<p>I was accepted at the University of Michigan and would be transferring from Indiana University. Being an in-state resident of Michigan, and Michigan being the more highly ranked school, everyone I know is telling me to transfer. But I am just having a difficult time saying "bye" to my current school, and going to the school that initially rejected me. I don't know how to evaluate this situation. Anyone want to shed some advice who was in this situation before?</p>
<p>Go with your heart. Sure U Mich is a better school but part of college is the experience you get, which translates into school pride after graduation as an alumnus. If none of that really matters to you as much as where you get your degree from then transfer, but I recommend you make the choice that you will be most happy with (and never what other people tell you to do, unless they pay the bill ;-)</p>
<p>Do you really think you’d be disadvantaged by staying at IU? I mean really, for most jobs you’d likely look at, UMich won’t give you any extra edge. It doesn’t have the same kind of name that a school like Harvard does, so I would disregard numbers. Instead, ask youself why you wanted to leave in the first place, if those reasons are still valid, and if UMich meets the needs that IU does not. That is the best way to decide, rather than focus on trivial prestige differences.</p>
<p>Sometimes the decision to transfer is very clear cut and sometimes it’s not. I can understand why in your circumstance you are freaking out. It sounds like you are transferring solely for academic reasons and do like your current school. Many transfers are unhappy at their current schools, so transferring is an easier decision. Have you visited and spend any time at UMich? Do you have any friends there that you invision hanging out with?</p>
<p>If you love IU, then it really doesn’t make sense to transfer…but if you are just OK with it and might enjoy the change, then it’s worth considering.</p>
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<p>Exactly what I thought. If you are happy at UIndiana, then stay.</p>
<p>I chuckled a little when I read your post because I transferred to a school this year that originally rejected me.</p>
<p>All I can say is look over your original reasons for wanting to transfer, and see if there are any ways you can fix some of those problems. Maybe you hate the town and feel isolated–would having a car help? Is that an ok tradeoff? If you really are unhappy at Indiana, and no changes will make you happier there, then you should leave. If you’re feeling iffy because you’ll miss your friends and some opportunities at Indiana, I’d say that’s very normal.</p>
<p>Consider calling the UMich admissions office and ask to speak to students who transferred there in years past. That helped me when I was deciding. Good luck!</p>