Possibly transferring, but having trouble deciding on a new school

Transfer Students
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<p>I'm currently a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, a school I applied to mostly for scholarship reasons and a desire to experience life outside of the Deep South. So fast forward, I think the school's great, I like my teachers and friends, etc... but, and I wish there were a better way to put it, I HATE living in Oklahoma. I just had no idea going in what it would be like living 800 miles away from home, away from the water, and in weather thats usually at least 30-40 degrees colder.
I also miss competing in Track and Field and am seriously thinking of transferring to a school where I could walk on (DIII or weaker DI schools, OU unfortunately is a T&F national powerhouse).
I feel like my reasons for transferring aren't that unreasonable, given that I've only spent one semester here and don't feel that attached to it, but I'll admit I do worry that my reasons aren't good enough to throw away my scholarship (full ride). I do plan on working and applying for as many independent scholarships as I can find time for to pay for the new school as much as possible.</p>

<p>Right now I am working on applications for Rhodes, Ole Miss, UFlorida, Alabama, Auburn, and Millsaps, and I was wondering if ya'll had any recommendations for schools that I should add/drop to my list, or knew my chances of getting in.</p>

<p>High school stats:
-4.4 weighted GPA, 33 ACT, 2130 SAT, and several academic awards
-Extracurriculars involved Cross Country/Track&Field (all-state in track, varsity in both), about 10-12 hours of community service a week (including 4 hours every week tutoring refugees in english, that was my big hobby other than running), I play the violin and am pretty conversational in spanish due to working with Cuban refugees</p>

<p>College stats:
-4.0 GPA taking 16 hours (but 2 hours were just a for-fun dance class)
-Here's my big worry, is that my extracurriculars in college aren't very impressive. I have to admit I got a little shell-shocked by the whole college life scene and wasted way too much time. Extracurriculars are:
-Student congress, only about 4 hours a week, though I do have the hook of being the only freshman member to ever successfully pass legislation in congress
-Habitat for Humanity group, went to the build site every weekend without fail, although my attendance at meetings was a little more spotty
-Was on the rowing team for 2 weeks, although I may still add that to extracurriculars just for fluff. I quit rowing because I realized I wanted to focus on track again. I had to self-coach, and probably spent on average 2-3 hours every day on training, but since I wasn't part of any official club or team I'm not sure if I can put that as an extracurricular?</p>

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<p>Also applying to College of Charleston</p>

3

<p>You won’t get a full ride as a transfer student. Can’t you just buy some more warm clothes and join some inter-mural sports? Realize that either way, in about 3 years, you will need to find ways to compete and do sports outside of a college setting anyhow–so think of this as a way to get a jump start on figuring out how to integrate T&F/Sports into your adult life. You have 3 years of college left… and about 80 more as an adult in the real world.</p>

<p>Graduating in 3 more years with zero debt is really powerful. Is it really worth giving up that amazing freedom to do DIVIII running for a few extra years?</p>

<p>As for the weather, just make it an adventure. It means when you graduate college that you will never be hindered in doing what you want in life over a tiny whine about the weather. You’ll be tested and tough mentally and physically.</p>

<p>So, you can always transfer. No biggie. Sounds like your ECs are fine. 2 weeks of rowing is stupid, so skip listing that. Any adcom would wince at you trying to pad your ECs by listing a 2-week activity. Listing that you are an avid runner and run X-number of miles a week seems relevant and could be listed as an EC.</p>

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<p>Well the weathers a pretty minor complaint, although I definitely need to buy more warm clothes. I will say I’m glad you called me out on that because I do tend to blow the weather issue out of proportion.</p>

<p>As for the sports, well like you said I have a maximum of 4 years left to compete. You could see that as a reason to quit, but I see it as a reason to take advantage of every year of eligibility I have left. And frankly, a group of people all willing to dedicate their lives to the common goal of running fast is something hard to recreate in intramural sports.
I think I may be starting to answer my own question here, but moving back home to pay in-state tuition at alabama or auburn would definitely be worth an extra 3 years of eligibility to me, and I would only need a little bit of extra money to afford it.</p>