When I was applying to colleges back last fall. felt very unsure about where I wanted to go and chose Boston University the day before the May 1st deadline as kind of a gut decision to be honest. I was fine with my decision, but although my dad had said that he could afford the cost he is now talking about taking out a loan and i’ve been feeling more and more guilt about him owing this much for a school I’m not even sure if I love. Right now I’ve been considering applying for a mid year transfer to CU Boulder, my state school, which is not only cheaper but also ranked higher for engineering (my major). I just don’t know how to approach my parents about it without seeming fickle or ridiculous because honestly I’m embarrassed about how quickly I made the decision to go to BU. I’m just torn about what to do because I realize it’s so early to already be thinking about transferring before I’ve even begun my first semester. I’d really appreciate any advice!
If you don’t want to go to BU you should carefully examine what you liked initially. Perhaps write it down in a real pros and cons approach. If it’s finances talk to your dad. It’s up to you both. He probably doesn’t want to disappoint you but may be supportive of the financial decision. However it’s a long way from home and you may be getting the natural apprehension of moving away etc. that you can also discuss and write about. It’s very common at this time of year. They probably do or should have a thread devoted to it for students like you to talk it out.
You can take a gap year and apply to a new list. There is no reason to go all the way to BU and spend all that money if you aren’t certain about things.
There is no reason to go to BU just dor one emester if the program closer to home is cheaper and better. And transferring between engineering programs can be tricky. Even though the coursework is similar everywhere, there isn’t always a one-to-one match for all of the prerequisites.
@privatebanker I honestly don’t mind the move that much, my dad is a petroleum engineer so I’ve moved 8 or 9 times and I feel totally prepared to move that far. I just mainly don’t want to be a burden on my parents financially, especially when it’s not for something I’m totally passionate about
@happymomof1 I thought about that but I’m not sure taking a gap year is the right choice because I’m supposed to move in a month already and I’ve already registered for classes, gone to orientation etc.
I agree with @happymomof1. If you don’t like BU, and UC Boulder has a better program and is in-state, it makes sense to me to take a gap year and apply to UC Boulder.
I would probably call UC Boulder admissions tomorrow (Monday) morning, explain the situation, and ask about spring admission versus applying to start in September 2019. Be polite. Expect that you won’t learn much other than that they are fine with you applying and taking a gap year is no problem.
You should find something productive to do during a gap year, but working is fine even at a menial job. No job is exciting all the time and employers like to see that you were willing to work hard and be responsible at an “ordinary” job.
I know quite a few people who have been quite successful. As far as I know none of us took the fastest route from where we started to where we ended up. Taking an extra year at some point is no problem at all.
Have a discussion with your parents to get their input about finance. I am sure they will appreciate your consideration for them.
Gap year. Save some more money and reapply. Or if cu might let you enter as a second semester frosh. Then it’s a gap season.
What kind of loan? Are you talking about something beyond your federal loans ($5,500 freshman year)? If so, then have a chat with your dad. Tell him you are just not that committed to the idea of BU, and would honestly be happy at CU if your family has to take out more than your federal loans. And if by chance he’s talking about taking out some kind of loan INSTEAD of your federal loans, that is a mistake – there are a lot of protections with those federal loans that private loans don’t have.
CU Boulder has spring admission, too – apps are due by Oct. 1, but admission is rolling so you could hear on Oct 1 for sure if you apply earlier. You could possibly take a gap semester, work or travel, and start school after winter break.
One question that isn’t clear, did you apply to CU for this fall? Because if you were already admitted, you MIGHT be able to get them to let you attend this fall even if you turned them down in May. And if not, they’d likely dust off your application for spring semester (or might even just say yes now if they admitted you before, but you’d have to start in the spring).
@moberry123 - If you pick up the phone tomorrow, call BU, and let them know you aren’t coming after all, you might be the first to tell them that tomorrow, but you won’t be the first from this year to have gone clear through registration and then had a change of plans. Truly. Every year students change plans. No one at BU will be bothered if you aren’t there when classes start.
Well, don’t call BU until you talk to your parents.
I think it is a good time to have that honest conversation with your parents and what exactly they can afford. Like intparent said, you may even still be able to enter CU Boulder as a freshman in the fall if you call the admissions office – many colleges don’t finalize their incoming student list until during the summer and plans change, but that is a big maybe. The sooner you have the conversation the greater your ease of mind with your own decisions.
I agree with the gap semester option. CU has Spring admissions and the deadline to apply is October 1, so you would not have to take an entire year off, just 4 months.
Your parents will appreciate your maturity (saving $200k over four years is a very rational decision). You can stay at home a little longer (your mom won’t complain), work and save some money, and enroll at CU-Boulder in January.
https://www.colorado.edu/business/undergraduate/admissions/deadlines