I need guidance. I want to transfer - where though?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey, I'm currently a student at the University of Minnesota. I'm in the Carlson School of Management which is competitive. The only thing is that I feel like I'm not striving like I could be here. I don't like the way the business school is set up, and I am not a fan of its independence from the University as a whole. Anyways, I really think that it is in my best interests to transfer. I have a lot of friends here, but I don't think the Midwest is for me.</p>

<p>I have a 3.2/3.3 gpa, and I've had stellar grades up until this semester when I was really just stressed out because I was really not happy with being here anymore, and I quit trying. I have a C- from Russian 1101 and a C from Managerial Accounting. Otherwise, everything is As and Bs. I've also been super involved on campus. I'm actively involved in my Fraternity, Club MIS, and have been an undergraduate teaching assistant as well as worked part time throughout college.</p>

<p>What I'm looking for: Schools in metropolitan areas that aren't super expensive. I would ideally like to major in American Studies and/or Public Policy and/or International Relations. </p>

<p>So far I've been looking at:
University of Portland, San Francisco State University, UC-Santa Cruz, and UC-Boulder</p>

<p>Any suggestions, help? Should I just stick it out at the U of M for 2 more years?</p>

2

<p>Think about schools in VA too</p>

3

<p>The only schools worth leaving Carlson over that are in Urban areas will be more expensive. the schools you are considering aren't quite as good as Carlson. I say stay put for two more years.</p>

4

<p>Northeastern is <em>relatively</em> cheap for a private university, particularly in the northeast, and the B-school is quite good. Transferring can be a bit tough there, I imagine, because of their co-op program, but I'm sure they accommodate individual situations. Maybe also take a look at Bentley or Case Western, though both are a bit more specialized schools.</p>

<p>The Texas schools offer a pretty good bang for the buck, and warmer weather, if that is your thing. I'm specifically thinking of Trinity (San Antonio), SMU and TCU. </p>

<p>I'm not sure any of the schools you list are really worth leaving Carlson for, and Santa Cruz & Colorado are expensive enough for non-residents where you may as well attend a smaller private school. If I were applying OOS to California undergrad b-schools, Cal Poly would be at or near the top of the list; it isn't really in an urban area, though San Luis Obispo is gorgeous.</p>

5

<p>Self doubt is a normal part of life in all our endeavors. Self actualization over the holidays is important. Take the time to reflect and look in the mirror. Also, sometimes we have to do things we dont like, but need to do them to attain goals or to persevere to "get to the other side". Is that this situation? Did you just have a bad semester and a new set of classes and profs will change all of that? </p>

<p>Sometimes getting C's (or worse) can be HIGHLY motivating. "Failure" (or even just not attaining perfection if you are a perfectionist) can be healthy and cleansing.</p>

<p>I am not suggesing being St. John Baptist here and putting on sack cloth and walking around in the desert for 40 days looking for the Messiah. But just a healthy and honest review. I know so many people who have had a bad term, or semester, who picked up and moved on. Or people accustomed to being 4.0 and who got something around 3.0 or 3.2 and were initially shattered..but later learned to deal with it, pick up the pieces and develop character, thick skin, and even a really good learning experience about themselves. If you go through life thinking you will always be the star performer, I have news for you, even the best and brightest slip and fall, or have a bad term. Sometimes brilliant people get into the wrong job environment and fail. Sometimes we decide we need to clean out our closet of friends and start over. All sorts of scenarios in life that occur, where THIS experience could be a healthy learning experience.</p>

<p>Don't beat yourself up. But examine where you made mistakes, learn from your mistakes and strive to avoid them in the future. Examine what you like about UM and Carleton School. Sometimes the grass is NOT greener on the other side. </p>

<p>Also, sometimes things happen because of unhealthy lifestyle habits: staying up too late, too much social activity or being stretched too thin in activities. Do you need to cut back on clubs and special interests? Is it relationship related? Or did you have profs you just didnt click with? </p>

<p>You dont have to transfer immediately. You have several months to ponder this. And also know that by spring things DO look better. </p>

<p>The transfer-itis scene runs high among freshmen and sometimes sophomores. College is not high school. A completely different paradigm. And sometimes our expectations are set too high and our ideals are not met completely. That happens in the real world of work as well. Nobody said it was going to be garlands and roses all four years. </p>

<p>And finally we are responsible to ourselves and to our own selves be true. Thus, its up to you to be optimistic and happy, and to take charge. But also up to you to understand we cant always control our own environment 100%, and many things we cannot change...so we have to develop the wisdom to accept that and see beyond it. Another way to look at this is thus: its only two more years. You wont be working there your entire life. You are not chained to it. Its a means to an end. It DOES have prestige and penache and that may well outweigh the downsides you see in front of you. And it may provide you excellent entrees into graduate programs, either in business or some other pursuit you enjoy.</p>

<p>And many of the most successful people in the world were NOT 4.0 students. Trust me.</p>

<p>Merry Christmas, God Bless and good luck.</p>