<p>I am currently a senior attending an ivy league school. When I started my freshman year, I went in thinking I would go the med path. Though, with a combination of anxiety, depression (had it sophomore and junior year, though it seems to be gone now), and OCD (trichotillomania) that has progressed over the years, I realize it is probably best I stay away from environments that propagate stress. I've lost 10 lbs since freshman year, bringing me to 92lbs (at 5ft). I don't feel comfortable when I walk by others because they seem so much bigger. I started out with a 3.7 GPA which then dropped to a 2.8. There would be many days I would cry myself to sleep (mostly because of the kind of culture and people's attitudes). I am considering taking medication for the anxiety as I have an hour's worth of presentation talk coming up in 2 weeks...</p>
<p>Transferring to a state school closer to home may be a good option at this point, though I am already in my senior year. Perhaps I should just go through with this? I feel a bit unhealthy and directionless at the moment. I am not sure what I want to do in the future anymore, but the more I think about it, the more it looks like it would revolve around creating a business or getting into clinical psychology. If I transferred, I would be saving my parents' money for the next semester and have the peace of mind that comes from being closer to home and away from the stress environment. Part of me thinks I can handle the workload, but my anxiety is making it hard to focus and perform well.</p>
<p>I am unsure about the following:
-If I were to transfer to a state school or community college, would I be able to graduate in time?
-How is where I get my degree from decided if I transferred? The institution where I received the most amount of credits? Both? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for the advice/suggestions.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion that you take some time off. It seems like being IN school is the issue right now, not THE school, necessarily. And that’s perfectly understandable–college can be a stressful environment, especially for premeds who are competing with other top students. Could you maybe take a leave of absence and gather your thoughts for a bit before returning, or study abroad if that’s more your cup of tea? </p>
<p>As a current senior, you’ll run into some trouble trying to transfer. Most colleges require that students spend at least 4 semester on their campuses, so you’ll end up graduating a year late. And if you’re feeling kind of burnt-out, that might not be what you want to do. Also, degrees are conferred by the institution a student graduates from, so in your case it would be the school you transferred to. I would evaluate your options carefully and talk to your friends and family about this to get second and third opinions. </p>
<p>I agree with the foregoing advice: it seems like the answer is to take a leave of absence, not to transfer.</p>
<p>First the practicalities: yes, you will have a hard time trying to transfer, and no, you won’t graduate “in time” (by which I assume you mean in May). You can’t transfer to a community college; as a senior, you have too many credits (I’m assuming over 90, since that is the standard at most colleges). A 4-year public university likely won’t accept all of your credits, and it will take you longer than one semester to graduate - most likely at least two more semesters; very possibly 3-4 more semesters. They might have different general education or major requirements that you have to fulfill, and will require you to take a certain number of classes at that school to graduate (it’s usually that you have to complete at least 60 credits at the transfer institution).</p>
<p>You get the degree from the last institution you attended - so if you transfer from Harvard to UMass-Amherst, you get your BA from UMass-Amherst.</p>
<p>I get that the top schools can be pressure cookers - much more so than your average public institution. I think that the first thing you should consider is taking some time off to get a handle on your anxiety and associated mental health issues. Go home and relax for a while; maybe, if it doesn’t cause you too much anxiety, get some career books and spend a little time idly daydreaming about what you might like to do in the future. A semester may be all you need to recharge, get into some therapy, and become stable enough that you can graduate in December 2015. Or maybe you need a full year and will graduate in May 2016, but there’s nothing wrong with that either.</p>
<p>Another unlikely option is to petition to be a visiting student at your local public institution for your last semester senior year. I say unlikely because very few schools would allow a student to be a visiting student in their last semester (on either end). But you can ask at your Ivy, explaining the situation. A visiting (sometimes called transient) student takes classes, usually a full load, but is a non-degree student and is still enrolled at their home institution. This option - if it were allowed - would allow you to remain a student at your original college, who gets your degree at your original college, while taking classes nearby home. It’s kind of like an exchange with a school that doesn’t have an official exchange agreement with your original college. You may still have to pay a fee at the Ivy to stay enrolled but it would be cheaper than regular tuition.</p>
<p>But I say that probably time off would be better.</p>
<p>Also consider the finances…have your parents been paying top dollar for an ivy uni and then you are going to graduate from a state school? I think you are addressing the symptoms, not the cause. Perhaps get treated (or more treated ) for the depression/OCD, perhaps take a medical leave of absence or do a semester abroad, or some service or something and then finish your degree.</p>
<p>I have a friend with OCD and I can imagine if she was in your position and then transferred tothe state school she would be ruminating about not haven gotten the ivy degree years later.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. Thinking about graduating later gives me a little more anxiety as my parents have already paid rent for this off-campus townhouse, etc. Also taking into consideration that if I transferred, my degree would be from a state college. Would very much regret parents investing into my current school for that. Unfortunately after seeing a psychiatrist, I won’t have treatment before these presentations…I will have to talk to my professor about a possible extension. Just nervous about this whole situation because I don’t want anything to happen during the presentation. I just want to graduate ASAP at this point. Part of the anxiety stems from the college environment (party culture), things that are common in most universities. Taking a medical leave and returning won’t change much as I would still be far from home after coming back. Might as well get this year over with as it’s already halfway through the semester. Going to be a hard month, but I guess I’ll have to regulate my OCD/depression/anxiety to the best I can…feeling hopeless, but I guess I"ll just have to get on with it</p>
<p>Hmm. Sounds like you should meet early and often with your academic adviser AND your financial aid adviser to discuss the best ways to finish your BA in light of these extenuating circumstances. Learn about all your options. If nothing else, plot a route to complete all your BA requirements for all coming semester/s — spring, even summer? What courses and grades do you need at the minimum? What would be the “easiest” route for you? That’ll be your “floor.” That might be your best route at this moment. Get done, without a rush, and move on. Maybe. </p>
<p>Also, get effect treatment for your medical conditions. Options might include drug therapy, talk therapy, hypnotherapy, behavior modification. </p>
<p>Learn more, too, about your career options. I wonder if your career goals are coming from a real interest within you. Find out. What is it you want to do every day as a living? An MD or a PhD in Psych might not be the best route. Work with your career adviser/s on this. </p>
<p>A rented townhouse might be able to be subleased, no? </p>
<p>Are you first-generation in an U.S. college? </p>
<p>Hmm, I’m a sophomore and in a very similar situation. I would suggest taking a medical leave like I’m on. That way you have time to seek mental health help and think about how you should proceed. I agree with several others, that since it’s your senior year, it probably isn’t best to transfer, but don’t do anything you can’t handle and risk doing something that’s permanently damaging to yourself or future. I think you should take time off, and get away from school and recoup and think of a game plan for how to finish your last year with a little undue stress as possible.
Wish you the best!</p>
Thank you for all your encouraging replies. I decided to stay and am glad I did, though every day feels like a struggle. I’m not a first generation in a U.S. college btw. It’s just the drinking culture and overall foolishness at universities (and I guess everywhere in general) that leaves me a bit disappointed. Sometimes I feel like an outsider watching the world pass. Ignorance seems to be bliss for most. Maybe I am having a hard time because I care about every little thing. My family being religious, boyfriend taking many risks because he believes God is protecting him no matter what he does, etc… If my grandparents were of a different faith, my parents would practice that same other faith as them, no? I asked my born-again boyfriend something similar applying to him and he responded, “No, I would still be _____” It is hard for me to believe. I guess another reason for my depression is religion and the overall ignorance I see around me. I grew up with a lot of faith. Peaked senior year of high school/Freshman year of college. I have been feeling a bit agnostic afterward (partially due to my contempt for my boyfriend who believes that he is justified in doing anything because God will forgive and protect him every single time). Was wondering if anyone had a similar experience with religion growing up?
@Anokneemous My faith is an extremely huge part of what defines me. When you truly find Christ, your life will change - even to the extent that those on the outside could not comprehend with mere logic. It is a spiritual realm unaffected by the principles that people hold dear. That is perhaps why you cannot understand your boyfriend.
Now, as much as I rely on God for guidance, reckless is not the term I would use (at least for me). I know my job as a student is to study to the best of my abilities.
Maybe I am having a hard time because I care about every little thing.
Ask yourself “Am I being fair?” and simply try to understand how your boyfriend thinks. Don’t distance yourself just because you think it is ignorant, or because you’ve been forced to grow in it. Good luck with the rest of your college career!