<p>IB,just because Chapel Hill has a prestigious faculty doesn’t mean this student is going to have access to them. Lots of TA’s at Chapel Hill, right? Classes under 30 are impressive, though.</p>
<p>shows what i know</p>
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<p>Not sure what the stats say, but I’m a junior at UNC and I’ve yet to have a class taught by a TA.</p>
<p>Not dumb. Smart to go to a smaller school if you will be a happier and more satisfied student. Small liberal arts college do an excellent job of getting kids ready for and into professional schools.</p>
<p>I am currently a male sophomore at Sewanee. I think that if transferring is really what you want to do, then go for it. I know plenty of people I went to high school with that have transferred and are now happier at their current location. Some of the posters here seem to think that transferring is the last ditch, code red option. </p>
<p>Addressing Sewanee vs. UNC: (I am obviously biased, but I will throw in some anecdotal evidence to fan the flames). However, I was able to get into UNC out of state, (apparently a difficult task) and I damn near went there, but I am glad that I am at Sewanee. I sat in on some classes at UNC… unimpressed. It was the usual big school bureaucratic learning. I know many friends at UGA who are involved in the same thing. Yeah, I turned down a basically free education at the UGA “Honors College.” It is simply too easy to skate by in schools like that (as evidenced by your 3.7 with what you termed “slacking off intensely”). At Sewanee, as a student you feel as though you are under the tutelage of your professors. I meet frequently with professors I had last year in intro classes. These are Ivy League and similarly educated professors who want to know you and impress upon you the meaning of intellectualism. One of the professors I am close with was a graduate of Sewanee and went on to get his PhD in history from Brown (It appears he had trouble getting into an elite graduate school). I have had dinner and drinks with my advisor on multiple occasions and he even loaned me his car once. One of the coolest things to do is to sit down with your professor, crack open a beer and talk philosophy, history, whatever turns your crank. I do my best work simply because I want to perform for these professors, whom I have a personal relationship with. Most importantly, I am receiving an all around education that will last me a lifetime. There is a reason that (last time I checked, may have changed since then) Sewanee has had the most Rhodes Scholars per capita of any university. It is a school that may not be known to every internet poster who attended U of whatever state. However, among graduate schools and those who are smart enough to be in the know, a Sewanee degree definitely means something. There is a reason that Tennessee Williams, arguably the greatest american playwright, willed the rights to his work to The University of the South. </p>
<p>Socially, I will warn you that Sewanee is very isolated. However, if you love the outdoors, Sewanee will definitely satisfy you. I am in a fraternity and I will tell you that it is definitely an important part of life here. Some manage to go without it, but for me it was a wise choice. (Go Phi Gamm by the way haha)</p>
<p>Anyways, I hope this helps</p>
<p>Choosing to transfer will not hurt you later in life. The difference between UNC and Sewanee won’t make or break you when applying to grad school (most pre-grad-school jobs are more like extended internships than careers). The question you need to ask yourself is what will life be like showing up as a transfer student. Will that road to happiness be easier than the road to happiness by staying put?</p>
<p>I transferred from a state flagship to a university which was somewhat less prestigious.</p>
<p>It’s OK to transfer as long as you’re going to the right university for the right reasons.</p>
<p>However, in general, it’s important to think long and hard before transferring. It’s a major life decision. It will disrupt your education to some extent. Finding your niche socially as a transfer student is an uphill battle. The university you transfer to needs to be more than a marginal improvement to outweigh the downsides of transferring.</p>
<p>It’s important to figure out why UNC isn’t working for you. Exactly what about UNC isn’t to your liking? What traits would a university you’d be happy at have? Once you understand this, you can make an educated guess as to which schools which would be a better fit.</p>
<p>In particular, you seem somewhat concerned that the Greek system at UNC is exclusive. But you’re considering a school where the Greek system is far more pervasive. To me, this is a red flag that Sewanee isn’t a good fit. How are you sure that you’ll get a bid at Sewanee when you didn’t at UNC?</p>
<p>Assuming that your undergraduate institution doesn’t matter because you’re sure you want to attend law school, or another graduate or professional school, is risky. Plans change. Any number of circumstances can interfere with completing graduate or professional school. And if you don’t, the prestige of your undergraduate institution affects you going forward.</p>
<p>Also, whether or not the school you graduate from has a national reputation is important. You may be sure now that you want to live in the Southeast. But what if you feel differently five years from now? And who knows what kinds of opportunities will materialize in other parts of the country that can move your career forward?</p>
<p>And have you truly exhausted all of your options for making UNC work for you? At large schools, it’s important to get involved in campus organizations. Are there any organizations which you might enjoy joining and which might help you meet people?</p>
<p>Good luck, whatever you decide.</p>