<p>Although I'm only a first semester freshman, I would like to put out some questions and get some advice before I consider whether or not I should transfer. Currently, I am at a rigorous womens' college, but I am not as happy with it as I had hoped.</p>
<p>I have a list of reasons to transfer, but I don't know if they're good reasons or if I'm just being silly. Please tell me what you think:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My current school, however, has a very tiny Creative Writing department and, ironically, discourages people from being Creative Writing majors. Instead, they prefer students major in something else and either concentrate or minor in CW. At the time I applied to my current school, I thought I would be an English (with a concentration in CW)-Anthropology double-major and get certified to teach so I could support myself while writing. After taking CW classes, getting some work published, and getting positive feedback at a writer's conference, and hearing about the possibilities for CW majors I have decided that I would much rather pursue a CW than an English-Anthro degree. </p></li>
<li><p>I no longer want to be in a single-sex environment. Before I went to college, I attended an all-girls middle and high school. At first, I thought 'why not stick with the system? It's worked so far.' However, I have discovered that, at the collegiate level, it does not work as well. Getting a social life is twice as hard as it used to be with with a highly academic and heavy workload and no single-sex boys' schools. There is a strong presence of man-bashing on-campus (and, occasionally, a bias against straight women). In addition, I do not like that men audit our classes, guys from other colleges take classes here (1 or 2 per class), women who've become men being students, in spite of our school refusing to become co-ed. It boggles my mind how they call themselves "single-sex".</p></li>
<li><p>I would like to be further from home and in a bigger setting. My family insisted that I go to a small school that's close to home because I was sick throughout most of high school. Most of my high school career was spent managing an unstable chronic illness and having moderate surgery once or twice a year. I was diagnosed with a disability last year, however, and after that diagnosis, I finally stabilized my illness. In addition, I wanted to be close to home to help take care of my mother, who is in kidney failure. Thankfully, she should get a transplant by the end of this year. With these obligations (mostly) aside, I would like a bit more freedom to explore a new environment, push my limits, and become more adaptable.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My questions are:
1. Although it is advised to only get recommendations from your professors, would it be acceptable for me to get one from a high school teacher who taught me for all four years, has seen my writing, had me as a playwriting student (in which I received honors) and is now one of my dearest friends?
2. Would it be all right for me to get recommendations from the employer that published me as well? How about alumnae from the schools I have in mind?
3. I scored extremely poorly twice on the SATs until my disability was managed. After taking them a third time, my score rose 120 points. Though my scores are good, I want to see if I can do better now that I've been healthy for a year. Is it worth one more try or would a 4th SAT test hurt my application?
4. Up until I was diagnosed, my high school GPA was horrible (3.0). After stabilizing my health, however, I had a 3.6-3.7 average. Will this be counted against me in a transfer, even if I do well in college?
5. While main essay for the transfer application is 'why are you transferring', would it be a good or bad idea to include a completely personal essay too?</p>
<p>Thanks, guys! :-)</p>