Hello everyone, I used college confidential extensive during my senior year of high school and I honestly couldn’t have gotten into college without it. I never thought I would use it again but I hope people on the forum can help me. I got accepted into Cornell early decision. I thought I wanted to go there but after these 2 months, I hate everything about it. I hate the people. I hate the cold. I hate the slope. I hate my major (ILR). Most of all, I want to go to home. I want to go home to my family in NYC. I find myself alone and crying everyday. I hate everything here. I regret not applying to Columbia early decision. I even interviewed but I thought ILR was for me. I find the opportunities of the ILR program very limiting for what I want to do (IB). I would like to transfer to either Columbia or Barnard for my sophomore, does anyone have any advice? Will it be easy to do?
Barnard will be easier than Columbia, obviously. Good grades will be critical. My advice is to stop thinking about this until you are back from winter break. If you still want to transfer, do applications. You don’t have to decide until near the end of the year whether to accept any offer of admissions you get.
In the meantime, put some focus on getting more out of your year at Cornell. Try new clubs, get a job on campus, make sure you sign up for a class or two next semester that sounds really interesting to you, volunteer. If you think you might have some depression issues, go to the student health service.
Some students hate their first semester, but find friends and a better academic fit by the end of their first year. It could happen to you, so keep trying. Being a transfer student isn’t a bed of roses – it can be hard to break in socially. Cornell is a big place. I guarantee there are people you would like, you just have to find them.
Your sadness can quickly get in the way of your being able to get the good grades that you need to have in order to apply for transfer. Go visit the counseling center, and talk with the people there. They are the experts on this kind of stuff. Get their advice about taking a leave of absence at the end of the semester. That could let you go home for a semester while you sort through where it is you think you might like to be next year. Get some advice too about your career goals. Cornell might work for you if you aren’t in ILR.