I am now a second-semester freshman going to school about 3.5 hours away from home and I am thinking of transferring for a few reasons. First of all, I am incredibly homesick all of the time, which I thought would go away after the first semester. Second, I am taking out major student loans to be here and if I’m not happy I do not know if it is worth it. Third, I could go to a commuter school at home for free considering that my mom works there.
I am very close with my family and I am always thinking about when I am going home next rather than my time here. I have really good friends here and I am even in an alternative greek service fraternity, but something just does not feel right. Even when I am having a really good time I think about not being here. Also, I am taking out significant loans to be here and the school is not even a good one for my major and if I want to go to grad school, I will need even more loans. Finally, if I transferred to a school at home I could save all of the money and potentially graduate significantly faster by taking community college courses in the summer.
Should I transfer? And how do I tell my parents and friends if I want to?
I think one important factor that you’re leaving out is how good your current vs. potential University is. If they’re on the same level, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t transfer.
If you want to transfer, you can usually submit a form to partake in an “extended leave of absence” from your original institution. I say transfer after submitting that, so that you can go to CC, get some credits out of the way, have no/less student debt, and then possibly transfer back to the school easily to get your diploma from there, as long as your credits transfer etc.
As for telling your family and friends, you seem to be really close with them and I’m sure they only want the best for you! Be open about your current school being an ill fit, and I’m sure they will support your decision.
I’m in the same position where I am hoping to transfer to a different school next year. I was nervous to tell my friends, because I didn’t want to disappoint them by leaving the school. However, even though they are sad to see me leave, they are happy that I am doing what I can to make myself happier.
Second quarter freshman here and I’m in the same boat as you. I’ll most likely take a Leave of Absence at my current school after spring quarter and go to a CC next year to figure some things out/save money while getting my credits fulfilled if I decide to transfer to the school close to home which I probably will bc I kinda hate it at my current school lol.
I told my parents about this over winter break and they were totally supportive! Just sit down and have a talk with them, I’m sure they’ll understand where you’re coming from.
Just my opinion, being homesick is not a very good reason to transfer. Part of the point of going to university is to learn to be on your own. I have talked of university as a “half way house between home with your parents and being on your own in the real world”. It does take some time to adjust to this, and being homesick during your freshman year is very normal.
However, avoiding large debts (particularly for a school where you are not happy) is a very good reason to transfer. I think that there needs to be a very compelling reason to go to a school that requires significant debt if you have a more affordable option.
Are you able to tell us what the two schools are? Are the academic qualities of the two schools not all that different? There are a LOT of very good universities and colleges in the US, and small differences in ranking or perceived “prestige” really don’t matter in the long run. Small differences in the ranking of the school you attend for undergrad is not likely to have any impact on your ability to get into an appropriate graduate school. Large differences in the cost of attending university and large differences in the debt that you take on WILL matter for quite a while after graduation.
By the way, I know someone who went to the “I can commute from home” local pretty good university for undergrad rather than something higher ranked, and then went to an Ivy League school for her two professional master’s degrees. This worked out very well, she saved a bundle of money by commuting from home for the first four years, and starting off at the local university did not keep her from getting her master’s degrees at an Ivy League school that had a great program in her major.
“and the school is not even a good one for my major”
Another big reason to transfer, and a big reason NOT to take on loans for undergrad.
“how do I tell my parents and friends if I want to”
Your parents should be okay with your saving money, particularly if graduate school is likely. Your quote “and the school is not even a good one for my major” is a good one to point out to them also.
In my experience, when you tell your friends that you will be transferring then you will find out who your true friends are. Your true friends will want to spend more time with you before you leave. Your “fake” friends will start ignoring you rather quickly.
The school I’m at now is George Washington University in Washington, DC. and I’m either going to major in Psychology or Speech and Hearing. I am looking to possibly transfer to Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.
“The school I’m at now is George Washington University in Washington, DC.”
A great school for some majors. There have been other posts on CC about GWU which look a lot like yours. IMHO if it doesn’t have a great program in what you want to major in, don’t go further into debt to go there.
The college name may be get some doors open for you, but not all top schools are good at everything, including, it appears, what you want to major in. While I agree that being homesick is not a super valid reason to pick up stakes, in and of itself, when paired with curriculum and cost, it makes more sense. The only people you need to get on board are your parents, because I presume they are paying the bills. You can tell your friends, but it’s more for informational purposes - what they think shouldn’t matter.
I am curious, OP, did you know your major when applying? If so, I’m surprised you chose this school.
Paying a ton more for a school you don’t like and won’t majorly boost your career over the alternative makes no sense.
Your true friends will support you. So will family.
Actually, if you were my friend or kid, I would be asking you “why are you still going there”. Well, if I am paying for it, I would ask “why am I paying you to go there?”
