Hello!
So I’m currently a second semester freshman at a large state school. I really don’t like it here. I’m very academically motivated and passionate about what I do, and I find the student body here is utterly uninspiring. While partying is fun, I would much rather sit in on Friday night and have a nuanced philosophical discussion or explore an incredible new city (I’m in a college town, so there is literally NOTHING to do—if you don’t count drinking or getting high). I wanted to go to a different school, but my senior year, I had some bad mental health issues, so I did not have the mental ability to do as well as I could’ve on my college apps or keep my grades up (they really suffered this year, but before this, I had mostly all A’s in all AP/ IB/ honors classes), and I eventually decided that I could not handle the financial burden of any other school, so I settled on the state school I never wanted to go to. Now, however, I realize that was not a good choice. First of all, I wish I’d taken a gap year to improve my mental health, but I can’t go back now. Now, however, I really want to go somewhere else. I want to be at a school with an inspired and involved student body that in turn pushes me further (yes, prestige would ofc be really nice, but this is the main reason why I’d want to go to a more competitive school) in a place that is more well-known where I can find new opportunities.
My absolute dream school is Barnard, a smaller liberal arts college within a large, very well-connected and well-known university in the greatest city in the world! I got waitlisted senior year but didn’t accept my spot (I still regret this…). Other options are GWU, American, Boston University, NYU, UMich, or Georgetown.
I would like to apply for transfer now, but my first semester grades were not good (3.5), and I don’t want to apply with a bad application. This semester, I really stepped it up, and I am doing everything I can to get straight A’s, maintain relationships with professors, and get involved.
However, I feel stuck. I really want to take the semester/ year off I wanted after high school. I’m applying for like 15 internships and I’m indicating that I’m willing to work fall 2020 as well. I’d like to save up to lessen the financial pressures I’d face when transferring. I’d LOVE to travel more than anything in the world, and I have a bit saved up for this. I’d like to volunteer, read, work on personal projects (potentially start up a writing career or start my own business), etc., as well as focus on my mental health. This is to say — I don’t want to just laze around and watch Netflix.
But I’m worried this will affect my chances. I’d do anything to get into my dream school, so I wouldn’t want this to negatively affect me. If I stay another semester, I can continue to bring my GPA up (I expect straight A’s from here on out) and build up involvement on campus, but I know I won’t be happy. I feel more and more bogged down here by the day, and the only thing that keeps me going are the dreams of travel and New York City and Barnard. Another option is taking 10 credits Arabic classes over the summer, also brining my GPA up, and then taking the semester off to do what I really want to do.
What would be the best next step? I’d like to take time off, but I want to do what is best for me to transfer. Has anyone had experience with transferring?
P.S. THANK YOU for reading this if you did!