LAC to UNC to UW Madison

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am an international student from South Korea, attended high school in Chicago.
Got into Northwestern coming out of high school, could not afford it.
Got a fullride to a small LAC in Wisconsin, where I was happy and getting quality education.
(Major in chemistry and physics)
Found a way to take a loan to UNC, got accepted, transferred there after my freshmen year, giving up my full-ride. I had a very high expectation on UNC, both academically and socially.
I have been unhappy at UNC, got a severe depression, having had to take anti-depressant pills, applied for UWisconsin Madison for this coming spring, got accepted. I know that Madison has amazing research opportunities in sciences, and I know a few friends who go there that can socially support me, also it is closer to Chicago and my old LAC.</p>

<p>About the whole not liking UNC thing, I do not really know what triggered it. But I have been feeling that people here are preppy and stuck-up, I have been having a hard time being socially accepted. And yes, I do care a lot about social acceptance. It contributes to a big chunk of my happiness, as immature as it might sound, but It's just how I am.
Academically, I can understand how it is not spoon-fed, since it's a big school. I do not think classes are hard, though. Professors are not that good, at least the ones I have had. Overall, academics are below my expectation, but I can deal with it (I guess it would be similar at Madison, anyway).</p>

<p>I know that it's all up to me to make the decision on whether I should stay or leave. I would just like to hear any inputs or advice, especially from those of you who have transferred colleges multiple times. I would also like to know how going to Madison would affect the admission to grad schools like Stanford. I am gonna indicate that in my app that I was just unhappy at UNC, which is what actually happened. </p>

<p>I guess what makes me consider staying here is that I feel that I do not know why I do not like it here exactly and partly that UNC is a better school. I just feel like maybe i should give it another semester so that I can have more time to think about it, since I am just utterly confused with this whole situation. But Madison is a sweet place, there is little risk in me being unhappy there, as I have been there many times..Honestly, I wanna leave UNC asap. But i guess I can suck it up for one more semester, as i am responsible for deciding to transfer here in first place.</p>

<p>Please give me any sincere, critical inputs. Thanks a lot.</p>

2

<p>I am kind of in a similar situation myself. I am currently at a high rated northeast LAC and I have not really enjoyed my time here. I come from a prep school myself, but there are a lot of super preppy kids here with inflated ego’s, which make the school super clique. I am considering applying to UW-Madison for the fall while going through second semester to see if maybe my thoughts change about this school, but I understand the whole acceptance thing as I have some of the same feelings where I am at currently. I’m a freshman so I am unfamiliar with transfer application stuff, but you could apply to UW-Madison and try out the second semester at UNC to see if your feelings change at all, and if they don’t leave.</p>

<p>And about UNC being better than UW-Madison, yeah UNC is a better school, but if you are having a bad experience then you should consider leaving if you feel it necessary (opinion of course). UW-Madison also isn’t a big step down by any means and the quality of education would probably be about the same.</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents</p>

3

<p>Why do you believe that UNC is a better school than UW-Madison? </p>

<p>If feel that you would be happier there, and you can afford it, don’t feel you have to stay where you are for one second longer.</p>