I’m currently enrolled at Providence College as a Freshman student. Yes, I know I’ve only been here for a little over a month, but the school is certainly different than I thought it would be. I enjoy the campus and the atmosphere but I’m having trouble adjusting. When I was looking for schools I wanted something bigger and definitely in the city. I’m a business major so a solid business program was important to me. I also wanted something that had a community feel. My dad went to PC and he loved it, which was why I toured the school in the first place. I realized that some of the things I had been looking for in a college weren’t as important as how the school made me feel. So long story short I go to PC, but while visiting my friend at one of the Fenway schools in Boston this weekend I felt something. I’ve been having trouble making true friends at PC, especially since I’ve had the same best friends since middle school. While I enjoy the campus I find myself feeling trapped in a small area. Because I don’t have a ton of friends I don’t tend to go down to Eaton Street or out into Providence a lot. When I do find an opportunity to leave campus I feel like the city of Providence is just too small. Growing up outside of Boston I’ve come to know and love the hustle and bustle of city life and Providence just doesn’t have that for me. Would it make sense for me to look into transferring? I understand that I haven’t been at school very long but I want to be prepared should it come to that later in the year. I want to make the most out of my college experience and want to live in Boston. Staying with my friend gave me the opportunity to see what a school in Boston is truly like and I loved every minute of it. There was so much action and so many people, something I truly enjoy. If I were to transfer I would most likely be aiming for Northeastern University. Can anyone give me any sort of opinion on my situation?
“I’ve been having trouble making true friends at PC, especially since I’ve had the same best friends since middle school.”
You have been there for what, a month? It takes longer than just one month to develop most friendships. Give yourself (and your potential friends at PC) a bit more time. Also, you don’t have to wait to have a friend to explore the city where you are studying! Get out and look around on your own. Then when you do have a friend, you can take that friend to see some of the things you’ve found, and it will give purpose to that excursion.
@happymomof1 I completely understand where you’re coming from. Though I don’t have many friends here, I know I’ll find some soon. I’m more concerned about the city atmosphere that I want. Boston has much more to offer than PC.
I think you should give it a shot.
Sooo many freshmen students post about wanting to transfer colleges after a very short amount of time. Part of it is likely the culture shock. You’re outside of your comfort zone, which isn’t really a bad thing.
Try to join some clubs and make some friends. It doesn’t sound as if you cannot stand your college and you absolutely have to leave. Give it some time. For now, study hard, and try to get a very high GPA to give yourself the opportunity to be able to transfer, if you do decide to.
At the same time, prepare to transfer. Have options. Then go or leave as you desire in May.
Thank you, my plan is to keep my grades up as high as I can so that should I decide to transfer by the end of the year I’ll have a better chance of being accepted and receiving merit aid.
The good thing about PC is that you’re right by the commuter rail. You can hop on a train and be in Boston in an hour.
PC is also a really awesome school that does a lot to help freshman adjust. Did you go on the connections retreat? That’s where a ton of my friends who go there made their first close friends. There’s a ton of different activities to get involved in-I’ve heard particularly good things about Habitat for Humanity.
Give it a go. If you’re still unhappy there in January, apply to transfer for the fall semester.