Transfer from another LAC

<p>This is a long post, but I hope you’ll bear with me. I trust some of the knowledgable, intelligent, thoughtful advice that I’ve seen from some users on this board and would like to see other perspectives.</p>

<p>I’ve just finished my two terms here at Carleton and having thoughts about transferring to another school. My thoughts are thus:</p>

<p>My high school was a New England Prep School. I was excited to attend Carleton because my thoughts at the time were that an opportunity to experience the Midwest and a different setting/group of people would do me well, and ultimately shape me into a more well-rounded person. </p>

<p>While I have discovered that everyone is nice here(“Minnesota nice”) I feel that a lot of people here hold bias against students from the East Coast, especially from prep schools and assume them to be “snobbish” or “pretentious”. When I choose to wear a polo sweater instead of sweatpants and a sweatshirt simply because I like to wear it, I get funny looks from people and often get asked if I’m “going out”.</p>

<p>In general I’ve met a good group of friends from my dorm and through class and activities such as IM sports teams. But for most of the freshmen here, there is a huge obsession with ‘floor life’ - I understand that you grow close to your floormates and bond with them, but it’s almost as though every floor just simply sticks with themselves. They can’t go eat a meal without sticking with themselves and it’s a pretty funny culture. </p>

<p>And a good majority of the people are soft-spoken and introverts. I don’t consider myself overly outgoing but I’m pretty sociable and open-minded but sometimes I can’t stand the awkward nature of the conversations. Aside from my closest friends 90% of the conversation revolves around what classes I’m taking this term, and what classes I’m going to take NEXT term. I’m intellectually curious and all up for serious discussions but talking about my classes five to six times every day gets tiring after a while.</p>

<p>Winter in Northfield is also so much worse than I thought. It’s snowing right now(Mid-April) and winters here honestly make Boston winters seem friendly. I think the length and severity of the winter here definitely leads to the overall student body preferring to stay inside and warm up instead of going outside and being active. There is literally nothing to do after class in the winter with the exception of getting drunk, or playing broomball.</p>

<p>While I do think my experience here has been alright, I think unless I join an athletic team in the winter next year I’ll drive myself crazy. People here are in general extremely satisfied or happy with themselves and college life(Carleton’s also been rated as one of the happiest students I think) and that added to my initial anxiety in having these thoughts.</p>

<p>I fully understand that 1/3 of the college freshmen population think about transferring. I don’t mean to sound like just another whiny college freshman because I’m not one of them. My experience here has not been downright disappointing or miserable, I’d just like to take an active approach to finding the place that I feel will make me happier and where I’ll fit better. </p>

<p>Academic-wise, Carleton is close to perfect. I love all my classes and the professors here are awesome. The hard-working nature of the students is also very motivating. Moreover, I’ve already developed a good group of friends through orientation, activities and sports and can rely on them for support. However, at the end of the day I can’t help but feel that after four years here I’ll have the lingering regret of “What if I took a chance at finding a place that will make me happier?” It all starts with my firm belief that the four years of your college life are one of the most important times in your life, and you can’t get them back. This thought has been on the back of my head from winter term, and I think about it almost every day. </p>

<p>With that said, while I do believe that “You must never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about” I hold a firm belief that there is ALWAYS something I can do to make the most out of the situation. I think if I’m to succeed somewhere else, I must first succeed at Carleton first. So i’m approaching the last term of my freshman year with that mindset, attacking my classes with hard work and trying to step out of my comfort zone in attempt to see if there are things about Carleton that I may have missed out on. I’m playing on three different IM sports teams, and started going to a Bible Study Group every Friday. I 've taken up some leadership roles, and most importantly am reaching out to different resources about my thoughts on transferring(Like posting on this board!). I’ve found this to be much helpful to listen to other people’s advice rather than to keep all these confusing thoughts in my head and carry them with me throughout the day. It’s actually changed my mindset and I feel so much better here every day knowing that I’m doing all that I can to take advantage of everything offered here. </p>

<p>Now, since transferring to another college is a ‘people’ decision meaning that although deep inside my heart it’s something I’d like to pursue, I do have to consider the perspectives of my parents and friends. My friends have been very supportive and understand where I’m coming from; While some of them suggest that a lot of the freshmen feel that way and that it gets significantly better after a year or two, some have also admired my courage and want me to go after what makes me happy. </p>

<p>My sister, a recent Carleton grad herself identifies with me very well, and although she loved her time here suggested that I do what feels right. My parents differ, however:
My parents don’t understand my reasoning for wanting to seek out another liberal arts college/ small school. They have spent very little time in the U.S. and believe that it would make more sense if I waited another year and transferred to an IVY or a more prestigious national university. They tell me that “there is no perfect school, you just have to get used to it”</p>

<p>What if I’d visited Bowdoin my senior year and loved it? I ended up not getting in, but I loved Maine and the atmosphere - I like being outdoors and am a huge sports fan. I loved how sporty a lot of the people were and felt very comfortable there. This is something I can’t really put into words and tell my parents in an eloquent manner. </p>

<p>I like the close-knit communities and the undergraduate classroom experience that LACs offer. I’d just prefer to be in a different setting. But I’m lost on how to help my parents understand what I’m feeling, and most importantly, what I would tell the admission officers in my transfer essay? I’d like to be honest, but would they take seriously someone who wants to transfer mostly because of social settings?</p>

<p>Now I turn to you guys for some thoughtful advice: I trust my instincts and will end up applying no matter what, because I want to be free from any feelings of regret or doubt that I’ll have in the future. But I’m very much aware of the double-edge sword that transferring is, and would like to hear from more perspectives. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>sheepdog510: If you do not like Carleton, trust me, you will NOT like Bowdoin. The floor situation you described is exactly what life is like here at Bowdoin. Sure, people have friends in other dorms and on other floors, but more than 90%-95% of the time people eat with their floormates or old floormates - which can be really tough if you dont click with your floor or want to expand your horizons.</p>

<p>PS. If you’re looking to transfer into the class of 2014, look elsewhere. I work in the admissions office and they are not accepting transfers because the class is too big. Don’t waste your money.</p>

<p>Oh please, ohcollege. That floor deal is true for first semester freshman year, after which people start to branch out. Zero percent true circa sophomore year (sophomore speaking). </p>

<p>ohcollege’s second point may be true…dang freshmen class sure is big.</p>

<p>It is true, actually, I am a sophomore.</p>

<p>And sheepdog - it snowed the other day here too. Looks like winters are the same at both of our colleges.</p>

<p>Ohcollege But what u described is just one common aspect of both colleges and not the heart of the matter… No?</p>

<p>ummm which is what? </p>

<p>and regardless they aren’t accepted transfers for 2014, don’t let them let you waste your money like they did to my friend. I’m tight with two of the admissions offciers, it’s not happening and I wouldn’t recommend looking her.</p>

<p>Ohcollege slanders. It hasn’t snowed up here since April Fools Day, and anyone could appreciate the irony in that! Before then it hadn’t snowed for a while, either.</p>

<p>This just got real. Who are you, stranger?</p>

<p>People don’t branch out here. People need to stop trying to portray the college to be this “oh so welcoming, everyone loves you and is so friendly and you never will have a problem a day in your life here” place. It’s not. It’s not a bad thing. I’m pretty sure it’s a college specific thing; not just a Bowdoin specific thing. </p>

<p>People here are cliquey. Once people have found their “group” you will most likely see them together all the time. I see where ohcollege is coming from. If you don’t click with your roommates/floor, it can be very tough for you. This place is just like high school as well. I feel like it’s a just a more sophisticated and elegant version of high school. You still have people gossiping/talking shi.t about people. You still have people spreading rumors. You still have your immature people. For the most part, people can be friendly, but a nice majority of this campus is cliquey.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, and OP, if you decide to transfer here, do NOT believe in the whole “Bowdoin Hello.” I don’t who the hell made up that “Bowdoin Hello” thing but it sure as hell doesn’t exist here. </p>

<p>I’ll love for another current student to justify the “Bowdoin Hello.”</p>

<p>sadcollegestud - well put! </p>

<p>I was actually just thinking about the Bowdoin hello and how it’s a crock of balogna - people who know you here get awkward and choose when to and when not to say hello. It’s so small here that if you’ve only met a person once or twice you’ll probably see them a lot in passing and neither party knows when to and not to say hello. You get a lot of the awkward one person ignores the other while the other tries to say hi kinda thing going on.</p>

<p>I am not the exception - I know at least 6 first-years who have applied to transfer and 10 of whom were too lazy or missed the deadline because it’s hard to know whether or not it’s Bowdoin or it’s you in the first year - and I predict that a lot of them will apply to transfer later on.</p>

<p>The social scene here is AWFUL - bloody awful. I wasn’t a HUGE partier in high school, but goodness gracious do I crave something else. I visited a few friends at other schools and I felt like I was finally at a college - meeting new people and doing college-like things.</p>

<p>Let me emphasize to you, I cannot emphasize it enough - I am not awkward, I am not weird, I am not ridiculous shy, and I don’t want to get belligerent every weekend (I RARELY drink here) … but this is not college. This is a more sheltered version of high school and I am beyond disappointed. I applied early decision because I was in love with this place. PLEASE DO NOT BE FOOLED! I am not saying this to sh…it on Bowdoin. Bowdoin is a great place for academics, but if you did not go to a prep school or did not live a certain kind of lifestyle, it might be a bit rough - heck it’s even rough for kids who did have that experience.</p>

<p>I love the idea of Bowdoin, but it’s not for me and I really just want people to know what they are getting into. YOU might love it here, like I thought I would, but if you are second guessing a small LAC you are already at, you’ll find that the grass is hardly any greener at Bowdoin. Don’t make the mistake I did - don’t fall in love with an idea. I wouldn’t call Bowdoin “friendly,” I would call people here cordial and civil - at least to your face. This is high school and I cannot emphasize that enough.</p>

<p>If you like the amenities that come with a small school but want to expand your horizons I would suggest a school the size of Lehigh or BC, but please, don’t go from apples to apples - because that’s what it sounds like you’re doing. If you find you hate one kind of apple why go for fruit from the same tree?</p>

<p>Think hard, my friend. Bowdoin’s like a really nice shoe that is fun to look at - but if it doesn’t fit perfectly it will suck.</p>

<p>Yes, think hard. The College is genuinely fantastic - I know a good number of current and former students, faculty and administrators - and bends over backwards to accommodate everyone. The same is true for many of its peers and we should be grateful rather than find reasons to complain. I would have given my eyeteeth to have gone there, but, alas, it seems every campus has its share of whining malcontents. It must be spring.</p>

<p>Wow – college students who are shocked to discover that college life is cliquish. Get a grip. .</p>

<p>Oh please hang it up torasee. Why you mad?</p>

<p>If you’re confirming that college life is cliquish, what’s the problem with us stating it? Getting a bit aggressive for no reason. You don’t even go here so you can leave. You’re irrelevant and insignificant to this conversation. Good bye. </p>

<p>In the words of Nicki Minaj, “you’re a tragedy, you’re a parody.”</p>

<p>Gee – your sensitive feelings are hurt because it’s been noted that you and your side kicks have been making profound statements like the ocean is blue. You do indeed need to get a grip and realize that no institution will make your life for you.</p>

<p>“sidekicks” ? We don’t even know each other. And if you don’t go here why are you so obsessed with defending Bowdoin? You don’t know the circumstances now and somebody asked a question and we gave our honest answers about what is less than ideal.You shouldn’t even be giving advice considering you’re not here. kthx</p>

<p>LOL this fool. You really need to go somewhere you irrelevant thing. You don’t even go to this school so good bye. Go to your own school forum and go post your comments there. Stop stalking this forum because you have nowhere to go.</p>

<p>^agreed with sadcollegestud</p>