<p>Hi all! Posting here because I'm not sure where else to go for advice on my transfer situation. I'll warn you before I get into it--it's a bit of a mess! I really appreciate any thoughtful comments that I get on this.</p>
<p>I'll start from the beginning of my story. So two years ago, when I was first applying to colleges (I was then a senior in HS) I wasn't quite sure what exactly I was generally looking for. Big, medium, or small, I wasn't sure if I cared. Hadn't a clue which major I wanted to be either. But what I did know was that I had fallen in love this one particular liberal arts college which happened to fantastic academically and in a location that I couldn't stop obsessing over. I applied Early Decision to there, but ultimately was rejected.</p>
<p>Fast forward to regular decision applications. Now I applied to many schools that were different from my ED school, but it wasn't like I could only imagine myself at only one type of college. I was accepted by many but in the end chose to go to a large, private, urban university. I chose it because it was one of the best schools that I got in and also because I really did enjoy it when I visited, despite it being so different from the school I had originally wanted to go. It was there that I spent my freshman year. I ended up having plenty of interesting experiences and actually doing extremely well academically, but I also found myself increasingly displeased with the school. I was falling into a really bad place for several reasons and was unable to imagine my situation getting better. I also just wanted more of a campus.</p>
<p>So I applied to transfer. Now, here's the part where you'll really start getting annoyed with me if you haven't already: I didn't apply to my previous ED school. I don't have a great justification for this. I was just kind of in a bad spot with my self-esteem for months and busy and imagined that I would just get rejected. I decided to go to transfer to a large, public university in my state. It's an awesome school (a top public for sure), and I chose to go there because it has much more of a campus and sense of community than my previous, urban university, but also because at the time I craved familiarity and being near people I knew. Plus, I was decently sure that I'd get in.</p>
<p>And here I am (the large, public university). But now I'm starting to think that I once again made a very poor decision. In retrospect, I probably could've gotten into my original ED school if I applied to transfer, which was seriously the only school that I've ever been sure about. I am planning on making the best of my situation and trying to meet great people (and of course, focusing on academics) over the next few months, but I can't help but harbor a lot of self-resentment that I got into this situation. This isn't where I really want to be. I know I should've realized that before, but I chose this university over other (private) universities that I got into when I applied to transfer just because of the familiarity factor. This university offers a lot but I know that I would've been (a lot) better off if I had attended my original ED school. </p>
<p>Okay, here's where the advice part comes in. I recently discovered that my original ED school also offers Spring Transfer admission. Now, I know that I already sound like the most fickle person in the world, but I need to ask people who don't know me in person. Should I apply to transfer (if I think I have a shot of getting in)? Or at least, let's assume I do have a shot. I know there are disadvantages to transferring in the spring of my sophomore year. I also know there might be negative implications of a two-time transfer. But I also know that my ED school offers me better academics, much better career services than those at the university I'm at, and obviously, much more personal attention. A better location, too. I know I also need to focus on making the best of my situation here (getting involved, taking advantage of resources, meeting people) in case I end up having to stay. But I also know that this spring transfer option is pretty much my last shot of getting to where I wanted to be pretty much all along.</p>
<p>Whew, sorry that this post is becoming a novel. But I really, really appreciate any pieces of specific advice that anyone could give me on how I should proceed going forward. A few very important bits of information that I know people would ask me about if they actually bothered to read this far: my current major is economics. All three schools involved in this situation have top-notch economics programs (including the school I was previously at), but my ED school has the smallest/best. Also, I have a ton of AP credit and general credits that I've accumulated over the years and I'm not really concerned that I'd end up having to spend more time in school if I transferred again. Also, perhaps most importantly (though the part I'm most reluctant to admit), money is not a factor here at all. My parents have also been supportive besides how frustrating this situation is/I am.</p>
<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS FAR AND FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. It means a lot!</p>