Should I Transfer?

Transfer Students
1

Hey - I just wanted some opinions on my situation.

I currently am finishing my sophomore year at a good top 20 university. I’m doing fine academically - I have a 3.9 GPA. The problem is that I am not even remotely happy. I have spent the past probably 6 months considering transferring to my decent but lower ranked state school.

Some reasons I am considering this:

  1. I am still pretty unsure academically of my direction and feel constrained by the need to graduate in 4 years since I wouldn’t want to take on additional years since tuition is so incredibly high - at my state school, with in state, I could totally afford to take my time a bit (since tuition is like 1/4 as mine currently is), and maybe even take a semester to study abroad (something I am dying to do).
  2. socially I am not doing so great - the person who I consider my best friend thinks I’m too clingy (plus I have realized that they are really not that great a person but distancing myself from them would be hard since I am living with them next year). Also, a lot of the people at this school give off the vibe of snobby rich kid. I know socially things would only be harder as a transfer but honestly at this point I just wanna focus on my studies and I do know some people at my state university.
  3. I am incredibly homesick and would love to be closer to home (If this was the only reason, I would not consider transferring because I know how important independence is)
  4. in-state tuition is like 1/4 of what I’m paying now

Reasons for staying:

  1. I’m on the varsity track team here but would be able to play it at my state school (which would suck to have to quit because even though I’m not a huge fan of my team, I love the sport and my coach).
  2. I’ve already invested like 100k into this school in tuition (gratefully payed by my parents)
  3. For me, transferring feels like giving up. Like I couldn’t handle being at an intense university and instead came running home to my parents. My current school had a 97% retention rate so what is so wrong with me that I somehow can’t like it here?
  4. My current school is medium size, state school is massive which is kinda scary.
  5. (and probs the biggest) what if this would end up being the biggest regret of my entire life? What if I absolutely detest going to my state school? (Not that I’m at all happy right now, it’s just I feel like I may be getting caught up in the grass is always greener paradox and somehow end up more miserable)

Thank you!

2

How about a year off from college altogether while you think about your goals? Then you can decide if you want to return or to transfer elsewhere once you do know what your academic focus is.

How about a year abroad? Many students are able to find interesting programs that are cheaper than their regular college/university.

What about an exchange year at that home-state U? A college friend of mine did that, and returned ready for senior year.

Have you taken your concerns to the counseling center at your campus? The people there may have ideas for improving your social experience if you do decide to stay, as well as tools to help you make a stay/go decision.

Whatever you do decide to do, please don’t stay where you are emotionally. Misery is not a good thing.

3

Have u applied to any schools for fall 2018? If not it might be kinda late to even try transferring till spring. Also it seems like you are in a tough spot, unhappy and concern about your parents paying, but dedicated enough to not let it affect you. Have you asked if there is anyway you can finish a semester earlier if you take on a heavier course load, that way you spend less time there and one less semester cost wise.

4

thanks for your responses - I definitely could apply to my State school bc the application is open until June and yeah @JJV1996 , one thing that really does motivate me to work so hard on obtaining good grades is feeling that I owe it to my parents because they are so willing to pay. One thing also is that I will be able to have a car on campus next semester which I hope may give me a bit of freedom from the suffocating constrains of a pretty much completely closed campus

5

If you’re paying quadruple the tuition, then YES! Get the heck out of there before the debt financially sinks your future! Do not pass “GO!” Do not “Collect $200!” I promise, you’ll be much happier in a place you can afford.