<p>A national reporter wants to speak with current college freshmen, or other college students, who got into their dream school and found it was not such a dream, or students who got into their safety school and found it was far better than expected. If that's YOU, and you're willing to let the reporter use your name and tell your story, please send me your e-mail address and some brief details about your situation via private message and I'll forward it to the journalist. She will contact you, if she's interested in interviewing you.</p>
<p>I can't wait to read the article!</p>
<p>This thread doesn't apply to me, but currently my top choice is somewhat of a "safety" school</p>
<p>I'm a transfer student, but I'm somewhat of a fit.</p>
<p>I find it interesting that there are so few posts. Having a dream school turn out to be a nightmare is kind of like admitting that you're trapped in an awful marriage!</p>
<p>My D's dream "match" school (where she attended) turned out to be a nightmare, but doubt she'd want to publicly announce that since she's looking to transfer and not burn any bridges. There may be others in a similar position.</p>
<p>D's safety turned out to be her dream. She heeded the CC commandment to "Love thy safety!" She's in the honors program, and it's excellent. I think a lot of high school CCers and their parents would be surprised at how happy kids are in some of these state school honors programs. Our bank account is happy too!</p>
<p>My safety is working out really well for me right now. And hey, I get the bonus of knowing that I'm not breaking the bank for my parents OR up to my ears in loans. I think I would be much less happy if I wasn't in the honors program, though.</p>
<p>My D is attending her safety, state school honors program, and absolutely loves it. Best choice she could have made. December of her senior year she swore she would NOT be attending this school! Now she is traveling to Italy on January term for 2 weeks to study art history, we can actually afford it!</p>
<p>Hey did you get my message Sally? Yes, now I love my safety school because they gave me the opportunity to study abroad for a year :D! YAY</p>
<p>My son, a junior, does not want to go to a state school, and I am fearful that an honors program will wear him out, after five years at a rigorous high school honors program. I'm willing to put him in with the regular kids at a private school, but don't want to throw him in with the animals at the state school. Doesn't help to get free tuition the first year, only to have him flunk out. </p>
<p>I'm so anxious to hear these replies, as son doesn't even want to have a safety. If Dad loses his job, he'll have to go the safety route.</p>
<p>Also, be careful not to judge too soon. A lot of the "I hate my school" syndrome is really a matter of adjustment/maturity problems. The shock of being away from home, the reality of dorm life and all its dramas, the stress of school, the sheer size and unfamiliarity of school all lead to some serious self doubts. Often this is the hardest after mid terms, or after Thanksgiving when papers are due, finals are looming. And in January it can be tough with gray weather, having been home for the holidays and being terribly homesick. Being sick of the kids in your dorm, if not your roommate. It does get better in the Spring. </p>
<p>The grass is not always greener at a different school.</p>
<p>There are cases when kids who didnt do their homework and chased after prestige instead of "fit", didnt visit the school in advance, didnt ask around, and didnt prepare THEMSELVES for the realities of college life and dorm drama who are extremely unhappy. Sometimes transfer is necessary. But often a good dose of maturity and good old fashioned hard work and focus on your coursework you can get through the jungle of freshman year. If your school offers retreats on weekends, then take one. Join some clubs and socialize more. If you simply cant study in the dorms, then go to the library to study and get away from the crazies. </p>
<p>If you truly feel that you simply dont fit in socially and the people all around you are not like you, such as they are all hyper competitive and cutthroat, then you either have to learn to deal with that reality or find a more healthy environment. But I have news for you, the working world is often not much better. The adult world is fraught with all sorts of problems and peculiar people.</p>
<p>I am a freshman at Wheaton College (Mass) and it was my absolute last choice. In a brutal year for admissions, I was left with little options after applying to 10 schools. Even though I had no real intentions of attending Wheaton, they gave me an academic scholarship and I am very happy here.</p>
<p>Montegut said:</p>
<p>
[quote]
My son, a junior, does not want to go to a state school, and I am fearful that an honors program will wear him out, after five years at a rigorous high school honors program. I'm willing to put him in with the regular kids at a private school, but don't want to throw him in with the animals at the state school.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wow. </p>
<p>I propose an annual award be given for the most memorable CC post of the year. </p>
<p>I nominate this one.</p>
<p>hahaha
"the animals"</p>
<p>yeahahha......"the animals"</p>
<p>what does that mean anyway - the animals?</p>
<p>Obviously, if he is not in an honors program, he will spend all of his time with animals.</p>
<p>The way I read the post, kids in state schools have below average IQ and party hard compared to the "normal" kids that go to private school. Yikes.</p>
<p>My dream school is a military school so yes, my dream is a nightmare! :D</p>
<p>oh dear</p>