<p>I am currently a sophomore physics major at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. I have above a 3.9 GPA, so I am doing well at this school academically. However, it takes me a really long time to understand material and I feel that I have to spend a lot more time studying to learn the material than other students do. Also, Rose is on a quarter system, which means that we cover a semesters worth of material in just 10 weeks (consequently, we have three sets of finals per year). Eventually, I learn the material, but I have to put in lots of time and effort. I was thinking of transfering to Iowa State, which would be much cheaper. Iowa State is on a semester system, which means I would have more time to learn material. Iowa State is also a much larger school than Rose (30,000 students. vs. 2000 students) so there are way more clubs and activities to be involved in. Rose-Hulman is in Terre Haute, Indiana, which means there isn't that much to do besides study. I also feel that I study so much at Rose that I don't have lots of time to invest in friendships. My only fear in transfering is that I would not be able to see my professors as much for help as I do at Rose (since Rose is a small school with small class sizes). The student-teacher interaction is one of the reasons I chose Rose in the first place. But this year, I have felt socially isolated and want a change. I need to make my decision soon. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks !</p>
<p>If you are not happy at RHIT then transfer. The physics degree will be equally challenging at ISU but the general ethos on campus will certainly be different. RHIT is an [url=“<a href=“http://theaitu.org%22%5DAITU%5B/url”>http://theaitu.org”]AITU[/url</a>] school just like my university and they all have this engineering school vibe where you are expected to study a lot and not much social interaction. It is a function of being small and being predominantly engineering. The big advantage at RHIT as it is at my school, Illinois Tech, is the closer relationship with faculty. however, I studied physics at UIUC which is huge and if you make the effort, you can get to know the faculty at a place like ISU as well. It is really up to you to make the effort though. Be aware though that in order to do well in a physics major, you will find yourself studying as hard at ISU as you did at RHIT.</p>
<p>My son is a Junior with 4.0 + GPA and high ACT scores. We live in the Chicago area and have visited Rose Hulman ,Iowa State, Illinois and will be visiting Purdue in a couple weeks. He’s very much set on obtaining an engineering degree and is narrowing his choices to schools in the midwest. For us, it doesn’t matter where he goes to school, as long as he is happy and does well…That’s why I was surprised to come across your post. We had very good impression of Rose-Hulman and thought the close professor relationship was a HUGE plus for most of their students. Are your thoughts of transferring because you study too much and take more tests, without much socializing …or are the much higher costs at Rose also playing a part?. Do any other students , to your knowledge, feel the same as you do?. My son really likes Iowa State (his and our favorite thus far), but I was not under the impression that professors were as accessible there due to much larger class sizes. And yes, they have a TON of clubs you can join. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Thank you for your input.
Response to AlexEsch: Rose is a very good school and the academics here are great! Professors are very willing to meet with students and explaining the material during office hours (For some hard courses, I was in a professor’s office 3-4 days per week and they never turned me away). The main reason I am considering transferring is because I am not a fast learner. I feel that lots of the classes move at a brisk pace (since we are on a quarter system we have to cover the same amount of material as semester students do, but we have less time to do it), As a result, I have to put in lots of time to effort to understand the material in order to keep up. I feel that if I moved to a semester school, I would have more time to process and understand the material. Most kids at Rose are okay with the fast pace classes, and actually prefer it because they get to take more classes. Another plus is that if you hate a class, you are only in it for 10 weeks instead of 16! Also, we have lots of homework at Rose, but most students are good at balancing homework with social activities. I have not mastered this skill yet, but I am improving. It is true that Rose costs more, but like you, my parents are fine with me going to Rose if I am happy there. For me, cost is not as much of an issue. Good luck with your son’s decision, and if you have any more questions about Rose, let me know. </p>
<p>Thanks sciencenerd84, and best wishes with your future choices. You’ll do just fine. </p>
<p>“I feel that lots of the classes move at a brisk pace (since we are on a quarter system we have to cover the same amount of material as semester students do, but we have less time to do it), As a result, I have to put in lots of time to effort to understand the material in order to keep up. I feel that if I moved to a semester school, I would have more time to process and understand the material.”</p>
<p>This might not turn out to be true. You need to find out what the breakdown of information is for the equivalent course series at both places. Often one set of information is covered over an academic year, and is distributed in thirds (on the quarter system) and in halves (on the semester). It is not as common to squeeze a full year’s worth of material into only two-thirds of a year of time. By changing from a quarter to a semester calendar, you could find that you simply are eliminating one mid term and one final, but not changing the speed as which you have to master the subject material. Do your best to lay your hands on copies of the individual course syllabi to find out whether the classes actually move more slowly.</p>
sciencenerd4 - What did you do ? My son is in the same boat at Rose and also considering transferring to Iowa State or University of Iowa? I was wondering what you decided and how it turned out