Should I move on campus to experience what I’m missing out on?

Student Lounge College Life
1

I moved from Illinois in July to Georgia. I attend the Georgia State University perimeter campus in Decatur. I was a first semester sophomore but some of my credits didn’t transfer so I’m a freshman, they did let me keep my gpa and a good amount of my credit hours. The perimeter campuses are basically the community college version of the main campus.You can earn your associates degree and then transfer to the main downtown Atlanta campus or you can transfer earlier than that. I’m taking their online classes for my freshman year because they are extremely cheap and I’m an out of state student when it comes to tuition status.

Although the classes are cheaper here, I really want to transfer to the main campus my sophomore year. The reason is the downtown campus has so many opportunities and is filled with diversity. I don’t have any friends out here and it’s hard socializing at the perimeter campus. The campus is far from downtown and I don’t have a car so I’m not able to use a lot of the resources that’s at the main campus. Or meet any one the people. My academic advisor thinks that I should stay until I earn my associates until I earn my associates to save money, although I would miss out on experiencing the socialization and opportunities that the downtown campus offers. I know that it’s good to save money but I really want to be on the main campus, I live at home with my mom and I feel like I’m missing out on what the downtown campus has to offer. Should I wait to earn my associates or go on campus? I will be paying out of state tuition for one semester before I can apply for in state when one year passes which would be next July.

2

I forgot to add that you do have a chance to live in campus while taking the online classes at the perimeter campus, which is a lot cheaper but I really hate taking online classes. It doesn’t feel the same as having that face to face interaction that you get in a classroom.

3

It sounds as if you want to know a bit of the conventional, residential college experience, and that is completely understandable. Moreso, that you are new to the state, living among your peers and having a goal of graduation to cement you (in some respects), I further understand the sense of alienation and deflated-spirit you may be feeling.

Do I understand correctly that you could apply for in-state tuition before the beginning of your sophomore year (potentially at the main campus), and that you are presently not taking online courses,but would be left with only that option were you to transfer to the main campus sooner?

One must take finances into consideration, and only you and your mom know how much stress, or how doable, a switch to the main campus for your sophomore year would be for your family. But, that being looked at with a reasonable and honest eye, it seems natural for a traditional student to want to be at the main, city campus.

For now, work hard, look into every single advantage beyond money that staying at the local campus provides (access to professors/administration/learning the area and more about the state in which you now reside, etc).

Additionally, ask about clubs, groups in your immediate area where you can gather with fellow students.