<p>Many of us didn't get into the places we wanted and thus have to settle for our safeties. Like I have. Except that I haven't been able to muster any excitement over this. I have ended up in a degree program I'm not really into and transfer possibilities are scarce. So this thread is basically for people like me to share there feelings. Are you not looking forward to college? And why?</p>
<p>I’m afraid I won’t be a fit at my school, especially because it is so small. I’ve met some students (80 out of the 500 in my class) and I don’t really feel a connection or relate to them. Also the school is really sports-focused, not as diverse as I wished it was, and people don’t know it’s name that well. Sometimes I’m confused as to what tier school I go to.</p>
<p>^lol@idea that bowdoin is not tier 1</p>
<p>You should have picked a safety that actually fit your needs, or else it wasn’t really a safety. Now you will just have to make the best of it. I urge you to resist the urge to pout and have a positive attitude about it when you get there. I’m not sure I understand why you feel you can’t transfer, but if that’s the case you had best find a program that motivates you or you won’t graduate.</p>
<p>(Says the girl who had several 30+page threads b*tching about where I ended up at school on another forum-- I really embarrassed myself, in hindsight.)</p>
<p>Don’t go to college with that attitude. Go into it with an open mind and look to have a good time; you might be pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>Please, please, PLEASE do everything you can to go into school with a positive attitude. If you go into it with the attitude that it’s your safety school and you shouldn’t be there, you WILL be miserable.</p>
<p>A positive attitude is what I’m having a hard time mustering. But I’m doing the best I can. I can really identify with xylem here, in a different way though. Where I’m going is not very diverse either. It’s an out and out engineering program with no humanities courses and students who aren’t very well-rounded either.
Emaheevul07, transfer isn’t a promising prospect because I’m an international. I’ll be going to college in my home country, and if you’re applying to the states as a transfer AND asking for aid (which I would) you’re pretty much screwed. Or at least that is what I’ve found out/ been told as yet. If you have different opinions, I’d love to hear them :)</p>
<p>I was in your position at this time last year. For financial reasons, I couldn’t go to my dream school (an Ivy), which at the time felt like the end of the world. I wasn’t really excited about going to my current school, even though it’s a great institution, just because I couldn’t really envision myself being happy there.</p>
<p>I’m sure that many people will tell you “just be positive!” and I know it’s hard, especially when coupled with the sadness of leaving your friends/family/life behind. Something that worked for me was the idea that being sad was okay, but it was important to create my own happiness, and strike a balance so that I found enough happiness in little things that it outweighed any sadness or angst over what school I chose to attend. I tried to incorporate this attitude into everything I did my first months at college. Now, I look back on my college choice as one of the best I’ve ever made–I’m happier than ever and can’t imagine myself at any other institution, even my former dream school. </p>
<p>Something also to keep in mind is the importance of surrounding yourself with positive-thinking people. I can’t emphasize this enough. If you have an attitude of “I’m at my safety”, you will attract others with a similar attitude, and then you will all just compound each other’s misery. Which helps no one. So just do your best to hide your reservations, surround yourself with people who are really excited to be your school, and have fun. Things happen for a reason and you never know which opportunities might pop up as a result of you being at your school!</p>
<p>I’d like to say that though I did tell you to resist the urge to pout, I cried every day for a year and b*tched about it constantly before I got over it. I didn’t mean that you should get over it instantly. I just mean you should try to find a middle ground between getting over it instantly and doing what I did. 
I am sure you will find positives and negatives about any university, and if you walk into where you’re going with a negative attitude you are going to give disproportionate amounts of attention to the negatives and miss the positives. The school I ended up transferring to is a great school that is very well liked, but my roommate still managed to ruin it for herself because she refused to get over the fact that she wasn’t in California. She missed out on a lot. She didn’t do as well as she could have in her classes, didn’t make any friends, didn’t even bother to introduce herself to most of our neighbors-- it was just really sad. She cut herself off from the rest of her classmates because she felt she didn’t belong there, even though I am sure there were tons of people who would have welcomed her with open arms. Try your best not to let that happen to you. Research some of the good things about your school and the town it’s in and find SOMETHING to get excited about, even if it’s just a club you think you might join. You don’t have to be peeing your pants in anticipation, but you have got to find a way to be open minded.</p>
<p>And there’s always the old standby: Going to college at all is a privilege. Not everyone gets to go. There are really smart people that really value education who, for whatever reason, did not make it as far as you did. So if you can’t muster up an open mind for yourself, see if you can do it out of respect for the people who would do anything to be where you are but couldn’t manage it. That is what made me eventually made me grow up about my own college situation.</p>
<p>All of the above posts = totally true.</p>
<p>I went to a state school that’s pretty much known as a party school and has an awful reputation around here because the stereotype is that everyone here is a frat boy/sorority girl who gets drunk off their butts every night and fails their classes. This summer, I’ve met people from across the country who specifically came HERE to intern because they admire this school so much and love the campus. We actually have top researchers, and no one notices it. It’s been the best experience of my life, and I’ve gotten a thousand times further than I imaged. Maybe if I had chosen Princeton or Columbia, I’d be further… or I may not be. I’ll never know, and I really don’t care to. The people to come to this university thinking it’s just going to be awful are the ones who end up promoting the bad stereotype. Those of us coming in with an open mind do extremely well.</p>
<p>Find something you like at your school. Maybe switch to a program you enjoy or pick up a club that makes you happy. It’ll really change your mind quickly.</p>
<p>I am very excited for college but at the same time, I wish that this summer could last a little longer!
I’ve been livin’ the life since I received my decisons in March, and although I didn’t get into my top choice I was still satisfied since im going to one of my match schools with a nice scholarship. Senoritis really kicked into gear, and since mid-year I’ve been focused on just getting the most out of my last few months in this town. Hanging out almost everyday, spending a lot of time with my girlfriend,just kicking back with my best friends I’ve had since ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Thankfully it’s been an extremely epic summer, but I CANT imagine leaving my home town at all. Especially after this year when I grew extremely close with everyone.
But that’s just my “bros”, my girlfriend and I have barely talked about *** were going to do when were thousands of miles away! and crap,that’s a reality in a little over 20 days.</p>
<p>Yea, I realize that high school can’t go on forever, and apparently it’s your college friendships/relationships that will truly remain life long. but still, so hard to accept that fact.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t ever go to a college that didn’t have a program I like. That’s the whole point of college- to further your education with a degree program that you’re interested in. Or, at least, that should be the main point of college.</p>
<p>Don’t forget that for a lot of people getting into a “safety” school is a great opportunity. Not all of us can afford top schools so for some people the disappointing “safety” will be their dream school.</p>
<p>This positive nonsense is not a big thing. Do what you must, keep the nose the grindstone, you may not get there on schedule, but keeping at it will get you there sooner than later.</p>
<p>Here is what to do: keep applying, but negotiate transfer agreements with every school you wanted to get into. This way, you can progress in the education and transfer somewhere besides a safety school. Just email each school’s department head, ask ‘what class from S will work to fulfil undergrad requirement BS?’ They may tell you to talk to someone else, but persistence is key. Then, just take the class at the safety school and bide your time. I was told my credits would not transfer either; it’s mostly a ruse to get freshmen to stick around.</p>
<p>*a lot of the undergrad requirements are BS, thus the variable name</p>
<p>That said, look at the average incomes of graduates of the schools in play here, the ‘safety school’ may turn out to be a gem. Also, the connections made in school are more important than who issues the diploma when it comes to earning potential. That is why transferred to ODU’s distance programme: I can go to the various IEEE conventions relevant to my interests, make small talk, exchange business cards, and develop a greater-depth understanding of the field.</p>
<p>^If he needs financial aid, he may very well be screwed for transferring. Merit aid for transfer students is virtually non-existent, and I am not sure how good need-based aid for international transfers is. Not to mention that courses from a university in another country are not necessarily going to transfer as easily. It’s worth looking into but it’s a bit more complicated than it would be if he were a domestic transfer.</p>
<p>International transfers…never tried one of those. As for financial aid, that may be an issue; ODU will not recognise transfer credits for purposes of financial aid, but the other college would, so I did the financial aid through them. ODU turns around and says because of this, I cannot get a certain state grant worth about $3K.</p>
<p>I saved more than $3K by taking the classes outside ODU so I’m still in black ink.</p>
<p>My case was taking classes at two schools simultaneously. Transferring to another college the next year would not foul aid at the current years’ school. As for scholarships, tell them what they want to hear - that one intends to get the degree form that school. One can change the status later from ‘degree seeking’ to ‘transfer’ once the cheques clear :D</p>
<p>not looking forward because ill actually have to socially interact with people in real life >_<</p>
<p>My school is known for its partying. i think we’re the 1st school to go on that utterly stupid MTV Sorority/ Fraternity thing. But its a lot more subdued when you enter school. </p>
<p>Sure, some freshmen are rowdy as hell. Some become super-nerds. I became both. But as sophomore year came on, everything was more subdued and sterile. Plus, you’ll enjoy college more when you get involved in a club. Don’t rush too fast, though. Enjoy your Freshmen freedom to explore! I joined about 12 clubs Freshmen year. Next year just 3. Those three became two, and I’m pretty much loyal to them. </p>
<p>Personally, what I like the least are the political clubs on-campus. I follow more libertarian views than a strict diet of liberal or conservative. There’s just 2 political clubs on-campus, and their affiliation? Do you have to guess? i joined both for fun. Both clubs follow far too much along party lines, which inhibits any debate and discussion. Its just a long and boring head-nodding session to various issues. And both have one fatal flaw: Republicans have too few members, and Democrats spam a lot of email. I think I’d have this problem in any college, whether its Ivy league or community college. </p>
<p>Conclusion: State schools have tens of thousands of students. You only need a few close friend to have a fun and stimulating time. You will fit in. Plus you save money!!!</p>
<p>transferring is lame! Don’t do it unless you really feel miserable/the school doesn’t offer the major/program you want. </p>
<p>OP, almost everyone nowadays either isn’t getting into their dream school or can’t afford their dream school. I ended up going to my “safety” school and absolutely LOVE it. Yes, it is a downer that this college is where you ended up, but do realize that college is college, no matter where you go, and you can still end up with just as many great memories despite not being at your top choice school. College choice can be such a small aspect of the college experience, but ultimately it is what you make of the experience that matters. So even if you don’t like your university at the beginning, don’t let that stop you from seeking out potential academic/extracurricular opportunities.</p>
<p>This may work too - transfer to a community college and do a 2+2 programme. More cost effective, less rigorous with the general ed stuff, and much easier to transfer; in many cases, one is guaranteed entry after the 2 years of CC.</p>
<p>i’m in the same positition. i’m going into college with the intention of transferring.</p>
<p>i’m making the most of freshman year, but that’s all i plan on doing. i don’t plan on staying here for two years. i’m going in with a positive attitude and stuff but i HAVE to transfer out after freshman year, mostly bc my school doesn’t have my intended program i want, and i don’t want to waste money studying something i don’t want to.</p>
<p>but i agree with everyone here: go in with a positive attitude.</p>