NC state freshman want to transfer after 1st semseter....any ideas?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi! I am the mom of an NC STate freshman who wants to transfer after his first semester. He is not homesick and is doing well academically. He is from out of state and says that many kids go home on weekends and that there is not much, on campus, for kids to do. Talley closes early on weekends as do the food places in Talley. Hillsborough Street really doesn't have many eating places the kids would congregate to meet at. The bowling alley is fun but kids more or less go there in their groups of friends not really to meet other people. He is not interested in Greek life. He is athletic and has joined some of the intramural sports.</p>

<p>He is looking to transfer to University of South Carolina or the University of Maryland. He is interested in engineering.</p>

<p>First, any NC State students who can say what underaged kids do on the weekends?</p>

<p>Second, any comments on the other two campuses?</p>

<p>Any suggestions, ideas would be helpful. Thanks!</p>

<p>Wolfpack Mom</p>

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<p>U of Maryland is close to Wash DC, so I imagine that there are a lot of things for underaged kids to do on weekends.</p>

<p>Are you OOS for UMaryland as well? Is cost a concern?</p>

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<p>First, transferitis is normal. I bet there are kids at USC Columbia and Maryland who want to transfer. </p>

<p>Second, I recommend ALL freshmen stick it out until at least March before making a decision. It gets better. Making friends can be tough, or perhaps his expectations are too high.</p>

<p>Third, both Maryland and South Carolina are like NCState and full of in-state kids, many of whom go home on weekends for hot food, sleep and clean laundry. </p>

<p>Fourth, NCState is a top engineering school. THINK BEFORE YOU LEAP. </p>

<p>Fifth, joining clubs is a good idea and that takes time to warm up to and be accepted. He needs to examine his own conscience and see if he is sending off negative vibes and “I hate this place” negative karma. Nobody wants to be around a negative karma person. </p>

<p>People do leave large state schools and some leave small private schools. Some leave because they are homesick or they think the grass is greener elsewhere. Some leave for more prestigious schools that rejected or waitlisted them previously. Some leave because they simply made a mistake in judgement about the “fit factor”. Many leave because they are immature and think switching schools will solve all their problems. </p>

<p>I agree NCState is a large school. But Georgia and Michigan and Ohio State are much larger. It could be worse. The culture at Maryland is very, very “Maryland centric.” The culture at South Carolina is very,very “South Carolina centric.” </p>

<p>A good engineering school is also Clemson. Its smaller and also very South Carolina centric but a good number of out of state kids go there too.</p>

<p>Again, I recommend sticking it out as long as he can to see if his attitude changes. Maybe some nice girl will come into his life and help him improve his attitude. Maybe a group of guys will embrace him in a club or sport. </p>

<p>Adjusting to college, especially a large state school where partying and greek life is huge, is difficult on the best of days. Its a huge culture shock. If he is not into partying and greek like, and is a serious student, I can see how he might feel like an outsider. But getting to know his professors and top engineering students would enhance his experience and perspective. </p>

<p>Partying occurs at Maryland and South Carolina too. And sometimes you just have to suck it up, focus on studies and get through. It does get better. But it takes patience and perseverence and determination. (And a look in the mirror…not suggesting he start partying…just saying a positive outlook might help.)</p>

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<p>Sadly it’s a reality at state colleges that since most students are from the state (and their homes are very close by) that they will go home on weekends as well. I’m from Clemson and on non-home football game weekends, the majority of in-state students will head home or out of town for the weekend. So that’s something to keep in mind. By simply transferring to another college will not necessarily solve the problem that he has.</p>

<p>As for engineering, Maryland is an excellent engineering school. South Carolina isn’t really known as an engineering school as Clemson is the engineering/technical school in South Carolina.</p>

<p>What kind of college atmosphere is your son looking for? Maybe I can work on some suggestions for you. Are state schools the only option or would you be willing to go to a private school? </p>

<p>After finishing my homework today, I can probably help you out with some suggestions. I’m an engineering major and I looked into a good number of schools before deciding to go to Clemson from Massachusetts. If you have any questions about engineering schools or Clemson, let me know!</p>

<p>I second the recommendation that your son stick it out but if he is truly unhappy, he should transfer but let him know that it won’t necessarily solve his problems and that he’ll have to start over again.</p>

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<p>Your son just needs to figure out how to make friends. There are thousands of students at State in his exact situation. Going elsewhere gives him a shot at a fresh start but the problem will still be there of needing to make friends.</p>

<p>That being said, NC State will always have a ton of people who go home on the weekend. It’s close enough to the other population centers in NC that its bound to happen. Research where that doesn’t happen and go there. I highly recommend Clemson as far as other engineering schools nearby. Not sure about how many people go home there, but I bet its fairly similar.</p>

<p>Also, other freshman will stop going home once they make enough friends.</p>

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<p>Thank you for all of the thoughts, suggestions, and ideas! We will continue our conversations and see what happens.</p>

<p>Best wishes to all,
Karen</p>

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<p>*Sadly it’s a reality at state colleges that since most students are from the state (and their homes are very close by) that they will go home on weekends as well. I’m from Clemson and on non-home football game weekends, the majority of in-state students will head home or out of town for the weekend. So that’s something to keep in mind. *</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say that’s true unless the school is overwhelmingly “in-state” kids who live mostly in a nearby major city or its suburbs. </p>

<p>My kids live 2 1/2 hrs away from their state school and they have only come home once since mid August when they moved into their dorms. The only reason they came home was because we needed them to watch our pets while we went away. </p>

<p>But, 43% of the freshman class at their school is from out of state…that could cause less to go home.</p>

<p>Yes, some kids will go home on various weekends, but to say that the majority do on non-home game football weekends is not true for all state schools. Those who belong to clubs or greeks or have a good number of friends, have plenty to do on weekends.</p>

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<p>^hmm true I guess I shouldn’t generalize for all schools based on my experience but I think it is something to consider that you possibly could have the same problem at another state school.</p>

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<p>But, 43% of the freshman class at their school is from out of state…that could cause less to go home.= mom2collegekids.</p>

<p>Well that is unusual. North Carolina State colleges have mandates from the legislature about the makeup of freshmen classes. e.g. UNC-Chapel Hill must be 85% in state students. Even so, they are almost ALL in the top 10% of their high school classes. NCState has a very high percentage of instate students. Likely very similar. </p>

<p>Maryland is also a HIGH percentage of Marylanders. USC-Columbia is the same. </p>

<p>In some northeastern states, which are tiny, they may cross state lines, like UMass to UConn to UNH to Vermont to UMaine to URI to SUNY etc. </p>

<p>And in the southland, there is INTENSE loyalties to schools going back decades and in family heritage. </p>

<p>UNC asks on its application how many from your family have attended UNC Chapel Hill. Fact.</p>

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<p>A visit from my in-state child at UNC is rare.</p>

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<p>*North Carolina State colleges have mandates from the legislature about the makeup of freshmen classes. e.g. UNC-Chapel Hill must be 85% in state students. *</p>

<p>Yes, it’s true that some schools like UNC-CH, UVA, UF, UTex, and the UCs are going to have a lot of instate kids. However, that doesn’t mean that they all are running home each weekend. </p>

<p>I agree that those who live within a 90 minute drive might go home more often than others, but how many kids really want to spend several hours each weekend commuting…especially once they’ve found a boy/girl friend on campus?</p>

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<p>Just FYI - USC is 40% out of state.</p>