I’m a freshman at Vassar, and I’m thinking about trying to transfer into SUNY Binghamton for next fall.
I mostly feel that the school has turned out to not be the best fit for me socially. Vassar seems to attract a very specific kind of person, which I don’t think I am. I have some close friends here, but I’ve found it hard to really branch out. I’d heard about the “bubble” affect that exists here, and it’s really starting to get to me. On the weekends there doesn’t seem to be anywhere to reliably go off campus for a good time, and mainly dorm parties which have started to seem especially sad after I visited friends at other schools.
Honestly I often feel anxious and nervous, find myself looking forward to weekends I can get off campus more than most things, and feel like my grades are being impacted.
I thought it would be awesome to meet people from all over the country and the world, and it has been. Yet I’m from Long Island, and I really loved how at the SUNY schools I’d visited there was so many LIers with who you could instantly share so much in common. I also have some very good friends at Bing who could help make the social transition either.
I’ve looked at joining clubs here but I swear 95% of them fall into three categories of a capella, comedy groups, and super political things, none of which I’m crazy about.
I’m willing to admit that part of it may be on me not putting myself out there as much as I could have, but at the same time I do have friends and have had some good times. I just can’t say I’ve ever truly felt comfortable.
Academically it’s tough because I’ve loved the classes here, but I know that despite Binghamton being a step down it still has a good rep, especially in NY where I’d like to stay. Also I know that Binghamton has more major options, which is helpful as someone who’s still undecided.
The bottom line is, I’m not as happy as I feel like I should be, but I’m not totally sure what the best next step is.