Need Some Advice

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I know this is going to be a long post, but I could really use some peer advice right now (I don't really have anywhere else to turn for advice).</p>

<p>Here's the story:
Fresh out of high school in 2009, I didn't know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to major in. So, following family tradition, I went to Moravian College for my first year. To say that I hated it there would be a massive understatement.</p>

<p>When my Freshman year ended, I transferred out to a local community college in order to save my family money, while figuring out what I wanted to do. </p>

<p>Sophomore year was over and I wanted to transfer. DeSales accepted me and offered me an excellent financial aid program, but I felt like the school wasn't the type of school I wanted, so I remained with the community college for an extra semester.</p>

<p>Then out of nowhere I found out about Lehigh University, and instantly fell in love with it. After all that searching and two years of being unhappy, it was the very first college I've ever found that I truly felt like I wanted to go to. Better yet, they actually accepted me. I was completely ecstatic. It was a school I was proud of, something that fit my high standards, I loved the campus, I loved the location, I loved the people; it was perfect.</p>

<p>But then, guess what? They refused to give me ANY financial aid. It was this whole ordeal that lasted two weeks of them jerking me around and not giving me straight answers, and then I finally found out that I wasn't getting a drop. They told me they didn't have any left to give out.
My family doesn't have "Lehigh" money, we barely have "PSU" money. But Lehigh admissions staff assured me that they had an excellent financial aid package waiting for me, which made me feel comfortable enough to apply in the first place.</p>

<p>So I ended up going to my backup school, my "joke" school that anybody with half a brain could get accepted to: Penn State Lehigh Valley.</p>

<p>That's where I am now. The Spring semester is almost over, I'm a member of the Lion Ambassadors, and I absolutely despise the school. </p>

<p>Everybody around me talks about how proud they are to be at Penn State, and in the back of my mind, I'm always thinking "This isn't even Penn State!".
I don't understand how people can be proud at a school when it's just a branch off of the real thing; it's like a cheap imitation. I love the REAL Penn State, but this isn't it.</p>

<p>I've always been the type of person who has wanted the "best of the best" for myself. That's what made me want Lehigh so badly; that's what made me turn down DeSales. It wasn't "good" enough, but now I wish I hadn't, because now I'm at a second-rate school, well into my Junior year.
What makes it sting even more is the fact that most people LEAVE this PSU campus after their second year. So not only am I surrounded by younger people who I don't know and can't relate to, but I'm a Junior at a school that is traditionally a two year school for most people.
This campus isn't even a real campus, it's like a high school. It's ONE single, small building. Our enrollment isn't even above 1,000 students. </p>

<p>Honestly even if I stay, I probably won't even frame my diploma (I'm being 100% serious). I just feel like a monkey could get a diploma here.</p>

<p>I've briefly talked to some people about it and they all think I should just stay and deal with it. They think transferring AGAIN would be ridiculous at this point.
But I'm even unhappier here than I was at Moravian, which started this whole problem to begin with.</p>

<p>I'm actually embarrassed to be here, like I failed myself and everyone around me. That's how bad it is.
Yet, the only person I have to blame is myself, because I shouldn't have put so much emphasis on Lehigh. I just wanted to go there so badly, and when I got accepted there I thought that all my problems had gone away.</p>

<p>So I don't really know what to do. Should I stay here for the next year and a half - two years (That's about how long it would take me, despite me being a Junior now)? Should I re-apply to Lehigh and see if they have financial aid available this time? Should I re-apply to DeSales? Should I go back to Moravian?
I really just don't know what to do. </p>

<p>Thanks so much to anybody who takes the time to read all of this and respond.</p>

2

<p>

You’re asking the question a little late to need:

[Lehigh</a> University: Undergraduate Admissions: Applying to Lehigh: Transfer Student Application](<a href=“http://www4.lehigh.edu/admissions/undergrad/apply/transfer.aspx]Lehigh”>http://www4.lehigh.edu/admissions/undergrad/apply/transfer.aspx)</p>

<p>Call them and see if they will consider your application but I think you’ll have the same issue with little funding available.</p>

3

<p>Ugh, I didn’t even realize their due date was so soon. That was the problem I had last fall, too. That’s why I decided against DeSales, because I really wanted Lehigh and decided to wait out another semester for it to be able to apply.</p>

<p>The thing is, I applied the very first day the Spring application was available. And yet they still screwed me in the end.</p>

<p>I’m willing to hold out for one more semester at PSULV so that I can apply for the Lehigh Spring semester, but do you think that’s even worth it at this point? Do you think they’d have more financial aid available at that point?</p>

<p>I just calculated my credits, and it is going to take me (at LEAST) another year and a half, more likely two years, before I can graduate from PSULV. I don’t know if I can handle that place for two more years.</p>

<p>But now I’m at the point where I’m embarrassed for even wanting to transfer a third time.</p>

4

<p>How soon can you transfer over to the main campus of Penn State, or is that impossible for you at this point? Make an appointment with your advisor so that you can sit down and discuss that possibility.</p>

5

<p>That is a possibility, however I didn’t want to bring that option up due to the fact that I personally don’t want to leave the area.
I’m currently in a 5-year long relationship, and don’t want to leave her here. To most people that sounds completely silly and ridiculous, and the common response would be “if you guys are meant to be, you’ll last”; but that’s just not an option for me at this point in time.</p>

<p>To be honest, main campus would have been my first pick right out of high school had it not been for that.</p>

<p><em>edit</em>
To be honest, I’ve been eyeing the Berks campus. They have not only Psychology (my major), but another program that I’ve been wanting to double major in that the Lehigh Valley campus doesn’t offer.
The problem is that Berks is like 45min-an hour away from the Lehigh Valley area.
I wouldn’t mind living say, 20-25 minutes away from campus (because that’s my daily commute now anyway), and then coming home on weekend to spend time with her after a 30 minute drive. But everyone I’ve suggested that idea to so far has said that my idea is stupid and that I should just stay there on campus if I go to Berks, rather than getting off-campus housing.</p>

6

<p>Your other option, and I am very serious here, is to take a year off and work. Think about the soldiers in uniform who delay going to college 3 or 4 years. If you work, you save money…perhaps affording Lehigh, which I am certain will take you at a later date, particularly if you defer their offer and tell them you need money. </p>

<p>Working helps mature individuals and aids them in focusing on what is important in life. A year can be a big difference in your life and your expenses.</p>

<p>Or, you have not mentioned taking out loans. Are you unwilling to take out loans to attend Lehigh? If you live nearby can you live at home and commute? </p>

<p>Finally I can say objectively that you come off a bit bitter…and while you may feel justified, others may not be as receptive. So it may help you to work on the attitude a bit…and I mean that in the best light, to help you. </p>

<p>We all have unique paths to success. There is not one path to glory. And prestige is not much after the first job anyway…what matters most is job performance. Trust me on that.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

7

<p>@sovereign
I really appreciate your wisdom on the matter. I know I’m bitter about it, and that irritates me more because I’m not that type of person. But after two and a half years of frustrations and being let down, you start to lose faith.</p>

<p>When I got out of high school, I wanted to do just that: Take a year off before college and work. My mom was the reason I didn’t do that; she more or less forced/persuaded (choose the term you like) me into going to Moravian. </p>

<p>And now I’m at the point where I feel that if I take a year off and work, I’m afraid I won’t come back. I’ve worked a full time job already when I was at Moravian, which added to my stress levels, and I don’t want to do that again while in school. So many people work and then get stuck in the routine; I’m afraid to fall into that “trap”.</p>

<p>As for the military, I’d love to be a UAV Pilot for the Air Force. It relates closely to Intelligence Analysis, which is my dream government job. But the problem is that I don’t want to leave the area due to my current relationship. I’ve been with my girlfriend for over 5 years, we’re best friends, and we spend literally every day together. We fight when we’re apart, and I don’t want to have military life taking a toll on our relationship, or even putting it in jeopardy. That probably sounds trivial to most people, but to me, it’s my world.</p>

<p>I’m likely going to have to take out loans next semester, no matter where I am. My mom doesn’t have money to help out anymore, and my dad has money; but this is the first semester he’s contributed at all.</p>

<p>Everyone has said the same thing as you: Where you get the degree doesn’t matter. Yet, for some reason, it does to me. I have tons of other things to put on my resume, so it’s not even for resume-building. (Although if a prospective employer has two exact copies of the same candidate, but one went to Penn State Lehigh Valley, and the other Lehigh University; who do you think he is going to choose?)</p>

<p>I appreciate your time and advice!</p>

8

<p>“if a prospective employer has two exact copies of the same candidate, but one went to Penn State Lehigh Valley, and the other Lehigh University; who do you think he is going to choose?”</p>

<p>As someone in the business world who has hired many young people, I and most of my peers are a lot less interested in what school you went to, especially after your first job, than you probably realize. Lehigh vs.Penn State Lehigh Valley? I’m not from PA, and I don’t really know the difference. I assume the latter is a state school and therefore lots of smart kids who don’t have financial resources attend. 3 years out of college, I’m not interested in where you went to school - I want to know what skills you have, what you accomplished at your last job, and what your bosses have to say about you.</p>