<p>I'm an international student studying at the UIUC. Sophomore standing in industrial design. Well, maybe I'm freshman in ID because this course sequence we have to follow. Basically, we have to spend one year in art foundation just learning how to draw and paint. And I transferred to this Fine Art and Applied Art College in my second year. First year I didnt know what to study, just kinda try to figure out how to speak proper English. So, I wasted one year, then in my second year I transferred to ID program, studied Art Foundation with a bunch of Freshmen. Now I am about to officially study design now.
But I feel so much pressure not graduating timely now. Our school has strict course sequence that does not allow anyone to study any course ahead. We take certain course in certain semester. Therefore, it is a fixed four-year program for ID (included Art Foundation). I am 21 now. All my peers are like 19 or 18. I feel a bit dorky even hanging out with them.
Here is a thing that many of you may not know about the country I am from. China, which is a rapidly growing yet under-developed state. People are quiet snobbish, would not hire someone from a U.S school that they dont know of. All we know are Yale, Harvard and those Ivy-league big names. If I cant get a decent job with a diploma from this unknown UIUC, why would I still spend 35k every year for five years?
I seriously have considered about transferring to maybe Carneigie Melon, UC Berkley and some other prestigious school to keep pursuing a degree that may not be neccessarily related to Industrial Design.
However, first thing, I only have a 2.7 GPA. I blamed myself all the time until Professor Anderson told us that the UIUC just beats you up on grades average, cause we are public school. Standford average GPA is like 3.9.
I now feel terriable about my school. Especially when I see people start to get drunk since Thursday every week. There is vomit everywhere, people ****ing on the street....
I just think I have paid so much for so less. I really want to hear from all of you that have other college experiences, and give me some insights about how to transfer to all those prominent schools</p>
<p>I hate to say it, but with your current GPA a transfer to any of those “prominent schools” will be absolutely impossible. You need to be doing exceptionally well at your school to be considered a viable transfer candidate to the specific schools you mentioned. </p>
<p>I’m more concerned about the anger in your post about UIUC, which suggests that the issue isn’t prestige, but rather your perception of the culture of the school. Surely not EVERYONE gets drunk starting every Thursday. I don’t believe there is “vomit everywhere,” but if you are unhappy it might seem as though there is. It seems that you are having real trouble adjusting, and it is possible that a transfer may not solve all the problems of disappointment and dislocation that you feel. Is there an International Students liason or office at UIUC, someone with whom you can have a frank talk about the real issues here? That is what you need right away: contact with someone at the school who might help you to make connections with other students who are not into the party scene, or who can help you figure out how to make this work. Or who can help you develop a strategy for coping.</p>
<p>I cannot give you insight into how to transfer to those prominent schools, because at this point you won’t be able to do so. You need to be realistic. You cannot allow yourself to be so fixated on this issue of prestige that you give up on your education and on ways to make it work. Seriously, talk to someone at UIUC who understands the challenges of international students and who can assist you in making sense of your situation.</p>
<p>It may be possible to transfer within the UI system. Perhaps investigate other branches of the system for a campus where you can feel comfortable. There are also very good local four-year colleges in the area where you can consider a transfer, if you can identify a campus that will work for you.</p>
<p>But do try to talk to someone at the school asap about how you are feeling, and see what can be done to make the situation bearable. NO ONE should be that miserable at college and you need to find resources at the school that can help make this better in the short term. As I said, perhaps a transfer within the UI system to a more comfortable campus is the next step. But think practically and REALISTICALLY so that you can move on PRODUCTIVELY!</p>
<p>The most crucial thing right now is for you to find some resource that can help you feel less terrible about your school and your situation there. That must be your priority! </p>
<p>And really, I don’t know about China, but here in the US UIUC is HIGHLY RESPECTED!!!Clearly YOU had heard of it, or you would not have applied. So don’t assume that no one in China has heard of UIUC. It has a fine academic reputation. Don’t let that issue eat away at you.</p>