Should I apply to transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>So during the college process, I had my heart set on going to Brown. I'd only visited it once, but I'd built up in my head the whole idea of the liberal, open-minded, open curriculum, 'quirky,' undergraduate focus, small community feel in a mid-size university. I REALLY wanted to go there, so much so that I'd started planning what courses I wanted to take before even applying (this was all very foolish, I know). I applied ED, got deferred and then rejected. In retrospect, I can see why this happened-- I had ok/good grades (3.7 average probably) and a great SAT score (2340), but my extracurriculars lacked passion and my essay, in retrospect, was boring, not well-written enough to make up for such a trite topic, and didn't show anything special about me.</p>

<p>Needless to say, though, I was extremely upset about this, and I wasn't very excited about arriving at my current college, Amherst College (my second choice, and the best choice for me out of all the colleges I got into, because for some reason, probably because I didn't put a lot of thought into the college process except for really wanting to go to Brown, I'd applied to some LACs truly in the middle of nowhere that I'd never even visited and never really planned on going to, as well as to 'not enough' reaches according to my mother and some of my friends). However, I ended up liking it here a lot first semester. I also feel extremely fortunate to have gotten in here and to have been able to come here; some amazing applicants didn't get in, and I really think the only thing that got me in was my supplemental essay. I feel extremely fortunate to be here, too, because I get to experience the joy of learning about whatever I want for three more years, and there are already too many courses that I want to take. Now, though, I'm starting to feel the 'Amherst bubble' and feeling a little lonely and sad, and like this place is too dull ... and wishing I had gotten into Brown (which I don't think I thought about at ALL last semester). I didn't do an overnight anywhere during the college process, so maybe I underestimated how small a liberal arts college really would be and didn't really think about what sort of environment I wanted.</p>

<p>I know that part of the reason for this is because I've been on campus for so long and I'm aching for Spring Break and to go home to bustling New York City and see my family and my other friends and relax; there were many more breaks last semester. I also know it's because I'm not very involved with stuff on campus right now, but I do plan on getting more involved after Spring Break and in the fall semester. However, I am neither an athlete nor a musical person, which are the two main extracurriculars that are popular at Amherst. Then again, I'm not sure what exactly my extracurricular interests are or what kind of person I am; I feel like, for much of high school, I was too afraid to join things and talk to people that I thought were interesting, which I regret deeply. And I want to get into shape and learn how to sing, so who knows, I might join one or both of such activities in the fall. Oh and also it's because I've been secluding myself from my friends in an effort to focus more on my schoolwork.. but I've just gotten lonely and not been able to concentrate on my homework and started thinking what ifs (what if my counselor had told me that my essay sucked, what if I hadn't procrastinated with the college process, what if I had thought realistically about college since the beginning of high school, etc.) and I feel like I've just been digging myself deeper and deeper into this mental hell. I can't just blame this on Amherst, though, because it's my own (sucky) tendency to look to the past that's causing this.</p>

<p>But right now, I'm not very excited at the prospect of being on the Amherst campus or the idea of being an Amherst alum three years from now. While I have made a great, eclectic combination of friends, I feel like much of the student body is a little bit too preppy for my tastes. Then again, maybe it's me projecting my uneasiness with the WASP culture onto them and letting the prevailing image of what Amherst is (which isn't really true) get to me. Maybe it's just that I don't know what I want and who I am, and Brown will simply have more options and more people for me to explore that with. Also, there are more people of my ethnicity/racial background at Brown (simply because it's bigger), and while it's not something hugely important to me (because I can get along with most people, and because I'm fairly secure in my ethnic/racial identity, and because I'm afraid I might get stuck in the minority hole there, whereas I'm friends with people from so many different backgrounds here), it is a plus, not just because of the varied cultural options, but also because my parents' friends and their kids have heard of it for that reason (yeah I know this shouldn't be an issue, but sometimes it gets annoying having to answer where or what your college is).</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong, there are things about Amherst that I LOVE and get excited about, such as President Marx's mission and all the community service stuff (which is another one of the big extracurriculars, and which I am involved with, but not enjoying as much this semester). I love my professors, who are really really well-educated and funny and simply amazing, especially considering the TOTAL focus on undergraduate education. (And I'm more a humanities/social sciences person, so it's not a question of academics.) It's really pretty and I like the hills, and I've grown to like western Massachusetts quite a bit. I love my friends, and if I did transfer, I would deeply miss them. Also, I can be very shy and anxious with new people, so it would be pretty difficult for me to make friends as a transfer, I think.. especially because I feel like there's a certain stigma to being a transfer, and one that I might internalize if I were to transfer.</p>

<p>This is all, of course, assuming that I could get in. I just started thinking about transferring this week, when transfer apps are already due, so it's not an option to transfer as a sophomore right now. But also, I had a terrible grade in one class senior year, and I have a crappy 3.0 average from last semester. So I would have to recuperate from that in terms of grades in order to have a chance.</p>

<p>And honestly, I don't want to transfer. I don't want to graduate from college thinking, 'Damn I wish I had gotten into Brown' or anything like that. I want to have enjoyed college. I'm sorry this is so long, and thank you if you've actually read the whole thing. But I guess basically what I'm asking is, any tips for helping my love where I am? And not regretting the past?</p>

2

<p>I am in the same boat as you. I am just going to apply to the schools I really wanted to go to, see where I get in, and take it from there.</p>

3

<p>My situation is a little bit different, The Road Untaken.. Brown was pretty much the only school I wanted to go to.. Amherst is good and I think I could have a good time here and get a great education and great opportunities for jobs/grad school/fellowships, buuut aren't people supposed to have a lot of pride in their college? That's not something I'm sure I do.</p>

4

<p>man, i don't think you should transfer. possibly you could apply, just for kicks, but it sounds like amherst is actually pretty good for you. no college experience is going to be perfect. i feel like it's possible that you're magnifying the problems, and getting lost in "what if's." every small thing that's wrong with your school, you imagine it wouldn't be that way at brown. which may be true, but aren't you kind of idealizing it? a college experience is ultimately what you make of it. whatever school you choose, it's kind of a sacrifice, because you'll never know if it would have been better at another school. (i suppose it's the same with most big decisions in life!) do you think you might regret leaving amherst? you say you've only visited brown first, and you say "I'd built up in my head" when talking about your perceptions of it. if you really want 'closure' (sorry that sounds cheesy!) perhaps you should visit brown, possibly spend a night in a dorm (if you're able), sit in some classes, talk to students, that sort of thing. i still kind of think amherst would be right for you, but i don't want you forever being hung-up about whether or not brown would have been better. then again, i don't know you and i'm just reading your post on the internet, so take everything i say with a grain of salt (:</p>

5

<p>My take:</p>

<p>You have roughly two semesters before you have to make this decision. Commit your self fully to working towards integrating your self in to the Amherst community. Join those clubs, groups and teams. </p>

<p>Dont over estimate the differences between the two institutions. I've spent a good amount of time on both campuses and would contend that both schools essentially cater to the same sort of student paradigm, an athletically or socially inclined scholar who is committed to their studies and extracurriculars. Amherst has a reputation for, as you put it, "WASP culture" but I'd say you see just as many "popped collars" on Thayer street. </p>

<p>I think you have a keen sense of what Browns about (mind you, I don't go there) but I would be exceptionally careful about orientating your college career to a potential shot at transferring. Amherst offers a fantastic learning environment and a relatively varied social make-up, you just really have to commit your self to taking advantage of it. Academic work should not consume your collegiate life, you've got to try and work out a balance. If your not really clicking with the social scene, by all means, stay in on a Friday night, but spend that "social time" out on the campus or in a club environment at a different point of the week. </p>

<p>It sounds like your just adjusting to school. You might have regrets, thats fine. I think as long as your recognize, which you do in your post, that this tenancy is probably weighted towards the personal side rather than spurred on by institutional grievances. And if thats the case, the only way to swallow regret is to take it with a dose of commitment, not resignation, to the opportunities and possibilities open to you now. Dont wait till the fall to get involved. If you have to, take a book with you to music class, but at least give it a shot. Either you'll have a reversal in attitude or you'll transfer next year starting around February time. Its really a win win situation.</p>

6

<p>ruyi and 21Questions have said it well. So have you in your own post.</p>

<p>Dedicate yourself between now and February 1 of next year to being the best you can be where you are. Do all those things you say you want to. Do not worry about what ECs are "popular" at Amherst. Delve into the ECs which interest YOU. Try out the things you regret not trying in hs, or new things you want to try out now.</p>

<p>Bloom where you are planted.</p>

<p>If, after having done all of that, you find that - one full year from now - you are not blooming; THEN, you can apply to Brown. The month of February will be plenty of time to do that. Don't give Brown another thought between now and then. Brown is very likely not the answer to your longings. You are the answer to your longings.</p>

7

<p>Ahh what a great post.</p>

8

<p>Now Amherst and Brown are two very good schools. How about if we attend a regional state school and want to transfer to our states flagship? The campus, social atmosphere, and I assume the academics are drastically different if you compare both schools.</p>

9

<p>Totally different question, blue; as you imply. If you want to transfer "up" for academic opporunity, more things to avail yourself of on campus, broader or different set of peers.... that is typically a very valid reason to consider a transfer.</p>