Hi guys. I am trying to figure out whether I should transfer from Vanderbilt to Wake Forest this semester. I know it is a little late, but I was waiting to hear about my credits at Wake Forest. I was a Biology major (not premed) but really dislike the Biology department at Vandy and was thinking of changing to HOD with a Bio minor (bc I’ve already completed so many courses). At Wake I would either major in Bio or Econ and minor in the other. For those who don’t know, HOD is basically unique to Vandy and I probably couldn’t do business at Wake at this point without graduating late (even though I have a lot of credits)
Vanderbilt Pros
-HOD major: very unique and hirable
-know that I can study abroad
-Nashville!!!
Vanderbilt Cons
-I don’t love the people
-general vibe I find very depressing? feels wrong?
-stressed out students
-not super collaborative
-very few cute boys
-don’t find the parties fun for some reason
-I cried every day last semester…
-people seem like they do a lot of stuff alone and I prefer being with people
Wake Forest Pros
-I feel like I would fit into the student body
-bigger emphasis on sports
-intramurals are actually a thing
-more than 1 attractive male on campus
-have a volleyball team which I like to watch!
-have heard it is collaborative/positive environment
-liked it when I visited
Wake Forest Cons
-concerned it will be really hard to get a bid into a sorority because I am a sophomore
-unknowns in general
-unsure about social life/bar scene
-don’t know if genchem and orgo are transferring yet (I assume that they would but haven’t gotten the evaluation back)
-lost a couple credits from previous coursework, but am still definitely on track for an on-time graduation credit-wise
Also, Wake takes VERY few transfers. So, I know that I am lucky to have gotten in, but am nervous it may be a little bit isolating, but could also make me interesting to other ppl?
Are you the “grass is greener” type of personality? If you’re primary rational is to get a better social life/dating life, I think you need to be honest with yourself. Have you made as much of an effort as you could have to meet people? Is it the same effort you’ll need to make at Wake --recognizing that you’re coming in when a lot of people (certainly the sorority crowd) already has their established friend groups.
I’m hearing a lot of social angst, but don’t find your academic rationale too convincing-- you dislike the bio department why? Why not just switch majors and call it a day? What could be so horrible about the bio department that you’d need to leave the university?
Is there a cost differential and what do your parents say?
And how have you already lost credits if you’re only a second semester sophomore???
@blossom
Not really a “grass is greener” type I’d say. I was really positive and tried really hard the first 2 months of the fall semester, and it wasn’t improving? I don’t mind putting in effort to meet people because I am generally very extroverted and enjoy talking to people. The established friend group thing is one of my big concerns at Wake.
In regards to the bio department, there are very very very few courses offered, which really surprised me. The professors don’t really seem to care about the students (in my opinion), and don’t give you the resources necessary a lot of the time. I found I was teaching myself most of the material. My lab TA last semester literally screamed at my class and told us we were giving her sloppy horrible work and didn’t deserve the grades we got. I found this particularly offensive because I was trying extremely hard and she would take points off for the most tiny details. Courses taught very poorly which made me lose interest in some of my favorite subjects Also in my STEM classes literally nobody speaks to each other and it disturbs me.
I get that social life may seem like a silly reason to transfer, but not having any friends that I enjoy spending time with has literally drained the life out of me. I am a big perfectionist so forced myself to try extremely hard even though I was super sad so I still got good grades but it was very very unhealthy. I also did not feel like I was learning anything from the classes, only stuffing information in my brain so that I would get As on exams essentially.
One of my biggest issues with Vanderbilt is that I feel like I am becoming less of a well-rounded person. In high school, I was one of the only people in my tougher classes that was also an athlete and had a good social life and array of interests outside of class. I felt like Vanderbilt was kind of turning me into a robot and I was losing my personality and other interests just because of the culture there?
Credits: I took both intro micro and macroeconomics, and Wake only has one course. Also took two 1 credit pass/fail courses which are not getting credited, and the equivalent Spanish course at Wake is one credit less. I went from 63 completed credits to 42 (which would hopefully increase to ~54 if/when genchem I+ii and orgo I are approved)
I highly doubt you are going to find what you are looking for at Wake. These aren’t such different schools as you seem to believe. A lot of your complaints about Vandy seem off to me and I see you having the exact same complaints at Wake.
Wake Sorority Rush began today and ends on 1/11, so you would not have a chance to rush until January 2021. It’s possible to participate in continuous open bidding Fall 2020, but not all 8 sororities necessarily participate, only if they have open spots. The students at Wake seem quite friendly, happy, and collaborative. My DD19 does not participate in club sports so I don’t know anything about that. The professors really seem to care about their students. My DD goes mostly to fraternity parties, which all girls are invited to and she tells me they are fun and fairly wild. Finally, Winston-Salem is no Nashville, it’s smaller and not very culturally exciting. Also, you cannot walk to downtown WS, it is a 10 minute drive, and cannot walk to bars, restaurants, CVS, etc. Wake is in a suburban neighborhood VS Vanderbilt is in the city, not sure if that matters to you.
Also in my STEM classes literally nobody speaks to each other and it disturbs me.