I’ve never posted on an online forum before, so I figured today’s the day.
I want to transfer to another university but I think my parents will be very upset about it. I know I’m an adult, and that they shouldn’t control what I do, but they are paying for my education and it’s the simple fact that they’re my parents and I respect them and don’t want to let them down. If transferring schools let’s them down, then I just won’t transfer.
Anyways, I’m looking for advice and someone to talk through what I’m going to tell them about transferring. I don’t know how my parents will take it.
I’m a freshman at a major university about an hour and fifteen minutes from home. Growing up, I was always a home body. For the first two trimesters at my university, I went home every weekend because, while I have friends here, I’m much happier at home. Then spring term of 2015 started and I was selected to be an RA, and now I can’t come home more than two times per term. We’re five weeks into this term and I love my job, but I’m just not happy here.
Here’s a little bit about what I’m thinking about:
- I originally came to this school for engineering, but switched my major to English the first week of classes fall term. I LOVE my major, but my school is heavily focused on engineering.
- I want to be a teacher so I need a degree in education. They have a double bachelors degree at my school that takes 5 years total to earn a degree in whatever major (mine would be English) and a degree in education. At the school I want to transfer to, it's 4 years for a bachelors in your major, and a 1 year masters program for education.
- I'm an RA at my school, and with my scholarship and free room/board, my cost is almost even to the school I would transfer to, so in my mind what's the advantage of staying at a school I'm unhappy at if the cost is the same
- I do miss being home because my family is extremely important to me.
I’m going to finish up the school year at my school, but I’m thinking about transferring to the university 30 minutes away from home. I would be living at home and commuting each day.
This school I think would be more beneficial because I would be earning a degree in English, and after that, I would enter into a 1 year masters program for education. 1 extra year and I earn a masters compared to 1 year extra and a bachelors. I think that’s more bang for my buck.
I just don’t know if these are good enough reasons to transfer or if I should stick it out for another year at my school. I had a really bad week a couple weeks ago when I started my RA job and wanted to quit and my parents got really mad. Since then I’ve come to love my job. I like my job more than I like the classes I’m taking or school in general, and that’s what worries me. I’ve been worrying about my degree plans for about 4 months now.
I’m worried my parents will say I’m just home sick, which being away from home is a huge part of why I want to transfer, and I don’t think they’ll look past that point.
By transferring I’d be receiving the same education for my undergrad, a better education program in which I’ll receive my masters degree, and the cost is almost the same.
I just need some advice on if I should have this conversation or if I should try to get through another year. I still do like the school I’m at, but I know I’d be happier at the other school.
Thank you.