I want to transfer, but can't!

Transfer Students
1

Hi, I’m a second year student at a small Christian liberal arts school in Minnesota, and I don’t really like it here. I am Christian and I enjoy how this school is all about faith and how the school “cares” about all of its students because we’re children of God, but I don’t really like the people here. I’m a minority by the way, and of course the school is a pwi, and I feel like everyone chooses to stick with their white cliques. I wanted to go to a school that had a big minority percentage ( I’m originally from Maryland, and wanted to go to University of Maryland) I feel like UMD would be a better fit for me, since the school is way bigger, and has tons of opportunities you can’t quite get at a small school like this one. Plus UMD is 30 minutes away from home, which is awesome when I get my license and want to save money. Also, everyone leaves during the weekend here because they are local students, and its super lonely during that time. I wish I lived back in Maryland, I lived super close to DC and Virginia and it was just so nice to do things over the weekend by taking the metro or hanging with my family. Here, I don’t have family or know much of anyone and I don’t have a car.

The thing is, I got a full tuition scholarship from my pastor to go the school I currently go to, which is such a blessing and I’m very grateful for it because I know few students get the opportunity to go to college that is mostly paid for them. I’m just not feeling the school. I don’t have many friends, the social life is kind of weird, as in the school is just too conservative. I really want to go to parties and I want drinking to be allowed, and I wanted to join a sorority. You can’t do any of that here. The academic departments aren’t also that great like the departments at UMD. I’m pre-PA and there’s way more opportunities to have exposure to events and meet different PA’s over at UMD then it is here.

I’m just disappointed, and I can’t really do anything about it. I don’t want to be a disappointment to my pastor who gave me the scholarship and I don’t want to be a disappointment to my mother, but I feel like I’m suffering over here. I really feel like I can thrive at UMD, and I don’t know what to do. I’m always trying to make the best out of everything here, but often I feel like I just don’t belong here.

So…please help me. What advice can you guys give?

2

Also, I became best friends with a girl my freshman year. She’s honestly made being at this school super tolerable, but she transferred out this year. She didn’t like this school that much either and she’s so happy at her her new school. I am a bit jealous and I wish I could do the same. That’s what makes this situation even more depressing for me.

3

if you transfer to UMD, can you afford it? That is the real question here. If you can make it affordable, then you can apply for that transfer. If you can’t make it affordable, then you probably have to figure out a way to power on through where you are.

It is incredibly kind of your pastor to have helped you study so far, but if you need to transfer for better opportunities, I am sure he will understand.

Meanwhile, look around for some pre-PA stuff you can get involved with. Any hospital volunteer work available? What about helping at the on-campus student health center?

4

I agree completely with @happymomof1. I might add that you should make an effort to keep your GPA up for multiple reasons, including that it will make it easier for you to transfer.

5

I’m taking loans out even here to pay for room and board and my mother can barely afford to pay the bill this month. At UMD, it won’t be more affordable either. I’ll get in state tuition and eligibility for state grants but I’d still have to take out loans and such. (I’d be paying the same amount if I commuted, but I would want to live in campus.)

There’s volunteer work I could possibly do here, but since I don’t have a car and I don’t have my official drivers license yet, I can’t work. The group homes I contacted makes it mandatory for me to have those things to drive patients around.

I’m doing work study right now, but I can definitely look into the on campus student health center!

I just feel like I have way more comnections back home which will bring me better opportunities :confused:

6

Can you talk to your pastor? Maybe in a diplomatic way about wanting to attend school closer to home and have better opportunities to help people through pre-PA work.