Should I transfer from Skidmore to NYU or Brandeis?

<p>Sorry for this long post. If you don't want to read it all, would it generally be worth it to transfer from Skidmore (where I go for $25,000) to either NYU or Brandeis (for full tuition) if I'm not being academically challenged? (I would transfer for this fall semester and got into NYU but haven't heard from Brandeis yet).</p>

<p>So I really don't know if I should transfer. Heres some background. I finished my freshman year at Skidmore where I get a $25,000 tuition exchange scholarship each year. Skidmore was never my first choice, but I liked my first semester there. I had 3 really good teachers and classes were ok. I did well (3.82 gpa). Some classes weren't very challenging though. I'm very shy so I was happy that I got to meet many people. I had 2 outgoing roommates (and was introduced to lots of people through them) and became good friends with one of my roommates. Second semester was a lot worse. All the people I became friends with first semester, including my roommate, began abandoning me to go drinking twice or 3 times a week (I don't drink). From then on, my roommate became better friends with my other roommate (who began drinking with him) and they left me out of things. When they included me, it was sometimes hard to tell if it was only because they felt they had to since we were roommates and had to get along. I think I concluded that they both value our friendship, but it isn't as important to them as my friendship with them is to me. Academically, I had bad professors and easier and much less interesting classes the second semester. I found that many students don't really care about schoolwork. It was hard for me to study some of the time knowing my friends were abandoning me. However, when I told professors I was thinking about transferring they told me not to. One said she'd hunt me down if I transferred.</p>

<p>So here's where I stand now. Socially, I think I wouldn't miss out on much if I transferred, although I keep hoping things will improve with my friends. I am afraid, though, that it will be harder to meet people as a transfer student in a big city. Academically, I think I should challenge myself more. But I managed to make some strong relationships with and get noticed by professors. So basically, I'm a shy, hardworking student unsure of which college is best for me. I know what Skidmore is like, It's not too academically or socially impressive, but it's not terrible. I know what to expect, can start choosing the good professors, and can talk to people on campus. Would NYU or Brandeis be a better fit? Is my fear of not being to meet people irrational? Would transferring be worth losing my scholarship? I know this needs to be my decision, I mostly just want to know if I have legitimate reasons for transferring or if there's any specific info about the colleges I should know about. Thanks.</p>

<p>You're right that being in a big city like NYC will make it harder to meet people -- especially since there isn't really a "campus" for NYU -- but that's not to say that it can't be done with effort.</p>

<p>On the subject of your friends "abandoning" you -- college isn't like high school where people have to be "bff" and hang out 24/7. They went out to pursue their own interests; it's not like you can expect them to hang out at home with you when they want to go out and party. It sounds like you're just not a good fit for their group. Why are you sitting around waiting to be "included"? You can have more than one group of friends. So for the social aspect, don't just transfer because of that. You're going to find that a lot of students at any college will drink on occasion. It's up to you to go out and find a group of friends that shares similar interests.</p>

<p>As far as a lack of academic challenge goes, that's why I'm transferring too, and I think it's a great reason. Don't worry about your professors; of course they want you to stay, they want to keep smart kids around. That shouldn't influence your decision at all. Have you visited and talked to students at these other schools? If you haven't, do so, and see if you get a more "academic" vibe. Regardless, wherever you end up, you're going to have to break out of your shell socially. You don't have to stick with the first group of people you meet. Good luck!</p>

<p>I completely see where you are coming from. I am also shy and do not like to party very often. Transferring to NYU or Brandeis would be beneficial in the sense that you would have academic opportunities that only cities offer, however; your shy personality would most likely be better matched for a small college...most likely why you chose skidmore in hs? Since you aren't completely sure you do not want to attend Skidmore, my suggestion would be to wait another year. This would allow you the opportunity to get a better feel for everything skidmore offers and the opportunity to apply to small liberal arts colleges that would be more academically challenging than skidmore. A few colleges I would suggest applying to would be Hamilton, Bates, Mount Holyoke, Trinity, and Smith. You mentioned skidmore was not your first choice...you could always look into applying to a school that you liked but where not at first accepted to. I know several people who have applied as transfers and been accepted to a school they were not previously accepted at. I feel you have very legitimate reasons for wanting to transfer. However, from the little bit I know about you I am afraid NYU or Brandeis might not be a good match given their size, locations, party atmospheres(nyu in particular), ect... I hope this helps:)</p>

<p>I am a student at Brandeis, and if you do decide to transfer, I think you would do well there. The school is academically challenging, and schoolwork is definitely the first priority. Brandeis is not in Boston, so it's not in a big city, and there's definitely that small campus feel. The people at Brandeis are very welcoming, and many introverted students (like myself) join clubs and find great friendships within them. I don't drink either and I haven't found any problems socially. There are definitely people who do drink, but not among my circle of friends. Your fear of not being able to meet people is certainly not irrational at all; it is the fear of any transfer student. Brandeis' clubs would be a great way to meet people. There are so many! lots of a capella groups and performance groups, literary magazines, debate team and other academic groups, club sports, student events, student government, you can definitely find something that interests you. I agree with what's been said before. Your search for academics and a social atmosphere that fit with your personality are definitely legitimate reasons to transfer. Yet, I would transfer only if I knew that Skidmore definitely wasn't the place for me. In terms of the scholarship, that depends on your family. How do your parents, or whoever else is helping to pay, feel about that? You'll have to decide if what might be a better academic or social atmosphere is worth a possible financial strain. Brandeis' tuition just increased 4%. I'd also suggest (if possible) a visit to both schools. That way you can actually get a feel for what each is like before you commit.</p>

<p>Academically, are NYU or Brandeis significantly better than Skidmore? (I'm undecided but interested in psychology, politics, philosophy, english).</p>