Transfer - 2nd time around?

Hi! I’m a current freshman going to be sophomore, and I’m confining in College Confidential because I need some outsider opinion. Last year I was between two schools and went with the second one on an impulsive decision (which I soon learned to regret), because while I was there, I became very depressed for a substantial amount of reasons: fine print on my major wasn’t good, lack of a pre-law program, didn’t see myself graduating there in four years, felt smarter than my peers (this was probably from my drive).

I did all the work and research to convince my parents to let me transfer to my home university and then I would commute. The sorority I rushed at my previous university let me transfer my membership to the chapter at my home university, so there’s that. But, my parents will not let me move out of the house, and I really miss the ‘college experience’ of living on campus and being around friends all the time. Their reasoning? I’d have to pay for it, and I have space to myself so why should they pay so much for my to live around 12 minutes away.

Which… eventually led me to the decision that I should try transferring again to regain the college experience and actually enjoy these upcoming three years, rather living in the basement. I’ve researched two schools, my top choice and another school that was on the list. I’ve always talked about how I wanted to get out of my hometown for college and experience life somewhere else and now I am stuck in my hometown.

I have no idea how to bring this up to my parents or what I should do about it. Part of me feels like I’m just going crazy from COVID-19, but I’m reminded that I’ve felt this way a good chunk of the semester (even prior to COVID-19’s existence).

Side note: I work a minimum wage barista position and it would be extremely difficult to move out on my own.

Transferring is doable, so long as you keep your grades up and stay involved on campus. If the school you’re transferring to is better and still affordable then I’m sure you could justify the change to your parents. It’s too late to apply this cycle so you would likely wait a year and transfer to another school as a junior. That would also give your parents time to adjust to the idea of you transferring again.

Leaving your first school after a semester and transferring a second time isn’t that unusual. In your application, you could explain it by saying that you left your first school to live at home and save money.

A note on pre-law programs. I wouldn’t consider them when picking a school. Law school apps are mostly about getting a great GPA + LSAT.