<p>I'm a freshman at a prestigious research institution, but for the whole month+ that I've been here, it hasn't felt like a good fit. I took a gap year, and even in the time before coming, I wondered if I would like it. It doesn't offer the academics I want (the gap year really helped me figure this out, too. I want to be a wildlife biologist or something similar, but at a small-scale (small-scale as in nano/micro, not as in poorly funded etc) research institute in a city, it makes it kinda hard...), the extracurriculars are lacking in activities I took for granted and now really miss, and my roommate really grates on me, but that's a separate issue, I just felt like three would be a good number of complaints.</p>
<p>Anyways, I'm thinking of transferring. Is it still too early and these feelings are just buyer's remorse/homesickness? I'm not saying I for sure want to transfer, but since it is a possibility I'm considering, should I start talking to my academic counselor/other adults I like and respect here? Most of the transfer deadlines seem to be in March, which is still a ways off, but since I'm considering it, it might be a good idea to at least bring it up?</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice, now fix my life for me please ;)</p>
<p>^I’m always a little iffy when someone suggests to wait until the end of the semester. On one hand, it gives you ample time to dig deeper into your current institution and decide for sure if the place is still not for you. On the other, however, waiting until the end of the semester only gives you 2-3 months to think about LORs (and possibly molding bonds for future LOR writers), take researching colleges seriously, contact HS and college admins and snail mail the forms, and seriously ponder what to write for all the essays. It’s just so much to think about in so little time.</p>
<p>Ideally, you could research colleges seriously (as in deciding for sure which places are much better fits for you than your current school), think about who’ll write your LOR’s, etc. in advance and keep those at the ready in case you still want to transfer. The problem with this plan, though, is that the more you research about transferring, the more you might want to transfer and not give the current school a fighting chance. Of course, I could just be on a slippery slope, but that’d be my guess.</p>
<p>I’d say give it another month or two. You still need time for your professors to know you, anyways.</p>
<p>Give yourself permission to (1) feel uncomfortable. You’d be surprised how many students feel the same way. Feeling uncomfortable (homesick, lonely) is normal throughout life, and coping with these feelings is an important life skill. and (2) fall in love with your school. Remember the reasons you chose it. Reach out. Join a club. Go to a game/concert/other event. </p>
<p>If you’re still feeling the same around Thanksgiving, you can begin the process of looking at alternatives and think about getting professor and other recommendations. But, still, keep in mind (1) and (2)! If you can hang in for the whole year, you may find yourself really loving your school. It is normal for most first year students to have a rough patch some time their first year. Most of them end up loving their school and staying.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have a good complaint as far as academics go. Everyone at some point has a roommate they’re not totally fond of, and that will be the case everywhere. If you really feel that the school isn’t for you, and you’d be better off in an urban environment with classes for your course of study, I’d work towards transferring as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Worst case scenario is you learn your university isn’t as bad as you thought, and you discard any work you might have done (better to have had the chance than not one at all).</p>
<p>Message me if you want to chat about transferring!</p>