<p>Most of the people I know who have transferred did it because they were a) really unhappy or b) for practical reasons like $ or transferring from community college to 4-year, so it was CLEAR they would be better off in some important way through transferring. I have been considering transferring lately but I'm very conflicted 'cause my reasons are far...subtler. I am not totally unhappy by any means - I go to a fabulous school (Barnard) and I have a few great friends. I just feel like I might be happier somewhere else, mostly in terms of the social scene here (I feel like because it's in the city, there are very few small parties and its harder to meet new people. Esp guys. I thought I would love being in the city but right now I dont really take advantage of it and I dont like what it does to the social scene/sense of community). </p>
<p>But I DO like it here it some ways. I'm scared it would be hard to start over and I would regret doing it, if I was unhappy, since I'm not unhappy here, I just don't think it's the best fit you know?</p>
<p>Have you transferred, not because you're unhappy, but because even though you're fairly happy you've realized another school just might be a better fit? Has anyone done that and then regretted it because hey.. you were more than okay at the first school? </p>
<p>I guess I'm just scared that maybe this is silly. Maybe I should just be satisfied with where I am, cause there's nothing that bad, and of course I'm scared of starting over especially because I'd be giving up some great things/people for the unknown. But some days I just wish I had chosen a different college in the first place.</p>
<p>Well, see, I don't want to -- that's part of the problem. Yes, I take advantage of it sometimes and I love the city, and came in when I went to high school a lot (I lived a couple hours away). But I feel like there are more cons than pros, in erms of what I want from college. I find I am focused on my schoolwork /extracurriculars/work during the week and most of the weekend. When I am free, I want to see my friends, spend time with them, and meet new people. I dont have a lot of money to spend going to bars or plays, so I would rather stay on campus then hang out in the city. I don't want to have an internship . But being in the city makes it so that more people are off campus more often, people spend more money when they socialize, there are fewer parties on campus so its harder to meet people</p>
<p>It sounds like you feel you're missing out on the campus school experience. It may be that another school could give you what you are looking for....more of a campus life. Maybe a school in a more rural environment where the kids stick around all weekend and the socializing revolves around the campus would work better for you. It's worth investigating and keeping your options open.</p>
<p>I actually transferred from Columbia to Dartmouth 100% of the social scene. I had lots of friends, was very well known on campus, etc at Columbia but I never felt a sense of COMMUNITY. You get the city in your twenties, but a true college campus environment is a once in a lifetime experience. </p>
<p>Without a doubt transferring to Dartmouth was the best decision I've ever made. Seriously, the BEST decision of my life. Life is too short to not LOVE your college. Incidentally one of my friends at Dartmouth, but two years younger, transferred from Columbia as well due to the social life. Columbia was just way too isolating of an experience. He also agrees that transferring was the best decision he's ever made. We lol talk about it when we run into each other at parties.</p>
<p>So then....it's harder to make friends at city schools??? What if you do like to go clubbing off campus and you go off campus with the friends you make - that's how I"d want to be, so would it be my thing? Or is it just harder to make friends at city schools in general?</p>
<p>oh wow, i have the same problem...i'm at NYU and i have lot's of friends, i'm in hall council, etc. i like it here but i have the same problems- there's no sense of community really and feel like i'm missing out on the trad college experience. while there are pros to being in the city, i feel like another school would be a better fit.
i'm still debating whether to transfer or not (i don't know if it's worth going through the whole process again)
and while this doesn't really help, i guess i feel your pain since i'm in the same situation</p>
<p>not to double post, but it's not that hard to make friends at a city school (you just have to be really outgoing and social and be the one to initiate plans). it's just that most of your friends will be from your floor/dorm since there's no common quad where people hang out. but i can only speak for NYU here.</p>
<p>OT: I've applied to transfer to Barnard from Fordham (I hate Fordham with a bloody passion). What don't you like about Barnard? </p>
<p>To answer your initial question, I transferred from SUNY Plattsburgh to Fordham because a) I wanted to be in the city, b) I wanted to be with "smarter" people and c) I wanted "more," I'm still not sure what "more" is.
Heck, even in my application to Fordham, I had trouble saying why I wanted to transfer. My reasons were petty at best.</p>
<p>My reasons for wanting to transfer were beyond stupid and I do regret it. I'd go back to SUNY Plattsburgh if I had the opportunity, but as of now, I'm wrapped in a $3,500/month lease in Manhattan so I must stay here. </p>
<p>You definitely need to decide what one school will offer you that the other can't. Make a checklist, sometimes it helps to visualize it.</p>
<p>I eventually settled in at my first school which was a small LAC. But when I got my transfer acceptance letter to Colgate (another small LAC). Even though I was finding my niche, I decided to give this move a try. Remember, most schools will let you go and take you back providing that you're still in good standing. So it's okay to transfer and try out a new school for a semester or a year. If you don't like it, you can go back.</p>
<p>NYC IS a big, expensive city and does require quite bit of work to find a community. However, you can look beyond the organizations on your campus and find groups IN the city that meet on a regular basis like a poetry slam or a book group or running group or something. Are you involved in any organizations on campus at Barnard AND Columbia? If not... look there before really thinking about transferring. It was how I eventually settled at my first school- just finding the right mix of people to hang with.</p>
<p>I am a city city CITY girl, i grew up in manhattan and then lived for my last 2 high school years in brooklyn.. now i am in middle america and i CANNOT stand the quiet social scene here. it's TOO close, there is hardly a town to go outside of the campus to and it's really hard to find ME time, and i am starting to feel this even more now since it's getting bleeding cold so i cant just lay out in the grass. </p>
<p>i am very confused about transferring. i FEEL like many people here are very pompous but im not sure if that is actually how it is. i, as well, have a handful of very good friends but the school hasnt delivered fully yet acedemically, which was one of the biggest reasons why i cam here.</p>
<p>i am very confused and kind of scared that if i stay i will be missing out on a better school OR if i go that i will be leaving something that i just needed to adjust to.</p>