<p>Is it a good reason to transfer? Im thinking of transfering from Duke to another top college after 1 year.</p>
<p>That's actually one of the top reasons people transfer. However how long have you been at Duke now? I know it does take some people time before they start to fit in with other people around thier school.</p>
<p>Are you in your first year? If so, it's probably premature to make any decisions.</p>
<p>If you are unhappy, ask yourself "what would be different at another school?". If you have a good answer, plan for transfer. If not, look inward. Is there a counselor, advisor or psychologist on campus you can speak to about this?</p>
<p>A good way to meet like-minded people is to join extra-curriculars. (I'm assuming you're not a frat/jockboy type if you're unhappy at Duke.) Is there a philosophy club? Political Club? Religious groups that interest you? Probably Duke is big enough that there are all sorts there if you can find them. If, however, you've really searched and just can't find what you know you could find somewhere else, I'd recommend also coming up with some good academic reasons for your transfer app.</p>
<p>ya it is a viable reason to transfer, but are there other reasons as well?just make sure that in your transfer application, you can make a solid case for why you want to transfer, and also realize that the new school may not necessarily make you happier socially.</p>
<p>It's why I'm transfering... and plus I need a better undergrad business school.</p>
<p>Hey I'm in the same situation (same school even). If I can't come up with an academic reason to transfer then should I not even bother? At this point I really don't want to spend four years at Duke, but I'm not entirely sure I'd be happier elsewhere. I'm thinking of maybe transferring to Georgetown so I can be "home" so to speak. I think the problem is I'm really resenting college and life in general and want to drop out, but my parents would throttle me if I even suggested it.</p>
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I think the problem is I'm really resenting college and life in general and want to drop out, but my parents would throttle me if I even suggested it.
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<p>Maybe you just need to take a leave of absence for a while. In retrospect, I wish I had either taken a year off before starting college or take a substantial leave of absence (like for a year) from my studies. Sometimes academia can just burn a person out. Maybe you need time to explore the "real" world and explore yourself.</p>
<p>bananainpyjamas - what aspects of duke in particular don't you like? it could very well be the school and the experience you are having with the school. it could be homesickness too. if it's not the school though, and it's you, then taking time off from college is a good idea, but only as a last resort.</p>
<p>The opposing point of view is that if you were happy in your space perhaps you would not resent the academics...... I'd ask if your parents pushed you into choosing Duke, is that an enhancer to your dissatisfaction there? I am always surprised that parents push their kids into a certain school choice. Good luck to you and I hope you find a school where you will be happy......you can find one, just be sure you pick it yourself.</p>
<p>oh wow i completely forgot that the op posted that he was also unhappy with duke. maybe the two of you can discuss your feelings about the school together?</p>
<p>same here. quite unhappy about dartmouth social scene. i want to transfer to Princeton, Harvard, Yale, MIT, or wherever more academic oriented.</p>
<p>gl with princeton lereu</p>
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what aspects of duke in particular don't you like?
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<p>It might have to do with not having made many friends. I mean I can easily strike up a conversation with people in my classes and all, but they're essentially acquaintances. I don't have a group of people I just hang out with (well I kind of do, but they're more my roommate's friends. I'm pretty sure they don't care if I'm there or not). I tried going to club meetings and all to meet people with similar interests but that didn't help. </p>
<p>It also seems like too much of a party school for me. I don't drink but that's all people do at the parties I've been to. It's not that I want to stay home on Saturday night; I'd just rather do something like go to the movies or mall than go to a party. </p>
<p>hazmat - My parents didn't push me into choosing Duke. If anything they wanted UVA for the in-state tuition. That's part of the reason I'm frustrated. My parents are spending a ton of money to send me here and I can't even appreciate it.</p>
<p>ScoobyGurl - I'm not sure how taking a year off would work, but I have heard they discourage that at Duke, so I'm wary of taking that route.</p>
<p>I think the problem is me, because I don't know if things would be different elsewhere (maybe Princeton, since most of my best friends went there. Pton's not an option though, so there's no point in dwelling on that). Still trying to figure out if it's homesickness...I definitely do miss DC, which is why I was thinking about Georgetown. </p>
<p>I'm just worried because I was a lot more social in high school, but here I'm just retreating further and further into myself. People actually call me quiet, which absolutely nobody who knew me in high school would agree with. Whatever internal switch made me outgoing/funny has been turned to "off."</p>
<p>but prineton accepts no transfer...: - (</p>
<p>Hmm.. it seems that you are just overwhelmed and unfamiliar right now with the experience that is college. Your feelings are shared by many more - don't worry too much about it for the moment. I'm going through the same thing here at UC Berkeley, where it is incredibly hard to find genuine people. I have also been seriously considering transferring, and the best advice I have been given is to give it some time (especially since there's nothing we can really do about it right now since transfer applications aren't even available yet). How long have you been in Duke? Perhaps after some time, this internal switch you speak of will be turned back to "on." As for the drinkers, they exist in plentitude at every university. But surely there are also sensible folks who can enjoy non-alcohol-related forms of entertainment like the mall or movies (my personal favorite entertainment). So try your best to meet people, keep up your grades (so that transferring is possible), try to get involved in your interests, and, if after some time you still feel the same, fill out the transfer application and get outta there quick!</p>
<p>Do you think that having more available activities off campus would help your situation? I mean maybe a more metro experience? Just curious. I am sorry to hear that your are paying more and enjoying it less. Will you feel better when basketball starts? I mean you are at one of the roundball schools. How long were you friends with your HS buddies? Are you coming out of a 12 or more years of school together? You all knew each other really well for sooooo many years?</p>
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It might have to do with not having made many friends. I mean I can easily strike up a conversation with people in my classes and all, but they're essentially acquaintances. I don't have a group of people I just hang out with (well I kind of do, but they're more my roommate's friends. I'm pretty sure they don't care if I'm there or not). I tried going to club meetings and all to meet people with similar interests but that didn't help. </p>
<p>It also seems like too much of a party school for me. I don't drink but that's all people do at the parties I've been to. It's not that I want to stay home on Saturday night; I'd just rather do something like go to the movies or mall than go to a party. </p>
<p>...</p>
<p>I'm just worried because I was a lot more social in high school, but here I'm just retreating further and further into myself. People actually call me quiet, which absolutely nobody who knew me in high school would agree with.
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<p>Hey, the EXACT same thing for me too (three?). Same school. This really makes Duke look good. :eek:</p>
<p>Anyway, with so many people uncomfortable with the social scene at Duke, I'm willing to bet it's a pretty common (and normal) thing. I chose Duke because I didn't want college to be like high school (all my friends went to UNC), but now I kind of miss that. It seems like I can't make up my mind! Anyway, I've made an effort to get to know people, especially people in my FOCUS group, and it's working out ok. I think it's just a rough transition from high school. :)</p>
<p>I'm at Wake and I definitely have some days where I consider transferring, because I feel sort of like a misfit here - I'm laid back and into the thrift store look whereas the student body is pretty much a sea of preps. I don't understand why people dress up so much for class, and why everyone has to look exactly the same...It's not just how people dress either, it's how they act. They're not the kind of people I would typically pick to be my friends...I don't know how to explain it, the personalities just clash. Plus, there's many inflated egos and too much showing-off of money (ie, the cars that cost more than a year's tuition).</p>
<p>Also, I'm very introverted, which makes it difficult to make friends. But I feel like I'm trying my hardest and not getting anything back. I've gotten involved in some clubs and activities and made a few friends, but we don't really even hang out or anything outside the club meetings because they're all upperclassmen with their own circles of friends. I don't go to parties because basically everyone drinks and I don't...so it's not terribly fun.</p>
<p>Academics, so far, are hard but ok. But it just makes me sad when I talk to my friends elsewhere and they're having a great time while I feel like I'm basically just going through the motions every day.</p>
<p>I'm going to give it a few more months (say, Christmas) and see if I still feel the same way.</p>
<p>juba2jive,</p>
<p>I am feeling the exact same way at Georgetown. The only aspect I would append to your post is the lack of intellectualism that I feel here. Most students only care about careers, not learning.</p>