<p>I'm a freshman and I've only been in school for a month, but I've already have doubts about the school I'm attending. I really ****ed off my parents by turning down a direct to med school program to attend a top ranked LAC. But after getting here, I don't know... some of the kids here are intimidating in their knowledge and talents. I feel really insecure at times. I'm struggling with my computer science class and I can't seem to get anything higher than a B in my other classes. This is really hard for me to swallow, because I was usually a straight A student in high school. </p>
<p>My school has reputation for being academically rigorous <em>among</em> people who have heard of it, but not much name recognition in general... People from high school really expected me to go to a "good" school instead of an ordinary college and I'm wondering if they influenced me too much in the decision process. I'm afraid I'm going to have a really low GPA this semester. I'm thinking about transferring to Illinois Wesleyan but I don't know if I have the money (I don't think my parents do either and they're mad at me anyways).</p>
<p>In general, I don't think schools offer many transfer scholarships and my GPA might be too low for me to even have consideration at that point. I really thought I would come to my present school with a good experience... there's a diverse population from all around the nation and even from other countries, but I'm just afraid that the people here are too smart and the classes are too hard. What should I do? I really don't want to have to go to a community college to get my grades back up. Am I being too premature in judgment?</p>
<p>There are almost NO scholarships for transfer students. And I do think you’re being premature. I really don’t think your reasons for wanting to transfer are worth the process, it’s a huge pain in the ass and it’s very hard to do-- and VERY hard to settle in at your new school. I’d stick it out at least a year and see if you can adjust, really give it EVERYTHING you have and see if you can do well. I go to Umich now and a lot of my classmates are way smarter than me and it makes it hard to talk in class and compete with them because I don’t want anyone to think I’m stupid, but I am managing. It’s much more rewarding than running off and hiding at an easier school. But if after a year you’re still not happy, do some transfer apps for Fall 2010.</p>
<p>I would say if you don’t like the school, then transfer. Make a list of the pros and cons, give them a weight, and decide. I was unhappy at my first school and just tried to wait for it to get better, and it didn’t It got worse, and I couldn’t be happier at my new school, I wish I had come here sooner.</p>
<p>My school is private and expensive, and although I have some loans, I am primarily here on scholarship and grants. So it is possible to get financial aid, though you’ll want back up schools. Also if you apply to transfer it doesn’t mean you have to, so it might not hurt to apply to one or two schools.</p>
<p>You think I don’t know that? I didn’t mean to do them IN Fall 2010. I guess it would have been more accurate to say to wait a semester and do transfer apps at Christmas if desired and then decide whether or not to go for sure in Spring. Give me a break, it was late and I was writing an economics paper. :P</p>
<p>Start filling out about 3 transfer applications now–before finals. You’ll need professor recommendations so make a point to participate in classroom discussions and meet with professors during their office hours (discuss the class or ask a few questions about the previous lecture). You’ll also need to forward your high school transcript and your SAT/ACT scores. When you write your transfer essay (topic will probably include something like “Why you want to transfer to ?college?”), be careful not to badmouth your current school. Say something about searching for a better fit both academically and in the campus environment. </p>
<p>Send out the complete applications by the end of November (if possible). After that, forget about them for a while and just get on with your life at your current school. This way, if things don’t get better, you’ll have options for next Fall. If they do get better, you can always decide to stay. Sometimes, knowing that you have firm options in place makes a difficult year more manageable. At least that’s how my older son handled the situation. He ended up loving his transfer school (one third of the price of his original school) and will graduate in the Spring of 2010.</p>
<p>if you want to transfer only becuase you’re intimidated by other smart peers around you…
DON’T TRANSFER. there’re always will be people who are smarter than you are no matter where you go. work harder and accept the reality that you’re not the smartest anymore.</p>
<p>The apps are probably available now for next year. The earliest you can would be the best time to get them in, but you likely have until around christmas time. You’ll have to check the other schools you might be interested in and when their deadlines are. </p>
<p>It’s not a bad thing to not be as smart as your classmates. I feel like I am the dumbest person at Umich, but occasionally I bump into someone who proves me wrong. But the challenge is a fantastic experience and I am learning so much from my classmates, I wouldn’t be getting nearly as good of an education if I were the smartest person here and only learning from my professors.</p>
<p>IWU accepts transfers. I would stick it out for the year and if you still feel the same way come spring start the transfer process. IWU is a fine school.</p>