Social life v. academics

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello.</p>

<p>I'm a freshman in Newhouse at Syracuse University. Academically and journalistically, life has been pretty good. I'm getting mostly A's and I've published many articles. My professors and my editors on the publication I write for all seem to like me. People tell me how they've read my articles and seem impressed by my academic success. </p>

<p>That said, my social life sucks. At first, I thought going to party school would mean I would actually have a life. My high school was too academically-orientated, where you study 24/7 and you're competing against everyone to get into the Ivy League schools. So, I thought SU would be a great change. No. Not really. I mean, I've made friends in my classes and on my publication. But, I spend most weekends studying and working on my articles. I've been out a few times, but I don't really have a decent social life. I try to befriend my floor, especially since I have a single, but my floor are mostly partiers and they just keep to their little cliques. They don't even try to get to know me. </p>

<p>I'm thinking about transferring. But the only school that would make sense transferring to is Northwestern University. I have a few friends there and I was there for a summer journalism program and I loved it there. There's no guarantee I'll get in (I got rejected last year) but I figure it's worth a try if I have the grades. However, it's pretty much an Ivy League school and the culture there is a lot like my high school. Also, it would be a huge jump in terms of academics, and I feel like I would do a lot worse in class there.</p>

<p>I don't know what to do. I feel like I've been screwed over by the universe. I've been given so many opportunities as a journalist at SU that I should stay. But I'm so unhappy socially here. </p>

<p>Someone please help a girl out here. I feel so stuck.</p>

2

<p>My advice? Apply to transfer. If the college accepts you, then you can only make the (difficult) decision of whether to stay or leave. Sometimes, just applying as a transfer can help you gain perspective of your life and what you’d like to get out of your college experience. What sort of school culture do you think would fit you the best?</p>

3

<p>I’m just so surprised by the many kids who would transfer so soon for something like a social life and think it will be any different at the other school. And when their own school likely has any number of types of people to form a social life with OVER TIME. It takes time to get to know people on a deeper level. I don’t think my daughter had good friends until sophomore year. Maybe at the end of freshman year because she had a group to enter the housing lottery with.</p>

<p>In your case, it would seem a shame to give up a winning academic streak you seem to be on. But I think there’s not enough yet to change your Northwestern rejection to a win. I think that it will make more sense to target a Jr year transfer if you still feel the same way next year. Meanwhile build your portfolio and you are bound to meet ‘your people’ eventually. Keep going out.</p>