So I basically went to Northeastern on a whim because I wound up getting a lot more financial aid that expected, and my mom works at Hampshire so I knew if I wanted to transfer there I could go there for free. The Northeastern thing seemed like an opportunity that I wouldn’t necessarily get again so I went to see what it would be like- it’s in Boston, it has a super high retention rate, most people who go there love it, it has crazy good career resources, what could I lose?
Well, I’m having a lot of problems here. My job and classwork are taking up so much time that I can barely work on independent projects, the singing and theater groups are so competitive that I’m barely doing any acting or singing which I love to do, and honestly the whole career-oriented structure is bothering me. I get that the co-op system is amazing and most people who go here get really solid jobs and have perfectly happy lives yay but I hate thinking about living my life as an upper-middle class person settled into a nice little career. I don’t know… I just have bigger dreams than that I guess? (I want to go into animation and film-making.) And I’m not saying that Northeastern is restricting those dreams in any way but it doesn’t feel like it’s helping them either- I want to do something NOW, I want to get started making short films and building a portfolio and I also want more room to explore other things I’m interested in.
I realize my dreams are pretty irrational and I will probably wind up in a job I don’t love and Northeastern is the more rational choice overall, but something just doesn’t feel right. It’s more like I FEEL restricted by its structure, not that I actually AM restricted. Honestly part of me just wants to drop out of college and go on a journey to find myself and make shitty art and die at 38. Maybe I just really, really don’t want to be rational right now. I just want to feel freer. Plus not be in any debt.
I’ve already applied to transfer to Hampshire next semester but I have some time to decide if I’m actually going to go there. I have some issues with Hampshire (I’m not really an activist, I’m honestly not sure if I’d do well overall with little structure, I live 10 minutes away) but it seems like it has everything I want. I’d love to hear what people have to say. Thaaanks.
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ ALL THAT: I’m going to a typical college (Northeastern) but deep down I am a starving artist with irrational dreams and I think I want to transfer to Hampshire but I don’t know if I should because Northeastern has a lot of job resources thoughts please thank you