hs, so they’re going to cc to bring their gpas up. there ARE plenty of commuters at ccs…and yes I know some people who were either unwilling to leave home to go to school or they went away to school, couldn’t handle it, and went to cc instead. That’s what I’m going off of, so please excuse me. Also, as i said, where I’m from if people want a cheap option they go to ISU, which has about $3,000 tuition, rather than our community college which has about $24,000 tuition. Do you see where I’m coming from? </p>

<p>I’m a strong student. I may not have a specific career path in mind yet, but I know my strengths academically. I work hard and I actually find school interesting. I also have no intention of “wasting” more money, Jocelyne626. As you can see, that’s why I’m trying to AVOID cc. </p>

<p>lookingaround, where did your drawing credits go?</p>

<p>So, you don’t like sewing because you have to skip parties? Welcome to the real world. Do you think studying on a liberal arts curriculum is going to be a piece of cake? Reality check - you will have to skip parties at a liberal arts college too. That is, if you want to make good GPA.</p>

<p>I think your problem is not with your major, but rather with your expectations as to the amount of effort needed to do well. I’m sorry to deliver bad news, but you will need to make similar sacrifices at another school too. Don’t shoot the messenger. If you really like fashion, as you say, you should stay at your school and succeed there. And if not, take a year off, work, and figure out what you are really interested in.</p>

<p>I DON’T party. I don’t drink. … It’s not like there are frats at SCAD dude. I’m working my ass off. Everyone here, and at any other art school, is. I’m changing majors. I am strongly interested in getting a balanced education. Not working less and joining Kappa Theta Alpha. There is nothing wrong with that. If something doesn’t make you happy, doesn’t make you feel fulfilled, has limited job prospects and you’re spending a fortune to do it, what’s the point?</p>

<p>fashion_freak -</p>

<p>You could conceivably transfer somewhere for the fall, but what about taking a semester or a year off entirely? This would give you more time to clarify your goals, and to find the best places to apply.</p>

<p>You have learned that an art school is not for you. But are you certain that the career you wanted so much a year ago is not for you? Some universities (usually large public universities that house the former “College of Home Economics”) also offer fashion design and fashion merchandising majors. Yes you still would have to sew for a deadline, but the environment would be less pressure-cooker than at an art school.</p>

<p>You don’t have to be in such a hurry to finish college. Allow yourself the time to think things through and the chance will be much better that you will find the right major, and the right school, for yourself.</p>

<p>If you do want to go this fall, here is a link to a list of colleges and universities that still have openings:
[Space</a> Availability Survey Results 2009](<a href=“http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/Research/SpaceAvailabiltySurvey/Pages/SpaceSurveyResults.aspx]Space”>http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/Research/SpaceAvailabiltySurvey/Pages/SpaceSurveyResults.aspx)</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

<p>thanks for the advice!</p>